Exit the Dragon

Urge Overkill

Product Details

• Audio Cassette (November 4, 1997)
• Original Release Date: October 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Geffen Gold Line Sp.
• ASIN: B000000P1P
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #846,165 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Exit the Dragon is a somber, brooding effort fueled by more than a touch of "woe is me." There is no larger-than-life FM-rock anthem on this album; no Paul Shaffer favorite like Saturation's "Sister Havana." Produced once again by Philadelphia's Butcher Brothers, Joe and Phil Nicolo, the 15 songs are almost all mid-tempo groovers. In place of the last album's shimmering guitars and thunderous drums are groaning synthesizers, heavy Hammond organs, distant horns, and clattering congas. Over this late-night juke-joint backdrop, singers Nash Kato and Ed Roeser ruminate about how they hate walking in sunshine, can't get a break, never learned anything in school, made more than their share of mistakes, and don't pray anymore "because too many of God's children die." Such whining sentimentality would be unbearable coming from, say, sanctimonious folkies Soul Asylum or generic grungemeisters Bush. But the members of Urge Overkill are post-modern pranksters who are well versed in every aspect of rock history and '70s pop culture. They're having the time of their lives being this miserable, and the dark night of their souls is illuminated by sign posts pointing out the connections to legendary end-of-the-line classics such as Big Star III, the Rolling Stones' Exile On Main St., and Sly and the Family Stone's There's A Riot Goin' On. --Jim DeRogatis

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars probably the best album of the 90s, December 27, 2003

By	A. khan "Jules" (Anaheim, Ca. United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Exit the Dragon (Audio CD)

ok well its really simple, this album pretty much seperates all the squares from all the people that have an intuitive sense for good taste. the mixed reviews are pretty obvious and innevitable i mean mainstream doesnt really want an album with even a bit of irony. Exit the dragon has managed to incorporate so many elements and genres of music that it practically has come down to just that good ol' bad ass rock n roll. mixing power pop, melodic, punk, experiemental, blues, country ballads, duets, just all beautiful melodies to crunching guitars. im flabbergasted my favorite albums sells for only 2 dollars i mean you seriously cant beat that. but as many other bands such as new york dolls for every 5 fans that love em youd have another 50 that would label em as 'mock rock'. Which is probably the best sign of something being really good, usually the unlistenable is whats hot. this gem holds all the beauty of any album that will always grow on you.. The best song off the album hands down has to be last night/tommorrow a metaphor based song involving the from when the point you score smack to the transition of the song peaking and then the beautiful break down which symbolizes the come down.. A beautiful tragic album by one of the best bands that carried the power pop throne along side the replacements, cheap trick, posies, the dolls, superchunk, redd kross, i could go on but its better if you hear it from them and not me...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth way more than $1.00!!!, July 28, 2006

By	fatmatt (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Exit the Dragon (Audio CD)

Hey folks--I've noticed that a lot of great music like "Exit the Dragon" is in ending up in the old dollar bin because the used merchants have too much and nobody cares anymore (uh, supply & demand I think). Well let me tell you--this is one great rock and roll album that, as I write this, can be had at a bargain.

These guys were a great band and they released their best when they were at the end of the rope they eventually hung themselves with. The tension and desperation are palpable, particularly on the Eddie Roeser tracks like "This Is No Place" and "Tin Foil." "The Mistake" is a regret-filled dirge about a drug suicide written by the drummer Blackie, who subsequently quit/was fired, allegedly for reasons including his own substance abuse problems. The Nash "Girl, You are a Woman Now" Kato tracks are generally more upbeat and help lift the gloom momentarily, but this one is a delightful downer(think Big Star's "Third/Sisters Lovers" or Sly's "Riot" but not as good).

I saw these guys in Athens, GA at the 40 Watt on the "Saturation" tour and I can attest that they were the real deal. They hit the stage barechested and wearing giant "UO" gold medallions around their necks. Too bad they had their chance when it was becoming uncool to act like rock stars.

So buy a copy now because I think its out of print and it will probably be worth BIG BUCKS someday...or maybe not, but you can still listen to it and think about how little you paid for so much listening pleasure.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars UO had "it" with this one, January 3, 2005

By	fuzzy bubblegum (Rochester, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Exit the Dragon (Audio CD)

God. They had that special quality. Urge had soul. Exit the Dragon is Urge Overkill's best album, but even if Geffen had done their job and had given the record a fair amount of promotion (yeah, they didn't), it probably still wouldn't have sold very well, I'm very sorry to say. Most people don't "get" UO, but all they need to do is listen with the ability to recognize what makes great art and what makes art great! It's all about "the touch", as Dirk Diggler once sang(although I think he was talking about a different sort of "touch"). UO truly had "it" on this record, but Geffen had just about "had it" with UO. I was 14 when this came out (I was even more of a fan then), and I don't remember knowing anyone who was into them at the time besides myself and some friends I had personally influenced. Sad stuff. It's okay, though, UO will be "Big Star"'s someday...It's the same old story; an inventive, ridiculously good band is misunderstood and frustratingly commercially unsucessful during their existance until ten years later or so after their demise when a bunch of record collecting geeks "discover" them and turn them into cult-legends. They deserve so much more than that...Karma? Just buy this record and love it.