Edge of Allegiance

Edge of Allegiance
Studio album by
Timbuk 3
Released1989
Length40:05
LabelI.R.S.[1]
ProducerTimbuk 3, Denardo Coleman
Timbuk 3 chronology
Eden Alley
(1988) 		Edge of Allegiance
(1989) 		Big Shot in the Dark
(1991)

Edge of Allegiance is the third album by the American band Timbuk 3, released in 1989.[2][3]

The album's first single was "National Holiday".[4]

Production[edit]

The album was produced by Timbuk 3 and Denardo Coleman.[5][6] It was recorded in Austin and mixed in Houston.[7][8] The band employed less overdubbing than on past albums, while also singing the harmonies in the moment.[9] The lyrics were in part influenced by Leonard Cohen; the band started listening to him after Cohen mentioned in interviews his admiration for "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades".[10] Timbuk 3 considered the album to be evenly divided between political songs and relationship songs.[11]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
Robert ChristgauB+[13]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[14]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[5]
Ottawa Citizen[15]
Windsor StarA−[16]

Trouser Press wrote: "Oozing sardonic desperation, Edge of Allegiance ... is yet another small triumph of sane, thoughtful songcraft—occasionally labored ('Standard White Jesus') but more often right on the money."[17] Robert Christgau posited that "their songs will remain winsome and wise for as long as the record company puts them out."[13] The Los Angeles Daily News considered the album to be one of 1989's best, calling Timbuk 3 "one of the decade's most underrated acts."[18]

The Windsor Star opined that the band "have a sardonic sense of the absurd but enough compassion so that their music never sinks to mere parody and loses its punch."[16] The Ottawa Citizen noted that "lustre and sophistication have turned the flat street-corner style into something with more depth and nuance."[15] The St. Petersburg Times deemed the album "another cunning collection of sharp-tongued diatribes against political betrayal and social apathy."[19]

Track listing[edit]

All songs written by Pat MacDonald, except where noted.

  1. "National Holiday" – 4:02
  2. "Waves of Grain" – 3:45
  3. "Dirty Dirty Rice" – 2:53
  4. "Pass It On" – 2:51
  5. "Standard White Jesus" – 4:47
  6. "Grand Old Party" – 3:16 (Pat and Barbara K. MacDonald)
  7. "Count to Ten" – 3:54
  8. "B-Side of Life" – 3:15
  9. "Acid Rain" – 3:44
  10. "Daddy's Down in the Mine" – 3:10
  11. “Don't Give Up On Me” – 2:46
  12. “Wheel of Fortune” – 2:30

Personnel[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Potter, Mitch (13 Oct 1989). "Timbuk 3 Edge Of Allegiance". Toronto Star. p. D14.
  2. ^ Young, Jon (Oct 1989). "Spins". Spin. 5 (7): 102–103.
  3. ^ "Timbuk 3 Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  4. ^ Heim, Chris (8 Sep 1989). "Alternative chic is the watchword this week...". Chicago Tribune. Friday. p. 52.
  5. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 1152.
  6. ^ Metella, Helen (12 Aug 1989). "Timbuk 3 stripping to basics for folk festival". Edmonton Journal. p. E1.
  7. ^ MacCambridge, Michael (29 Sep 1989). "3 FOR THE ROAD". Austin American-Statesman. p. D1.
  8. ^ Racine, Marty (October 3, 1989). "Timbuk 3's future may be brightening". Houston Chronicle. Houston. p. 1.
  9. ^ Pacenti, John. "Timbuk-ing The System". Phoenix New Times.
  10. ^ Morse, Steve (2 Nov 1989). "TIMBUK 3 IN BLOOM". The Boston Globe. Calendar. p. 7.
  11. ^ Yasui, Todd Allan (5 Nov 1989). "TIMBUK 3, BACK ON THE MAP". The Washington Post. p. G3.
  12. ^ Edge of Allegiance at AllMusic
  13. ^ a b "Robert Christgau: CG: Timbuk 3". www.robertchristgau.com.
  14. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 182.
  15. ^ a b Erskine, Evelyn (15 Sep 1989). "Timbuk 3 Edge Allegiance". Ottawa Citizen. p. D6.
  16. ^ a b Shaw, Ted (9 Sep 1989). "Pop". Windsor Star. p. C2.
  17. ^ "Timbuk 3". Trouser Press. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  18. ^ Britt, Bruce (December 29, 1989). "EVENTFUL COMEBACKS HELP BREAK 'BOXED-SET FEVER'". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L13.
  19. ^ Okamoto, David (29 Sep 1989). "Timbuk 3, Edge of Alliance". St. Petersburg Times. Weekend. p. 18.
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