REVIEW: Material Issue, Freak City Soundtrack
- Bob Gajarsky
Jim Ellison formed Material Issue in 1987 with schoolmate Ted Ansani on bass and drummer Mike Zelenko. Seven years, several "modern rock" hits ("Valerie Loves Me", "What Girls Want") and two albums later, Material Issue have returned to the forefront of pop-rock with their third Mercury release, Freak City Soundtrack.
Lyrically, as always, it's boys and girls and love with Material Issue. The leadoff radio track, "Kim The Waitress", finds the band in that familiar wistful lovey-dovey lyrical territory, but with a twist - a quality irresistible song that lasts almost five minutes. With most of their songs clocking in with a rocking quality in under 4 minutes, Material Issue could be classified as a singles band without a hit, a throwback to the 1960s. Freak City Soundtrack marks a slight break from the efforts of their first two albums.
Some of the break from the past comes from producer Mike Chapman. The goal for this record was to "record the band in a live setting and turn everything up". That goal was accomplished with Cheap Trick's Rick Neilson contributing his guitar skills on two tracks, "Very Good Thing" and "Echo Beach", and Guns 'N' Roses Gilby Clarke helping on "She's Going Through My Head" and "Funny Feeling". Both tracks pick up the volume; in fact, opening track "Going Through Your Purse" closes with the traditional guitar feedback so well-known on "louder" albums.
All of the songs, musically, are top-notch; however, lead singer Jim Ellison doesn't have a voice that can reach into different vocal ranges. For example, the track "I Could Use You" would fit better into the arsenal of a Bon Jovi (ie. "Never Say Goodbye") than on here; it almost seems out of place.
Although this album, on the whole, takes pieces of the Knack, Ramones, Material Issue's classification as alternative (what the hell IS alternative, anyhow?) is definitely a misnomer. With Freak City Soundtrack, the band prove that they're not just a three minute blip on the musical map, but a talented *rock* band. And, for anyone into irresistible rock hooks, this album is a must.
