Destination Universe
| Destination Universe | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1992 | |||
| Studio | Short Order Recorder | |||
| Genre | Power pop | |||
| Length | 42:55 | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| Producer | Jeff Murphy, Material Issue | |||
| Material Issue chronology | ||||
| ||||
Destination Universe is the second studio album by the American band Material Issue, released on Mercury Records in 1992.[1][2] "What Girls Want" made the top ten on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.[3] The band promoted the album with a "Pop Against Recession Tour".[4]
Production[edit]
Recorded at Short Order Recorder, in Zion, Illinois, the album was produced by Jeff Murphy and the band.[5][6] Material Issue had more time and money to spend on the production.[7] The album cover is a photo of a vintage Schwinn, purchased in Calumet City.[8]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| Entertainment Weekly | A−[10] |
| The Indianapolis Star |  [11] |
Entertainment Weekly wrote: "Think of this music as a sort of landlocked ’90s Merseybeat, and trust in Ellison’s expertise in the mechanics that made that original Liverpool stuff so memorable: pocketsful of melodies, bursting guitars, and the unspoken belief that these are the things that make life worth living."[10] Trouser Press concluded that the album "suffers from a serious lack of strong tunes."[6]
Rolling Stone deemed it "not exactly a wildly original piece of work, but it's full of memorable pop-rock tracks."[12] The Indianapolis Star determined that, "with rough Hollies vocals and keen grasp of styles that they heard as kids, Material Issue drives its own vehicle—but it's always cruising for girls."[11]
Track listing[edit]
All songs written by Jim Ellison
- "What Girls Want" - 3:55
- "When I Get This Way (Over You)" - 4:09
- "Next Big Thing" - 3:12
- "Who Needs Love" - 2:52
- "Destination You" - 2:49
- "Everything" - 3:48
- "Ballad of a Lonely Man" - 3:27
- "Girl from Out of This World" - 3:56
- "So Easy to Love Somebody" - 2:49
- "Don't You Think I Know" - 3:47
- "The Loneliest Heart" - 2:38
- "Whole Lotta You" - 2:52
- "If Ever You Should Fall" 2:41
References[edit]
- ^ "Material Issue Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ "Destination Universe by Material Issue". Billboard. 104 (22): 50. May 30, 1992.
- ^ Shipley, Al (November 16, 2022). "30 Overlooked 1992 Albums Turning 30". Spin.
- ^ "Mercury label group Material Issue...". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. 5 June 1992. p. 21.
- ^ Caro, Mark (28 Feb 1992). "Universal pop overthrow". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. Q.
- ^ a b "Material Issue". Trouser Press. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- ^ Carlson, Kevin M. (July 9, 1992). "Group brings its edgy rock to District". The Washington Times. p. M6.
- ^ Kozul, Zlata (July 28, 1993). "Spotlight on Material Issue". The Times. Munster.
- ^ "Destination Universe - Material Issue | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ a b "Destination Universe". EW.com.
- ^ a b Miley, Scott L. (8 June 1992). "Record Review". The Indianapolis Star. p. B5.
- ^ Wild, David (5 June 1992). "Destination Universe". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Rolling Stone. p. 4F.
