The breadth of David Longstreth's talents as a songwriter, arranger, bandleader and singer call to mind Prince, Joni Mitchell, and Bjork. His constantly evolving sound, the sheer intensity of the music, and the originality of his voice set him apart. From beginning to end, Rise Above is a re-imagining of Black Flag's seminal 1981 record Damaged. It's not a covers record; Longstreth attempted to rewrite his favorite adolescent album word for word, from memory. The result resounds with a kind of elegant simplicity: beautiful interlocking guitar parts, gorgeous three-part vocal harmonies, and some great songwriting.