Wax Ecstatic

Last updated

Wax Ecstatic
Sponge-Wax Ecstatic.jpg
Studio album by
Sponge
ReleasedJuly 2, 1996
Recorded1996
StudioThe Loft, Saline, Michigan
Genre
Length38:33
49:40 (Japan Bonus Tracks)
18:03 (5 Track Sampler Album)
16:05 (4 Track Promo)
Label Columbia
Producer Tim Patalan and Sponge
Sponge chronology
Rotting Piñata
(1994)		Wax Ecstatic
(1996)		 New Pop Sunday
(1999)
Singles from Wax Ecstatic

Wax Ecstatic is the second studio album by American rock band Sponge. It was released on July 2, 1996 through Columbia Records. [1] [2] The album features a more '70s hard rock-influenced sound compared with the band's previous release. It is the band's first album with drummer Charlie Grover, and includes the hit singles "Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)" and "Have You Seen Mary".

Contents

Production

Wax Ectastic was originally intended to be a concept album revolving around the death of a drag queen; instead, only two songs on the album address the subject. [3] [4] The band decided against the idea of making a concept album, and instead would incorporate new instrumentation along with a more '70s hard rock-influenced sound compared to Rotting Piñata .

Release

Wax Ecstatic was released in July 1996 and peaked at number 60 on the Billboard 200. "Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)" and "Have You Seen Mary" were released as the first and second singles from the album, and both received significant airplay on radio and MTV. The songs "I Am Anastasia" and "Silence Is Their Drug" also received radio airplay, but were not officially released as singles. By 1998, the album has sold a quarter of a million copies. [5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal 8/10 [6]
Detroit Free Press Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [9]
MusicHound Rock Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [11]
USA Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Vox 4/10 [13]
Wall of Sound 79/100 [14]

Wax Ecstatic received mostly positive reviews. AllMusic staff writer Stephen Thomas Erlewine said "In order to grow, the group went back to their beginnings, touching on glam rock, arena rock, blues rock, and jangle pop. Although it reveals Rotting Piñata to be somewhat calculating in its approach, Wax Ecstatic, ironically, is a far superior album." [1] Trouser Press wrote that the album "is markedly stripped down from the dense fury of Rotting Piñata, incorporating new instrumentation (piano, saxophone, cello) and working its way through such rootsy numbers as 'The Drag Queens of Memphis' and the album-closing 'Velveteen'." [15]

At the 1997 Detroit Music Awards, Wax Ecstatic won the award for "Outstanding National Rock-Pop Album", whilst "Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)" was nominated for "Outstanding national rock-pop single". [16] [17]

Track listing

All songs produced by Tim Patalan and Sponge.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."My Purity" Vinnie Dombroski, Mike Cross3:32
2."Got to Be a Bore"Vinnie Dombroski3:24
3."Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)"Vinnie Dombroski4:08
4."The Drag Queens of Memphis"Vinnie Dombroski4:54
5."I Am Anastasia"Vinnie Dombroski, Mike Cross, Joey Mazzola 3:58
6."Silence Is Their Drug"Vinnie Dombroski3:11
7."Have You Seen Mary"Vinnie Dombroski, Mike Cross3:49
8."My Baby Said"Vinnie Dombroski, Joey Mazzola3:05
9."The Death of a Drag Queen"Vinnie Dombroski, Mike Cross, Joey Mazzola5:20
10."Velveteen" (Contains the hidden track "Imagine You")Vinnie Dombroski7:32
Japan Bonus Tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Imagine You" (Separate track)Vinnie Dombroski3:45
12."Mekron Bomb"Vinnie Dombroski, Joey Mazzola4:04
13."Imaginary Marriage"Vinnie Dombroski3:18

Samplers and promos

All songs produced Tim Patalan and Sponge.

5 Track Sampler Album
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Got to Be a Bore" Vinnie Dombroski 3:24
2."Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)" (Radio Edit)Vinnie Dombroski3:47
3."I Am Anastasia"Vinnie Dombroski, Mike Cross, Joey Mazzola 3:58
4."My Baby Said"Vinnie Dombroski, Joey Mazzola3:05
5."Have You Seen Mary"Vinnie Dombroski, Mike Cross3:49

All songs produced by Tim Patalan and Sponge except where noted.

