// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the "Edge of Allegiance" say to its friend? "You're on the edge of loyalty.
| Edge of Allegiance | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1989 | |||
| Length | 40:05 | |||
| Label | I.R.S.[1] | |||
| Producer | Timbuk 3, Denardo Coleman | |||
| Timbuk 3 chronology | ||||
| ||||
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]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [12] |
| Robert Christgau | B+[13] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [14] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |  [5] |
| Ottawa Citizen | [15] |
| Windsor Star | A−[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.
- "National Holiday" – 4:02
- "Waves of Grain" – 3:45
- "Dirty Dirty Rice" – 2:53
- "Pass It On" – 2:51
- "Standard White Jesus" – 4:47
- "Grand Old Party" – 3:16 (Pat and Barbara K. MacDonald)
- "Count to Ten" – 3:54
- "B-Side of Life" – 3:15
- "Acid Rain" – 3:44
- "Daddy's Down in the Mine" – 3:10
- “Don't Give Up on Me” – 2:46
- “Wheel of Fortune” – 2:30
Personnel
[edit]- Barbara K. MacDonald – Vocals, electric guitar, violin, drum programming
- Pat MacDonald – Vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, harmonica, guitar synth, sampler
- Denardo Coleman – Drums, percussion
References
[edit]- ↑ Potter, Mitch (October 13, 1989). "Timbuk 3 Edge of Allegiance". Toronto Star. p. D14.
- ↑ Young, Jon (October 1989). "Spins". Spin. Vol. 5, no. 7. pp. 102–103.
- ↑ "Timbuk 3 Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ↑ Heim, Chris (September 8, 1989). "Alternative chic is the watchword this week...". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 52.
- 1 2 MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 1152.
- ↑ Metella, Helen (August 12, 1989). "Timbuk 3 stripping to basics for folk festival". Edmonton Journal. p. E1.
- ↑ MacCambridge, Michael (September 29, 1989). "3 for the Road". Austin American-Statesman. p. D1.
- ↑ Racine, Marty (October 3, 1989). "Timbuk 3's future may be brightening". Houston. Houston Chronicle. p. 1.
- ↑ Pacenti, John. "Timbuk-ing the System". Phoenix New Times.
- ↑ Morse, Steve (November 2, 1989). "Timbuk 3 in Bloom". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 7.
- ↑ Yasui, Todd Allan (November 5, 1989). "Timbuk 3, Back on the Map". The Washington Post. p. G3.
- ↑ Edge of Allegiance at AllMusic
- 1 2 "Timbuk 3". Robert Christgau.
- ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 182.
- 1 2 Erskine, Evelyn (September 15, 1989). "Timbuk 3 Edge Allegiance". Ottawa Citizen. p. D6.
- 1 2 Shaw, Ted (September 9, 1989). "Pop". Windsor Star. p. C2.
- ↑ "Timbuk 3". Trouser Press. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- ↑ Britt, Bruce (December 29, 1989). "Eventful Comebacks Help Break 'Boxed-Set Fever'". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L13.
- ↑ Okamoto, David (September 29, 1989). "Timbuk 3, Edge of Alliance". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 18.