Mudhoney: Steve Turner (vocals, guitar); Mark Arm (guitar); Guy Madison (bass guitar); Dan Peters (drums).

Personnel: Christy McWilson, Mark Arm, Amy Allison (vocals); Hans Teuber (alto saxophone); Craig Flory (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Jay Thomas (tenor saxophone); Dave Carter (trumpet); Greg Powers, Steve Moore (trombone); Dan Peters (maracas, tambourine, bells).

Audio Mixers: Johnny Sangster; Phil Ek; Tucker Martine.

Recording information: Avast (06/03/2005-07/05/2005); Avast II (06/03/2005-07/05/2005); Flora (06/03/2005-07/05/2005); Mushroom (06/03/2005-07/05/2005).

Photographers: Mark Arm; Steve Gullick.

The second album since Mudhoney's 21st-century revitalization and return to its origins at the venerable Sub Pop label, 2006's UNDER A BILLION SUNS finds the Seattle grunge veterans building on its predecessor, SINCE WE'VE BECOME TRANSLUCENT. On this formidable 11-track set, frontman Mark Arm and company once again bring out the horn section for a few numbers (opener "Where Is the Future," the raucous closer "Blindspots"), and, more importantly, pound the distortion pedals and toms like it's 1989, particularly with the lurching "On the Move" and "Hard-On for War," essentially a sludgy update of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs." Anyone doubting that Mudhoney still packs a serious sonic punch will be happily knocked out by this excellent outing.

Rolling Stone (p.94) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]hey deliver a bluesy sprawl full of meaty punk riffs and Stooges-schooled abandon that still outpaces less-inspired slop-rock bands."

Uncut (p.105) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "The familiar sludgy by dynamic guitars are enlivened this time round by swinging soul horns..."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.100) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "With its indelible songs and bug-eyed intensity, this album makes you wish that more bands could be so irreverent."