Customer Reviews

International Pop Overthrow

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Material Issue may have been the best pure band out of the Chicago scene that spawned Smashing Pumpkins, Liz Phair, and Urge Overkill, among many others. It's great three minute, three chord rock and roll, wearing Jim Ellison's heart and influences on its sleeve. Contrary to one of the other reviews, MI did not disband. Ellison killed himself, a tragic loss for pop music. But that is not why to buy this album: buy it for the life that courses through Ellison's songs and his band's performances, not for the sad way his life ended.

Having grown up in Chicago and seeing this band develop (along with the usual local suspects as Smashing Pumpkins, Liz Phair, Urge Overkill, etc.) - I can only say how sad it was when they had to disband. MI never got the credit they deserved, and one can only hope that they'll eventually get their due as time passes. A truly great and original band, and they've got the chops to prove it.

I bought this album Waaaaaayyyyy back in early 1991 when it was first released. And, although I haven't listened to it in a long time (I traded it in a while ago for some foolish reason that I can't fathom at the moment), all I remember is being blown away by how catchy EVERY track was. Of course "Valerie Loves Me" is great... and the fact that I had a major crush on a girl named Valerie, at the time of this album's original release, made it all the more memorable for me. But many other tracks like "The Very First Lie" are also excellent.

My wish to re-purchase this CD has brought me to Amazon.com..... and this little customer review down memory lane. Find this CD and buy it, ASAP, if you are a fan of melodic power pop with attitude.

Influences (Cheap Trick, etc) aside, this album is filler free, which makes it better than anything previously put out by a power pop act. Thus this is the definitive power pop album of all time. It's a shame MI never got their just due. A power pop act in the midst of the over indulged 'grunge' movement sealed their fate. I saw them in Atlanta in '94 or '95 and remember I was 1 of maybe 50 people. That's the stupid ugly side of the music biz folks, be part of the new craze or be pushed aside. Nearly every song on this disc is memorable, with Very First Lie, Valerie..., and Crazy among the many gems on this album. Sadly, Material Issue's frontman and soul left us. I thank him for leaving us a part of him and hopefully many others will find their way to this much unheralded music.

Never heard of these guys? Never heard "Valerie Loves Me"? Well, until recently, I hadn't either, but I'm so very glad I did. Not only is "Valerie.." a brilliantly catchy tune, the rest of this album is just as wonderful and infectuous; and for some reason, I just love the album cover as well. I also can't get enough of "This Far Before" the ultimate song for unrequited love. It's very tragic that Jim Ellison is no longer with us, because who knows how far this wonderful band could have gone? Buy this album. You won't regret it. It's also a wonderful CD to pop in if you have a long drive-the ultimate CD to sing at the top of your lungs while driving down that lonely road... of life...........

As a freshman in college, I wrote a critique of this cd. I was working as a music critic for the campus paper and of the piles and piles of cds I sorted through each week, I truly loved this one. Yes, most of the songs sound the same.....just with different words... but come on, they really are good little songs. I can't exactly remember what I wrote 8 years ago.... but I know that when I left the paper before graduation and had to give back the cds that were "property of the paper", this one never made it's way back to the office. Listen to it, smile, it's simple but good.

This is, without a doubt, one of the all-time classic "Power Pop" albums. Jim Ellison was one the greatest song writers of the late 80's and early 90's, and his band rocked big time. With influences ranging from the Raspberries, Cheap Trick, the Jam, Beatles, the Sweet, and Thin Lizzy. This album, the band's debut, is one pop hit after another, with killer rock tunes like "Diane", "Crazy", "Valerie Loves Me", and the amazing ballad "A Very Good Idea". This cd still holds up well 14 years after it's release, and is always great driving around with the top down music. For anyone into classic American guitar pop, this is essential! Also check out the band's follow up records "Destination Universe", "Freak City Soundtrack", and the posthumous release, "Telecommando Americano" for more power-pop classics... R.I.P. Jim Ellison.
Cheers,
Mike A.

Forget everything you are doing and buy this now! It's the debut CD from a band that should've been the next big thing. The songs are so well written. It's perhaps "the" definitive power-pop CD. You want to hear some perfect pop songs? Check out "Valerie Loves Me", "Diane", "Lil' Christine", "Very first Lie", "Renee remains the Same", and "This Letter". I'll never forget playing this CD at my friends house, and his Dad asking if it was the Beatles. I wish they would've captured a little more of their live "punkier" sound on this CD, but it's still a work of art.

This CD deserves a place with the best sleepers of all time. It has 14 songs that are all good. They have a catchy rhythm and are easy to listen to. I would recomend this CD to anyone who found this page--anyone with good taste in music. It hold a place right at the top of my collection.

The Ish, as they were lovingly called, almost single handedly made Chicago explode into every music buyer and makers conscious! Paving the way for million sellers like The Smashing Pumpkins (whose tunes are not half as good) Urge Overkill, and Liz Phair among others. Ironicly enough, the Ish got left behind. This was their biggest album! Chalk full of three minute tunes that only take one listen to memorize the melody. Jim Ellison crafted these little ditties so well, you could have sworn you heard it before, but you could never place where. This record made tons of Chicago kids play guitar and start bands. I know, because my friends and myself were among those kids. Unfortunatly, the next two albums did not sell as well, and the ISh were dropped from their label. The latter, "Freak City Soundtrack" (now out of print) is the end all- be all- Heavy PoP album of the nineties. No one came close, no one could touch it. Too bad not to many people know that. "International Pop Overthrow" was the cornerstone. "Destination Universe" was the bed spread. "Freak City " was the payoff! A huge skyscraper! MI always dared to dream big, I mean just look at the titles of their albums. "Telecommando Americano" is their post-humorous release, that is worth picking up as well. There seems to be some unfinished business on that record; like it wasn't quite finished. Who knows, maybe if Ellison stuck around, it wouldv'e been called "Skyscraper"? That's just one idea.