It is hard to believe that last week marked ten years since Material Issue frontman Jim Ellison committed suicide. He is pictured above to the right of Liz Phair. Now, Chicago's Material Issue was a favorite of mine (and a huge influence) back in the early and mid nineties, and it is a shame they never had the kind of success they truly deserved.
They played the type of insanely catchy power-pop tunes that were never quite punk enough for the punks but too amped up for major radio airplay. Anchored by singer/guitarist Jim Ellison, the band self-released an EP before putting out their debut (and most successful) record International Pop Overthrow on Mercury Records in 1991. The following year they released Destination Universe and in 1994 released Freak City Soundtrack. The latter was met with great critical acclaim but never caught on with the public, and (ultimately) led to the band being dropped from their label.
While those three records (IMHO) are absolutely perfect power-pop that takes cues from Cheap Trick as well as the Ramones, it was on the stage where Ellison and company really made their mark. I was lucky enough to have been able to witness the band live at Metro a few times and was blown away each and every time. The band had a swagger and stage presence that made three chords sound more powerful than a locomotive and lyrics about girls as important as Kafka.
Sadly though, Ellison (disappointed with the band's dismissal from Mercury and struggling with personal issues) ended it all and took his own life on June 20, 1996. At the time of his death, Material Issue had nearly finished their fourth album. The other band members added a few finishing touches and it was released as Telecommando Americano by Rykodisc in 1997.
The classic, catchy, near anthemic songs of Material Issue will forever be lodged in my brain. Ellison's suicide (to me at least) was a bigger deal than Kurt Cobain's suicide a few years earlier. Despite my love for the band, I might have missed this sad anniversary by more than I did if it wasn't for the excellent MI post over at Copy, Right?. Below are some of my favorite MI tunes including a cover.
MP3 | Material Issue - Valerie Loves Me International Pop Overthrow
MP3 | Material Issue - International Pop Overthrow International Pop Overthrow
MP3 | Material Issue - Whole Lotta You Destination Universe
MP3 | Material Issue - Destination You Destination Universe
MP3 | Material Issue - Goin' Through Your Purse Freak City Soundtrack
MP3 | Material Issue - Help Me Land Freak City Soundtrack
MP3 | Material Issue - What If I Killed Your Boyfriend Telecommando Americano
MP3 | Material Issue - Little Willy 20 Explosive Dynamic Super Smash Hit Explosions!
5 Comments ↓
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! We were just talking about Material Issue this past weekend.
Damn I loved Valerie Loves Me!!
Krist
thepunkguy.com
great post. great band. jim ellison is a fantastic and underrated guitar player. a little disappointed "the very first lie" wasn't included.
was.
Agreed. June 96 was one sorry ass month. Neil Finn decides he's going to dissolve Crowded House and Jim Ellison turns up dead. At least grunge was fading, to be replaced by nothing much.
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