This came out in 2001 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Dutch art-punk leftists The Ex are one of the few underground bands that I can recall lasting more than 20 years. Even more impressive: They still sound like they mean it.
Dizzy Spells, their 17th album (give or take) and second in a row to be recorded by curmudgeonly indie-rock champion Steve Albini, is another invigorated and invigorating mish-mash of dissonance, angularity, abrasion, tension, piss and vinegar — think a psychic collaboration between Wire, Captain Beefheart’s Magic Band and Albini’s own Shellac. There are no leather studs, no blue Mohawks, no hyperspeed mayhem. But it’s still closer to the true spirit of punk than 90% of bands on the Vans Warped tour.
