Search - Urge Overkill :: Exit the Dragon

Probably the best album of the 90s

A. khan | Anaheim, Ca. United States | 12/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"ok well its really simple, this album pretty much seperates all the squares from all the people that have an intuitive sense for good taste. the mixed reviews are pretty obvious and innevitable i mean mainstream doesnt really want an album with even a bit of irony. Exit the dragon has managed to incorporate so many elements and genres of music that it practically has come down to just that good ol' bad ass rock n roll. mixing power pop, melodic, punk, experiemental, blues, country ballads, duets, just all beautiful melodies to crunching guitars. im flabbergasted my favorite albums sells for only 2 dollars i mean you seriously cant beat that. but as many other bands such as new york dolls for every 5 fans that love em youd have another 50 that would label em as 'mock rock'. Which is probably the best sign of something being really good, usually the unlistenable is whats hot. this gem holds all the beauty of any album that will always grow on you.. The best song off the album hands down has to be last night/tommorrow a metaphor based song involving the from when the point you score smack to the transition of the song peaking and then the beautiful break down which symbolizes the come down.. A beautiful tragic album by one of the best bands that carried the power pop throne along side the replacements, cheap trick, posies, the dolls, superchunk, redd kross, i could go on but its better if you hear it from them and not me..."

Worth way more than $1.00!!!

fatmatt | Cleveland, OH | 07/28/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Hey folks--I've noticed that a lot of great music like "Exit the Dragon" is in ending up in the old dollar bin because the used merchants have too much and nobody cares anymore (uh, supply & demand I think). Well let me tell you--this is one great rock and roll album that, as I write this, can be had at a bargain.



These guys were a great band and they released their best when they were at the end of the rope they eventually hung themselves with. The tension and desperation are palpable, particularly on the Eddie Roeser tracks like "This Is No Place" and "Tin Foil." "The Mistake" is a regret-filled dirge about a drug suicide written by the drummer Blackie, who subsequently quit/was fired, allegedly for reasons including his own substance abuse problems. The Nash "Girl, You are a Woman Now" Kato tracks are generally more upbeat and help lift the gloom momentarily, but this one is a delightful downer(think Big Star's "Third/Sisters Lovers" or Sly's "Riot" but not as good).



I saw these guys in Athens, GA at the 40 Watt on the "Saturation" tour and I can attest that they were the real deal. They hit the stage barechested and wearing giant "UO" gold medallions around their necks. Too bad they had their chance when it was becoming uncool to act like rock stars.



So buy a copy now because I think its out of print and it will probably be worth BIG BUCKS someday...or maybe not, but you can still listen to it and think about how little you paid for so much listening pleasure."

The band at the edge of forever

fatmatt | 11/12/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am shocked at how few people to whom rock really matters have knowledge of this album. I feel somewhat clumsy all the same in labelling it a 'lost masterpiece' as UO still maintain a relatively healthy degree of respect and name recognition. But it is all the same true that 'Exit the Dragon' broke the back of this extraordinary band, and on account of that fact they never achieved anything close to the status they deserved. The lead review damns with faint praise by suggesting a link to 'Exile', 'Big Star 3' etc. I say this not because it is as good as 'Exile' or 'Riot' - (it isn't, but what is?) - but because it suggests that Urge are worthy of commedation largely on account of the quality of their influences. I think the real truth is that this is one of the few hyper-intelligent bands who rose above their own capacity to be arch and delivered instead a clear-eyed illustration of the sheer weight of everything they had been through together; the bruising of their collective dreams. In so doing they produced a testament to all that is glorious in rock music. Appropriately enough, hardly anyone cared. In my opinion, 'Exit the Dragon' is one of the great, great albums, - far better than any other UO effort - and is worthy of being compared to the efforts of any band in any era. Obviously, there's stuff like 'The Candidate' and 'Guyville' on the other releases, but this is the one definitive album Urge released. I am one of those who failed to realise on first listen how much 'Dragon' had to offer, indeed, it was probably a few years after first listening before I really came back to it. But when that switch was finally flicked, I was floored. It is impecable: so slick, so brilliantly played, yet so raw and human. If I had to choose one track it would be 'Take Me', but I am loathe to dissemble further. You need to get it, and stick with it. Listen to this album in tota, repeatedly, very very loud. It will reveal itself, I promise. This is high art, at the absolute peak of the form, and deserves to be remembered for decades to come."