Customer Reviews

Wax Ecstatic

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The fine art of a concept album was all but forgotten in the nineties, until Sponge unveiled this masterpiece on the public who (criminally) didn't seem to care. That is very unfortunate because "Wax Ecstatic" is easily some of the best music to come out of the drab mid nineties. The lyrical concept is certainly a strange one: the death of a drag queen. Not all the songs seem to fit the formula, but the vast majority do. The lyrics can be explicit at times, but never do the churn the stomach. By the time Velveteen comes around you'll find yourself feeling sorry for the transvestite protagonist, trust me. The music on this CD is diverse and a great leap forward from the nondescript grunge rock of "Rotting Pinata".

"My Purity" rocks with the sheer attitude and abandon of a Guns N' Roses song, with much better vocals of course. The title track is another standout with a catchy guitar hook dominating the song. "I Am Anastasia" is a highlight, as is the Bowie-influenced "Silence is Their Drug". "Have You Seen Mary" should have made the boys in Sponge veritable stars, but thanks to the poor marketing Columbia gave this album, it's just another highlight in an album full of them. The final 1-2 punch of "The Death of a Drag Queen" and "Velveteen" are emotional highs, the former being a gruesome tale of a late night murder and the latter being a heartfelt memoir, as well as the obvious choice for the album's best song. After Velveteen, there's an amazing hidden track that rocks on par with the rest of the CD. Why it is unlisted I don't know.

Don't let the crazy concept prevent you from purchasing this CD, you'll be missing out on some truly classic music. "Wax Ecstatic" stands as Sponge's crowning achievement and is a testament to the perils of the record industry. The music is certainly catchy enough for radio and high quality enough to please any rock fan and keep them coming back for more. Pick up this forgotten gem and tell all your friends to do the same. You won't regret the money spent.

there are four excellent songs here. the first three (my purity, got to be a bore & wax exstatic) are amazing songs. anastasia is also a great song. thick guitars, great rhythm section and amazing grooves, especially in got to be a bore. great production as well for this album. on wax exstatic (the song) i love it when the guitar solo kicks in. it is the perfect balance between hearing the lead and yet still hearing the other instrments. i can hear the drums, bass and guitar holding a great groove as the lead blows me away. GREAT stuff!!
as for the slower stuff, it is good. i think the louder stuff is more vibrant and holds stronger songwriting but still, death of a drag queen is a terrific moody song as is drag queens of memphis. there are some great songs here and this is one band that made one great album in wac exstatic. i have to check out some of their other stuff.

Yet another misappreciated or unappreciated gem from '96. Detroit's entrant in the post-Cobain-suicide grunge feeding frenzy took off from their rote, angst-by-numbers debut Rotting Pinata & made what some have gone on to pronounce the first salvo in the glam revival. Specifically, I'd assume, given the wistful but inspired take on transvestism that the band presents in Drag Queens of Memphis, Death of a Drag Queen, & perchance even Velveteen (pick the better album closer: this or Butterfly...). Additionally, though, there is also a power in the chugging guitar of the opening My Purity & Silence Is Their Drug. Here, the guitarists --- it's been a long time since I read the liner notes, so I forget the names --- treat their instruments as that extension of their anatomy, we all know which one, a la NY Dolls, KISS, Aerosmith, or any of the 70s greats, glam & non-glam & pseudoglam. & then there are the effecting tracks, I Am Anastasia & Have You Seen Mary? Having beaten our heads against the wall, us having happily let them (trust me, if it wasn't good, we wouldn't let them at all), they grab our tear ducts & sap them totally. Ah, yes, then, another 70s staple: the lighters-held-aloft moment. & I love that, unabashedly & unironically. For me, I'm starting to think, '75, or maybe '74 --- I wasn't around then --- was the golden age of rock in that decade. [Of course, the Sex Pistols are still hella good. - ed.] & Sponge, on Wax Ecstatic, ran with that sentiment 'til they could run no more... As would be apparent from their limp output since & even at the time minimal output (WE is 10 tracks). But who's to quibble when 10 hit like 20, or maybe 30, from Rancid (another good band, but a different sort of band... Even if Buddyhead isn't fibbing when they say that Lars Frederiksen has a Grateful Dead logo tattoo). My vote then for most misappreciated '96 album: Pinkerton. But most unappreciated: Wax Ecstatic. Now, then, I'm finished... You, appreciate this record. Buy it & love it.