4 Track Promo
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)"Vinnie Dombroski 4:08
2."No Fun" (Live at CBGB's December 4, 1995) Iggy Pop  3:45
3."Imaginary Marriage"Vinnie Dombroski 3:16
4."Wax Ecstatic (Critter Full On Remix)"Vinnie Dombroski Tim Palmer, Critter4:56

Personnel

Additional personnel

Additional musicians

Equipment

Charts

Album

Chart (1996)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 60

Singles

YearTitleUS Hot 100 US Modern Rock US Mainstream Rock
1996 Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina) 6415 [18] 11 [18]
Have You Seen Mary --7

Related Research Articles

<i>Congregation</i> (The Afghan Whigs album) 1992 studio album by The Afghan Whigs

Congregation is the third studio album by American alternative rock band The Afghan Whigs. It was released on January 31, 1992, by Sub Pop and followed two years of the band's touring in support of their first album for the label, Up in It (1990).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sponge (band)</span> American rock band

Sponge is an American rock band formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1992 by vocalist Vinnie Dombroski, guitarist Mike Cross, bassist Tim Cross, drummer Jimmy Paluzzi, and guitarist Joey Mazzola. Dombroski and the Cross brothers were previously in the hard rock band Loudhouse, with Mazzola joining later before the end of the band's tenure. Sponge's discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums, and several charting singles. They are best known for their 1994 hit "Plowed", their 1995 hit "Molly ", and their 1996 hit "Wax Ecstatic ".

<i>UAIOE</i> 1989 studio album by KMFDM

UAIOE is the third studio album by the German industrial band KMFDM. It was released on 7 October 1989 by Cash Beat Records. Several 1970's "rock" bands are referenced: The album's title track borrows heavily from the lyrical tropes of Frank Zappa, whereas the song "En Esch" is, instrumentally, a cover version of Deep Purple's "Demon's Eye".

<i>Rotting Piñata</i> 1994 studio album by Sponge

Rotting Piñata is the debut studio album by American rock band Sponge, released on August 2, 1994, through Work Group. Hit singles from this album, such as "Plowed" and "Molly ", helped launch the band's career and the album was certified gold by the RIAA in July 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juke Joint Jezebel</span> 1995 single by KMFDM

"Juke Joint Jezebel" is a song by industrial rock group KMFDM from their 1995 album Nihil. It is KMFDM's most widely known song to date, with around three million copies of the song sold across various releases.

<i>Sefronia</i> 1973 studio album by Tim Buckley

Sefronia is the eighth album by singer-songwriter Tim Buckley, released in September 1973.

<i>New Pop Sunday</i> 1999 studio album by Sponge

New Pop Sunday is the third studio album by the American rock band Sponge, released in 1999 through Beyond Records.

<i>The Man</i> (Sponge album) 2005 studio album by Sponge

The Man is the fifth studio album by alternative rock band Sponge. Vocalist Vinnie Dombroski is the only original band member left on this recording. Sponge producer Tim Patalan's brother Andy, along with fellow Solid Frog bandmate Kyle Neely, assumed guitar duties for this album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twisted Brown Trucker</span> American rock band

Twisted Brown Trucker is the backing band for American musician Kid Rock. Formed in 1994, the band has contributed to nine of his twelve studio albums, as well as Uncle Kracker's Double Wide album.

<i>Alive in Detroit</i> 2007 live album by Sponge

Alive in Detroit (2007) is the first live album by Detroit-based Alternative Rock band Sponge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Molly (16 Candles Down the Drain)</span> 1995 single by Sponge

"Molly " is a song by American rock band Sponge. The vocals of the original album version of the song, "Molly", were re-recorded for the single release, and retitled "Molly ". It was released in 1995 as the third single from their debut album, Rotting Piñata.

<i>Nicely, Nicely</i> 1987 studio album by Blake Babies

Nicely, Nicely is the debut album by the Blake Babies, released in 1987. The band financed the album themselves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)</span> 1996 single by Sponge

"Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)" is a song by American rock band Sponge, released in 1996 as the first single from their second album Wax Ecstatic.

<i>Destroy the Boy</i> 2010 EP by Sponge

Destroy the Boy is an EP by Sponge, released in 2010.

