Freak City Soundtrack

Artist: Material Issue
Label: Polygram Records
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 731451889424
EAN: 0731451889424
ASIN: B000001E2V

Release Date: 1994-03-22

Freak City Soundtrack

Related Categories:

General

| Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General

| Rock | Styles | Music

Power Pop

| Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock

| Pop | Styles | Music

General

| Soundtracks | Styles | Music

1990s

| By Decade | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Goin' Through Your Purse
Kim the Waitress
Funny Feeling
Fan
One Simple Word
Very Good Thing
I Could Use You
Ordinary Girl
Eko Beach
She's Going Through My Head
Help Me Land

Similar Items:

Telecommando Americano
International Pop Overthrow
Destination Universe
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Material Issue
The Instigator

Customer Reviews:

Overlooked PowerPop Gem.......2003-05-30

With Freak City Soundtrack, their 3rd Album, Chicago's Material Issue made perhaps the definitive power pop record of the 90's. Such a statement may sound like hyperbole, but trust me, this one's that good.

At the time, the record's quality was a pleasant surprise even for hardcore Issue fans. The band's debut "International Pop Overthrow" was an instant classic upon release in 1990, but the follow up, 1992's "Destination Universe," although not without its charms generally featured too much glossy production and too few actual great songs and quickly found its way to cut-out bins and used record stores everywhere. It seemed as if the band was on the path toward irrelevance, but Freak City combined the increased polish with a killer set of tunes.

Things start off with a bang on "Goin' Thru Your Purse," a song that could stand as a template for hard-edged pop rock. All the ingredients are present--frenetic beat, spiky guitars, a clever lyric and hooks, hooks and more hooks. From there its more of the same with highlights including the dreamy, mildy psychedelic "Kim The Waitress;" the lush "I'm Your Fan" "Ordinary Girl," featuring a prototypical boy-in-love chorus and "Help Me Land," a rocker that bubbles over with enthusiasm.

In short, its a dozen or so three minute -gems--closer to early Cheap Trick (this band would be a perfect choice to cover "He's a Whore") than Big Star on the power pop continuum. In fact, Trickster Ric Nielsen lends a hand and the results are better than any Cheap Trick record since "Heaven Tonight". Almost a decade after its release, the songs still sound fresh, especially on a car stereo on a sunny summer day. Highly recommended.

'POP ROCK' Defined.......2003-04-28

Thanks to my friend Steve for introducing me to Chicago's MATERIAL ISSUE. Some incredible happy upbeat tunes for such a lonely and bothered singer/guitarist Jim Ellison (RIP). Catchy hooks and down-right funny and witty lyrics. Check out "Goin' Through Your Purse", "Kim The Waitress", "I Could Use You", or "Funny Feeling". Heck - they're all good. If you are unfamiliar with M.I. - I tend to think they fall somewhere between the Gin Blossoms, Elvis Costello, the Beatles and/or maybe Cheap Trick. Fast or slow, hard driving guitars, or mellow and acoustic, Material Issue delivers. Probably my favorite of M.I.'s is "Destination Universe". Three areas of concern: 1.) why-oh-why did these guys not catch on globally (or at least nationally), 2.) why did Ellison in his early 30's decide that enough was enough on this planet Earth, and 3.) why is this wonderful cd out of print. A diamond in the rough if you can find it.

The greatest power-pop band in history........2003-04-24

I gotta admit, I've heard a lot of bands being labeled "power-pop" that just don't cut it. Usually they're really wimpy and don't have any "power" at all. I'm happy to say that Material Issue delivers the goods on this CD. The singing is amazing, the songs are great, and the production is just perfect! Too bad this thing didn't get the push it deserved, they should've been HUGE! 20 years from now, I'll bet this will be considered a classic. There are lots of bands that try very hard to imitate this sound, but I've never heard any that pulled it off as well as Material Issue. If you've never heard them, take my word for it that the singer has one of the coolest voices that's ever been recorded. Check out their debut CD also, it's pop perfection. R.I.P. Jimmy Ellison.

A must have cd for everyone who likes real music.......2002-10-24

This cd has it all,it has the cathcy songs,the guitar and drum solos,and that's just in the first song! The second song is one that describes everyone that has ever like a girl (or guy) but knew they could never have them. The other songs range from sad break-up songs,up-beat songs(such as "Help me land") it also has some hidden jems among the rock such as "help me land","goin through my head" and "Funny feeling".The lead singer also has a large variety of vocal ranges he can go from high to low in an instant(which makes it hard to sing along)
This is all i have to say so i will leave you with one last note: BUY THIS ALBUM!

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