In Brief

In the 13 years since its lurid inception, the abnormal has proven to be the norm for this Austin, Texas, outfit. They’ve become more socially and commercially acceptable, but no less strange. Their 13th album is a surreal concoction of grimy psychedelia channeled through hip-hop grooves and punk-rock pounding, weird industrial-esque sound experiments, warped pop and Western twang all subverted for their own ingeniously convoluted ends. (The Butthole Surfers play next Sunday at the Universal Amphitheatre.)

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good), four stars (excellent).

* TimesLine 808-8463

To hear excerpts from the albums reviewed, call TimesLine and press * and the artist’s corresponding four-digit code.

Butthole Surfers *5718

In 805 area code, call (818) 808-8463.