Saturation is the fourth album by American alternative rock group Urge Overkill, released in 1993 and produced by the Butcher Bros. Saturation was Urge Overkill's debut on Geffen Records, and a deliberate attempt at a hit record. The label released "Sister Havana" and "Positive Bleeding" as singles in the US and Europe. "Sister Havana" charted highly on both the modern rock and mainstream rock charts, peaking at numbers 6 and 10, respectively, while "Positive Bleeding" became a minor rock radio hit. As of 2013, Saturation has sold 277,000 copies in the US, according to Nielsen Soundscan.[11]
Saturation | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 8, 1993 | |||
Recorded | December 17, 1992–January 9, 1993 | |||
Genre | Alternative rock | |||
Length | 70:01 | |||
Label | Geffen | |||
Producer | Butcher Bros., Andy Kravitz | |||
Urge Overkill chronology | ||||
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Singles from Album | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Chicago Sun-Times | [2] |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [3] |
Entertainment Weekly | B+[4] |
The Philadelphia Inquirer | [5] |
Q | [6] |
Rolling Stone | [7] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [8] |
Select | 4/5[9] |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 8/10[10] |
On release, Saturation was met with critical acclaim. It was praised by critics for its musical variety, surreal lyrical themes, and unusual and timeless sound and production style. The album is also notable for the fact that Nash Kato – rather than King Roeser, the band's usual de facto lead vocalist – sings lead on almost the entire album. The two would split frontman duties on their next album Exit the Dragon and their 2011 comeback Rock & Roll Submarine.
At the end of "Erica Kane", a piece of dialogue by McGarrett from Hawaii Five-O is played before the music starts.[12] The quote is from Season 5, Episode 6, titled "Fools Die Twice".
The graphic art for the album cover is an artistic depiction of the Houston, Texas city skyline.
Track listing
edit- "Sister Havana" – 3:53
- "Tequila Sundae" – 4:20
- "Positive Bleeding" – 3:44
- "Back on Me" – 3:12
- "Woman 2 Woman" – 2:40
- "Bottle of Fur" – 4:13
- "Crackbabies" – 4:03
- "The Stalker" – 2:52
- "Dropout" – 4:55
- "Erica Kane" – 3:07
- "Nite and Grey" – 4:22
- "Heaven 90210"
"Operation Kissinger" (hidden track) – 28:38
Personnel
edit- Nash Kato – lead vocals, guitars, keyboards
- Eddie "King" Roeser – bass guitar, guitars, vocals (lead: tracks 4, 8, and 11; co-lead: track 2)
- Blackie Onassis – drums, lead vocals (track 9)
Charts
editChart (1993–1994) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] | 16 |
US Billboard 200[14] | 146 |
References
edit- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Saturation – Urge Overkill". AllMusic. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- ^ DeRogatis, Jim (June 6, 1993). "A Discography". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
- ^ Romero, Michele (July 23, 1993). "Saturation". Entertainment Weekly. p. 60. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
- ^ Moon, Tom (July 11, 1993). "Urge Overkill: Saturation (Geffen)". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
- ^ "Urge Overkill: Saturation". Q (84): 92. September 1993.
- ^ Kot, Greg (August 19, 1993). "Urge Overkill: Saturation". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 9, 2006. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- ^ Himes, Geoff (2004). "Urge Overkill". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 837. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ Perry, Andrew (July 1993). "Mercury Rev: Boces / Urge Overkill: Saturation". Select (37): 93.
- ^ Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig, eds. (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
- ^ "Return to 'Guyville'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
- ^ "Urge Overkill "Erica Kane" dialogue sample from "Hawaii Five-O". "Saturation" 1993". YouTube.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Urge Overkill – Saturation". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- ^ "Urge Overkill – Chart history: Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2020.