<i>Stop the Bleeding</i> (Sponge album) 2013 studio album by Sponge

Stop the Bleeding is the seventh studio album by the alternative rock band Sponge. It was released in 2013 on Three One Three Records. This album features five songs previously released on Sponge's 2010 EP Destroy the Boy. These five songs are "Dare to Breathe", "Destroy the Boy", "Come In from the Rain", "Star", and "Before the End", however these songs appear in a different order than they did on Destroy the Boy. Also on this album, Sponge does a rendition of the classic Jim Croce song "Time in a Bottle", along with other new tracks. The album was originally only sold at the Summerland Tour music festival, but then had a national release on September 17, 2013 and now can be found everywhere.

Andrew Patalan is an American musician best known as the guitarist and backing vocalist for the alternative rock band Sponge. He also is a founding member of Solid Frog and Throttlebody. He was also the guitarist for Brownsville Station from 2011–2013. His brother Tim Patalan is the bassist and producer of Sponge. He is the owner of hATP Productions in Shelby Township, Michigan, and he is the co-owner of The Loft Recording Studio in Saline, Michigan.

<i>The Beer Sessions</i> 2016 studio album by Sponge

The Beer Sessions is the eighth studio album by American rock band Sponge, released on October 8, 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Have You Seen Mary</span> 1996 single by Sponge

"Have You Seen Mary" is a song by American rock band Sponge. The song was released in 1996 as the second single from the group's second studio album, Wax Ecstatic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainin'</span> 1995 single by Sponge

"Rainin'" is a song by American rock band Sponge. It was released in 1995 as the fourth single from their debut album Rotting Piñata.

Loudhouse was a hard rock band that was formed in Detroit, Michigan during 1989. The band consisted of vocalist Kenny Mugwump, drummer Vinnie Dombroski, bassist Tim Cross, and guitarist Mike Cross. Second guitarist Joey Mazzola was added to the band near the end of their tenure. They released one full-length album in 1991 and disbanded in 1992. The members sans Mugwump then stuck together and formed the band Sponge alongside drummer Jimmy Paluzzi.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Wax Ecstatic - Sponge | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  2. ↑ "Remember Sponge? Oh, they remember us, alright". Tulsa World.
  3. ↑ "Sponge seems to have it all _ if only its new album would sell". Tampa Bay Times.
  4. ↑ Eddy, Chuck (August 25, 2016). Terminated for Reasons of Taste: Other Ways to Hear Essential and Inessential Music. Duke University Press. ISBN   9780822373896 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ MTV News Staff (November 19, 1998). "Sponge Returning To Form". MTV News . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  6. ↑ Popoff, Martin (2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 421. ISBN   978-1-894959-62-9.
  7. ↑ McCollum, Brian (July 2, 1996). "Sponge's sophomore effort is daring, diverse" . Detroit Free Press . p. C1 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2006). "Sponge". Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7 (4th ed.). MUZE. pp.  672–673. ISBN   978-0-19-531373-4.
  9. ↑ Ferman, Dave (July 19, 1996). "Capsule Reviews" . Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Star Time). p. 12 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Fuoco, Christina (1999). "Sponge". MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. p.  1072. ISBN   1-57859-061-2.
  11. ↑ Diehl, Matt (July 11, 1996). "Sponge: Wax Ecstatic". Rolling Stone . No. 738/739. p. 90.
  12. ↑ Gundersen, Edna (July 2, 1996). "Bryan Adams regresses; Dylan is redone -- with strings". USA Today . p. 7D. ProQuest   306756891.
  13. ↑ Empire, Kitty (September 1996). "Albums". Vox . No. 71. IPC. p. 110.
  14. ↑ Graff, Gary. "Wall of Sound Review: Wax Ecstatic". Wall of Sound . Archived from the original on April 15, 2001. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Sponge". Trouser Press. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  16. ↑ McCollum, Brian (April 20, 1997). "Unity the theme for Detroit Music Awards" . Detroit Free Press : 6E – via newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ McCollum, Brian (April 26, 1997). "Sponge leads honorees at music awards" . Detroit Free Press : 2A – via newspapers.com.
  18. 1 2 "For Week Ending August 3, 1996". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. August 3, 1996 – via Google Books.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.