Music

Average customer rating:

They'd be a lot better in two years
Some style, but rough around the edges
Snazzy suits only tell half the story
Another UO classic overlooked!
great album

The Supersonic Storybook
Urge Overkill
Manufacturer: Touch & Go Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Exit the Dragon
Saturation
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Debutante
Whatever's Cool With Me

ASIN: B0000019I0
Release Date: 1992-09-10

Tracks:

The Kids Are Insane
The Candidate
(Today Is) Blackie's Birthday
Emmaline
Bionic Revolution
What Is Artane?
Vacation In Tokyo
Henhough : The Greatest Story Ever Told
Theme From Navajo

Customer Reviews:

They'd be a lot better in two years.......2007-04-06

"What you gonna do about it now?" sneers Nash Kato on "The Kids are Insane," the opening track from Urge Overkill's "The Supersonic Storybook." With that defiant beginning, the band attempts to rock the house with this sloppy nine-song album from Touch and Go Records. Despite the rock and roll enthusiasm and warped vocals from Kato as he lists off various cities in the song -- Kansas City, Chicago, Pittsburgh and New York -- there's just something missing about this album right from the get-go. Yes, the dirty guitars and snotty lyrics are present, but overall, this CD doesn't cut it.

On the positive side, "The Candidate" is a good song, the catchiest one on the disc by far. With its strained, tuneful guitar and low, sneaky lyrics, the song takes a suitably cynical view of politicians that we all hold: "I am the candidate," sings Kato, "but I don't even mean it." A few bridges make this song even more interesting. If the major labels were paying attention to UO during this time, it was because of songs like this.

Unfortunately, "The Supersonic Storybook" doesn't stay at this formidable level. "(Today is) Blackie's Birthday," written for drummer Blackie O., seems like it was written just to entertain the guys in the band. "It's Blackie's birthday, he's 22 today," sings Kato. (So what!) At least "Blackie's Birthday" has an upbeat tempo and decent guitar lick, however -- the bluesy "Emmaline is a dull drag the whole way through. Things don't get much better on "side two," though "Bionic Revolution" is less tedious and contains some heartfelt soul in the vocals. "What is Artane?" is a sludgy mess that goes nowhere. Nirvana could get away with this kind of sound during their Bleach days, but Urge Overkill is a different type of band and just sounds lazy when they attempt it.

The final tune, "Theme from Navajo" does feature a juicy guitar riff and barely audible vocals that somehow work. It's not a bad tune but turns to shambles fast, sadly. What this record needed was a good producer to reign everything in and demand some melody. Compared to what was to come later from this band, this work is shoddy and unremarkable. Take a listen to Saturation two years hence and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Some style, but rough around the edges.......2003-05-24

Supersonic Storybook starts off real well with "The Kids Are Insane". When King says "Can ya hear me U.O.?" you know they have some style and confidence. Songs like "Candidate" "What Is Artane?", and "Vacation In Tokyo" aren't bad, but the muddy singing and playing undercut the songs. "Emmaline" is a decent slower song. "Blackie's Birthday" and "Henhough" are basically novelty songs. "Bionic Revolution" is a fun (mostly) instrumental, and "Navajo" is a more thoughtful (mostly) instrumental to close the album out. It's not bad, but the best is yet to come from this trio.

Snazzy suits only tell half the story.......2003-01-24

Urge Overkill fit right in with the explosion of diverse, energetic, out-of-left-field talent that had overwhelmed rock music by the early nineties. Their look definitely set them apart from other alternative bands of that era, and earned them their fair share of scorn as well. This disc finds them at their absolute peak. My favorite song on the album is "What is Artane?" [], but there really isn't a bad cut on it. They had a remarkably funky, tight sound for a "grungy" three piece. As Nash Kato once put it, starting a band should be like declaring war. In their case, it was a war against taking yourself too seriously. Don't get the wrong impression though, despite their sense of humor and their unmistakable shtik, they were definitely not just a wacky, goofball, one joke sort of band. You can certainly tell there's some sharp-edged, whiteboy soul behind those saucey grins. "Emmaline", "The Kids are Insane", and "The Candidate" constitute some of the remaining standout material you'll find on this unheralded classic.

Another UO classic overlooked!.......2000-11-10

This band in their prime absolutely blew me away. This album was my introduction to this band and still, to this day, remains my favorite. Songs like "The Kids Are Insane", "The Candidate", "Bionic Revolution", and of course thier take on the Hot Chocolate Classic "Emma" retooled and retitled "Emmaline". This is a classic album from a classic band. To some these guys were a cartoon, sipping martinis and whatnot. .... Everyone that ragged on them for the "UO look" were out buying matching suits the next day and starting thier own rock band. Unfortunately for the listening public the imitations pulled off the look to an extent, but could never recreate the quality of music these guys created. Buy this one! NOW!

great album.......1999-09-01

This is well worth listening to, like most of UO's material. The Hot Chocolate cover is worth the price alone.

Average customer rating:

The Supersonic Storybook
Urge Overkill
Manufacturer: Musicrama/Koch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000A2GM00
Release Date: 2004-08-31

Tracks:

Kids Are Insane
Candidate
(Today Is) Blackie's Birthday
Emmaline
Bionic Revolution
What Is Artane?
Vacation in Tokyo
Henhough: The Greatest Story Ever Told
Theme from Navajo

Average customer rating:

The Supersonic Storybook
Urge Overkill
Manufacturer: Touch & Go
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000LZD8V2

Music:

Music