When the band conceived of this album, they presented it to the record lable as a concept album entitled: "Death of a Drag Queen." The label recoiled in horror--a rock 'n roll group eulogizing queers? Rock is synonymous with heterosexuality and testosterone, which has never been in short supply from these Detroit-based rockers. But Vinny and company had a vision. They updated West Side Story, and suffused it with the Broadway play RENT to create a modern day musical of epic proportions. Even this writer, a dyed-in-the-wool heterosexual, finds himself deeply moved by the poignant love story that emerges as the plot unfolds with each successive song, albeit with a gruesome and tragic ending. If you're not reduced to tears by the song "Velveteen," you don't have a romantic bone in your body. Notwithstanding the record label prevailing in changing the album's title, the underlying leitmotif remains. The one oddity on this album is the song "Have You Seen Mary." Released at the same time Joan Osborne was topping the charts with Eric Bazilian's "One of Us," Sponge's "Mary" was cast from the same mold--"Mary" is the mother of Jesus, and she now lives in a trailer park; an unwed mother suffering the indignities of growing old, living alone and being impoverished. Neither the band nor the record label came forward and copped to the meaning behind "Mary." It would have boosted the album to the top of the charts simply from all the Christian fans, and parents wanting their kids to gravitate to something "wholesome" in a musical ocean of prurient hip-hop songs polluting the airwaves. But truth be told, the record label didn't "get it," and the band is too modest to grandstand in support of its art. Perhaps that will give you insight into the depth of this band's writing abilities--these guys (especially Vinny) are collectively one of the best rock bands ever, in terms of musicianship and being the best at the craft of lyric writing. This album could one day end up on Broadway, displacing RENT, as Wax Ecstatic is far superior as an artistic statement, and will assume a more noble position in the annals of popular culture. Buy this album because you love good rock music; buy this album because you are hungry for something that will nourish your soul, and warm your heart as it opens your mind at the same time.

Okay, so they tried something new a few times on their second cd, but did that make this a sophomore slump. Not hardly. What they did was just turn a potential nightmare into a surprise minor success. Yes, there is plenty of talk about Memphis and drag queens here, but if that's all you see then you're missing the bottom line--the experiment worked! This cd proves that the sophomore slump is both something to fear and something to embrace. And have you heard the riffs on Wax Ecstatic? Amazing. Compare this to Seven Mary Three's "Rock Crown" and Silverchair's "Neon Ballroom". All risky, but the disc stacks up. By the way, all three of those cds are in my collection and they all kick it! Here's one for Mardi Gras. Enjoy!

It is now 2005, almost 10 years since this CD was released. I pulled it out again for the 1st time in about 2 years and listed to it while doing yard work...three times in succession. I still cannot believe how this gem has gone unnoticed by the general public. In my opinion, it is one of the top CD's released in the 1990's. I still vividly remember being at work and having the riff to Wax Estatic blow me away the 1st time I heard it on the radio. After finding out who it was, I bought the CD as soon as I could.

I think this CD at least 1-1/2 stars better than their debut Rotting Pinata. They had balls to put out a concept album with their second release, but unfortunately, it was lost in the musical void that was '96. I think with more time passing, the Bowie and Roxy Music glam influence is even more noticeable, especially given the drag queen theme. The opening trio of My Purity, Got to be a Bore, and Wax Estatic still hit like a punch in the face. The rest of the CD is also very solid. I Am Anastasia and Death of a Drag Queen are also faves, but there isn't an out of place or bad tune on this disk.

If you want to give Sponge a try, this is the CD to buy as this was the group's peak. If you like this one, then go to Rotting Pinata. I was really dissappointed that their followup to this one, New Pop Sunday, sucked so bad. (I agree with another reviewer who thought they were partying too hard and/or just didn't care anymore). I saw that they have mounted a comeback, but haven't heard anything...yet.

Ever here of Seattle based grunge rock? Well these people have surpassed the hype, and comparassion of bands such as Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and others. Sponge creates a unuqie sound especially with Wax ecstatic..An amazing album indeed. Sure, their influneces I listed above, and Id say who doesn't have those influneced if your a band living in the 90's. In Vinnie's vocals you can hear a little stricking resembelance to Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots, which is great. Sponge is great live, pick up this album.

Jim

Dombrowski and the rest of Sponge are incredible in Wax Ecstatic. There are numerous songs with an outright meaning, and some that are a labyrinth of emotions that can't be deciphered. The two best songs on this album, in my opinion, are Have You Seen Mary (a great song with a folky feel and excellent vocals) and Velveteen (a haunting piece with low-brow acoustic guitar that adds to the emtional feel). Wax Ecstatic is very fast and catchy, while Drag Queens in Mephis has a great chorus with a tune that stick in your head. You can really relate with many of these songs (including great hidden track about 45 seconds after Velveteen finishes) and some you dream that you can relate with.

WAX ECSTATIC finds the band trying out a darker, heavier feel on many tracks, while still maintaining a broad, all-encompassing view of hard rock. Think of Alice in Chains. Than think of a more futuristic version. You've got this album's main sound. The title track in particular grabs me as a standout, but part of that is the killer video the band made for it, I suppose. Other greats include the apocalyptic-sounding "I Am Anastasia," the driving "Silence is Their Drug," and the folky, pleasantly restrained "Have You Seen Mary." Yet another record with no real weak points, giving Sponge one of the best track records in the business.

Although Wax Ecstatic didn't blow me away as much as Rotting Pinata did, Sponge's sophomore effort is a success in my eyes. This album is a little darker than the first, but the songs are catchy and Dombroski and company's lyrics are great. The title track, as well as Velveteen, are the songs that stick out most.