Thursday, August 19, 2004
August 18: Material Issue - International Pop Overthrow
If you know this band at all, it's from one of their two semi-hits: "Valerie Loves Me," and "Kim the Waitress." This is the debut, from '91, with "Valerie Loves Me." A buddy of mine in junior high was really into Material Issue, and I think that's where I ended up with this album.
This one's...OK. Pretty standard-issue power-pop, nothing spectacular. A lot of it sounds really dated now, because of the bad early-'90s production.
Sadly, Material Issue are only a footnote in rock history, because lead singer Jim Ellison killed himself following the commercial failure of the band's two follow-ups and their dismissal from Mercury Records. He did it by choking on the carbon monoxide fumes from his moped. Not a very rock star way to go, and ironically, his death was completely overshadowed by the fact that Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon died the exact same day by overdosing on heroin, which is a rock star way to go.
This one's...OK. Pretty standard-issue power-pop, nothing spectacular. A lot of it sounds really dated now, because of the bad early-'90s production.
Sadly, Material Issue are only a footnote in rock history, because lead singer Jim Ellison killed himself following the commercial failure of the band's two follow-ups and their dismissal from Mercury Records. He did it by choking on the carbon monoxide fumes from his moped. Not a very rock star way to go, and ironically, his death was completely overshadowed by the fact that Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon died the exact same day by overdosing on heroin, which is a rock star way to go.
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