Edge of Allegiance

1989 studio album by Timbuk 3

Edge of Allegiance

Studio album by

Timbuk 3

Released| 1989
Length| 40:05
Label| I.R.S.[1]
Producer| Timbuk 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

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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

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Professional ratingsReview 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

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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

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* 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

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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.

* v
* t
* e

Timbuk 3

* Pat MacDonald
* Barbara K. MacDonald
* Courtney Audain
* Wally Ingram

Albums|

* Greetings from Timbuk3
* Eden Alley
* Edge of Allegiance
* Big Shot in the Dark
* A Hundred Lovers

Singles|

* "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades"

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