Over thirty years after its original 1993 release, Ugly Stick’s ‘Absinthe’ roars back into the spotlight with a long-awaited vinyl and digital reissue via Hovercraft Records. The Delaware, Ohio four-piece — who first lit up the Midwest underground in 1989 — built a sound that was part barroom brawl, part backroad elegy: punk’s sneer meets Americana’s heartache.
Remastered and expanded with bonus live recordings and unreleased studio material, this reissue captures a band years ahead of their time. Critics called Absinthe “genre-crossing” and “seminal,” and it’s easy to hear why. The record’s fusion of LA punk attitude and Midwestern twang defined what came to be known as the Columbus sound — a mix of garage grit, alt-country storytelling, and unvarnished energy.
“Their mix of punk, college rock, and alt-country was years ahead of its time,” noted Daggerzine, while Rootstime (Belgium) hailed Ugly Stick as “pioneers of a sound baptized as the Columbus sound.” The reissue reminds listeners that before Wilco and Drive-By Truckers, there were Ohio outlaws blending sweat, distortion, and Americana soul.
Key Tracks:
🎸 “Wild Men of Borneo” – a ragged barnburner that defines the band’s cow-punk roots
🔥 “Boss” – pure Midwestern rock swagger
💀 “Crib Death Reel” – a haunting, driving standout (FCC Clean / No Explicit Lyrics)
As Skyscraper once wrote, “The grit of American roots mingles satisfyingly with Midwestern classic rock guitars, eighties jangle-pop, and frantic rhythmic contortion.” That restless mix still feels vital today — Absinthe doesn’t sound dated; it sounds resurrected.
From beer-soaked dive bar nihilism (The Riverfront Times) to pure melodic craft (Home of Rock, Germany), Ugly Stick balanced raw energy with songcraft that shaped the Ohio alt-country underground. This reissue isn’t just nostalgia — it’s a reminder of a movement born from collapsing barns and midnight highways, now echoing across new turntables.
🎧 Stream / Order: Ugly Stick – Absinthe (Hovercraft Records)
🛒 Shop Merchandise: Ugly Stick Store