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]

Destination Universe
Studio album by
Released1992
StudioShort Order Recorder
GenrePower pop
Length42:55
LabelMercury
ProducerJeff Murphy, Material Issue
Material Issue chronology
International Pop Overthrow
(1991)
Destination Universe
(1992)
Freak City Soundtrack
(1994)

Production

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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

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [9]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[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

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All songs written by Jim Ellison

  1. "What Girls Want" - 3:55
  2. "When I Get This Way (Over You)" - 4:09
  3. "Next Big Thing" - 3:12
  4. "Who Needs Love" - 2:52
  5. "Destination You" - 2:49
  6. "Everything" - 3:48
  7. "Ballad of a Lonely Man" - 3:27
  8. "Girl from Out of This World" - 3:56
  9. "So Easy to Love Somebody" - 2:49
  10. "Don't You Think I Know" - 3:47
  11. "The Loneliest Heart" - 2:38
  12. "Whole Lotta You" - 2:52
  13. "If Ever You Should Fall" 2:41

References

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  1. ^ "Material Issue Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  2. ^ "Destination Universe by Material Issue". Billboard. 104 (22): 50. May 30, 1992.
  3. ^ Shipley, Al (November 16, 2022). "30 Overlooked 1992 Albums Turning 30". Spin.
  4. ^ "Mercury label group Material Issue...". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. 5 June 1992. p. 21.
  5. ^ Caro, Mark (28 Feb 1992). "Universal pop overthrow". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. Q.
  6. ^ a b "Material Issue". Trouser Press. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  7. ^ Carlson, Kevin M. (July 9, 1992). "Group brings its edgy rock to District". The Washington Times. p. M6.
  8. ^ Kozul, Zlata (July 28, 1993). "Spotlight on Material Issue". The Times. Munster.
  9. ^ "Destination Universe - Material Issue | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  10. ^ a b "Destination Universe". EW.com.
  11. ^ a b Miley, Scott L. (8 June 1992). "Record Review". The Indianapolis Star. p. B5.
  12. ^ Wild, David (5 June 1992). "Destination Universe". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Rolling Stone. p. 4F.