Master of Styles is a studio album by alternative rock band The Urge, released in 1998.[3][4] The album produced three singles (“Jump Right In”, “Straight to Hell”, and “Closer”) and sold 250,000 copies. “Jump Right In” featured guest vocals by Nick Hexum of 311 and hit the #10 position on the Modern Rock list.[1][5]
| Master of Styles | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 21, 1998 | |||
| Recorded | 1998 at Sierra Sonic Studios | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 42:40 | |||
| Label | Immortal Records | |||
| Producer | GGGarth[1] | |||
| The Urge chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |  [1] |
Critical reception edit
The Washington Post wrote that "Urge seems to have a chameleonic talent for adapting to punk, ska, reggae, hip-hop and reggae trends without ever distinguishing itself."[6] MTV wrote that "any group that can throw funk, ska, pop and metal into the old mixmaster (accent on old) without any discernible recipe for making it all work to their commercial benefit is nothing if not adaptable."[7] CMJ New Music Monthly opined that the band "combines sounds from funk to punk to reggae, and it's successful thanks in large part to the one constant: the mellifluous, adaptable voice of Steve Ewing."[8]
Track listing edit
All tracks are written by Steve Ewing, Karl Grable, Jerry Jost, Todd Painter, and John Pessoni, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "If I Were You" | 3:52 | |
| 2. | "Straight to Hell" | 3:15 | |
| 3. | "Jump Right In" (ft. Nick Hexum) | The Urge, N. Hexum | 3:43 |
| 4. | "S.L.O.B." | S. Ewing, K. Grable, J. Pessoni | 2:48 |
| 5. | "Played Out" | 3:39 | |
| 6. | "Closer" | K. Grable, J. Jost, T. Painter, J. Pessoni | 3:49 |
| 7. | "Gene Machine" (Bad Brains Cover) | P. Hudson, D. Jenifer | 3:03 |
| 8. | "My Apology" | S. Ewing, K. Grable, J. Jost, M. Kwiatkowski, T. Painter, J. Pessoni | 3:24 |
| 9. | "Divide and Conquer" | The Urge | 4:43 |
| 10. | "Identity Crisis" | 2:42 | |
| 11. | "Going Down" | 3:24 | |
| 12. | "Prayer for Rain" | S. Ewing, K. Grable, J. Jost, M. Kwiatkowski, T. Painter, J. Pessoni | 4:15 |
| Total length: | 42:40 | ||
Personnel edit
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Charts edit
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Heatseekers | 1[9] |
| US Billboard Billboard 200 | 111[10] |
References edit
- ^ a b c MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 1182.
- ^ "Master of Styles - The Urge | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ "The Urge | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ Cooper, Melinda. "Over 25 Years In, the Urge Continues to Sell Out St. Louis Venues". Riverfront Times.
- ^ "The Urge". Billboard.
- ^ Joyce, Mike (May 22, 1998). "THE URGE" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
- ^ "Urge Underkill". MTV News.
- ^ "Reviews". CMJ New Music Monthly. CMJ Network, Inc. June 1, 1998 – via Google Books.
- ^ "The Urge". Billboard.
- ^ "The Urge". Billboard.