Urge Overkill

U.O.'s third album, where they unequivocally grew into their rock-star aspirations, took the smirking irony with which they either alienated or seduced the pre-grunge alternative rock crowd and added a drummer (Blackie Onassis) who was able to hang with the band's post-punk indie rock/A.O.R. hybrid. There are no bad songs, but these also are not U.O.'s best songs, which they were supposed to be when the album appeared with its impeccable packaging in 1991. Still, "Emmaline" is a definitely high point for the band, and "The Kids Are Insane" sounds even better with the passage of time.

Mix-and-match bohemian one-upsmanship brings us . . . what is this, anyhow? Fashion-plate metal? Lothar-EOAOR? I'm obviously no judge of their . . . what are those, designer leisure suits? Indeed, the Chicago mafia may believe I'm no judge of their metal/AOR, either. But bohemian one-upsmanship I know, and these guys are so deep in hype Maurice Starr is lucky they're too old to be new kids. With their sludgy hooks, whiner groans, and arrogant exoticism, they're about as "subversive" as a spirochete--a social disease waiting to happen. (Grade: C)