Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog

On their fifth studio album Connection (July 2023), Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog pushes the boundaries between pop songcraft and avant-garde improvisation. The trio, featuring Ribot on guitar and vocals, Shahzad Ismaily on bass, and Ches Smith on drums, blends glam rock, minimalist disco, psychedelic boogaloo, garage punk, and free jazz into a sound that is both genre-defying and fiercely original.

Recorded in Brooklyn and mixed by Ben Greenberg, Connection features contributions from guests such as singer-songwriter Syd Straw, keyboardist Anthony Coleman, and saxophonist James Brandon Lewis. Ribot, known for his prolific and eclectic career that includes collaborations with Tom Waits, John Zorn, Caetano Veloso, and Elvis Costello, uses Ceramic Dog as a platform for his stream-of-consciousness songwriting and experimental compositions.

The album includes tracks like the groove-heavy “Ecstasy,” the politically charged “Soldiers in the Army of Love,” and a deconstructed cover of “That’s Entertainment.” This last piece turns a classic show tune into a gritty critique of media and consumer culture. Connection is bold and eclectic, weaving complex rhythms, electric improvisation, and sharp commentary into a cohesive whole.

Ceramic Dog is more than just a band. It is a vehicle for artistic rebellion and reinvention. Their music balances aggression with nuance, humor with protest, and chaos with control. The result is an unpredictable, high-energy experience that captures the urgency and complexity of the moment.

With Connection, Marc Ribot and Ceramic Dog reaffirm their status as fearless innovators. The album stands as one of their most dynamic and uncompromising works to date.