Acid Bubblegum

Acid Bubblegum
Studio album by
Graham Parker
Released1 October 1996
GenreRock and roll
LabelRazor & Tie
ProducerGraham Parker
Graham Parker chronology
Live from New York, NY
(1996) 		Acid Bubblegum
(1996) 		The Last Rock & Roll Tour
(1997)

Acid Bubblegum is an album by the English musician Graham Parker, released on 1 October 1996.[1][2] Its title is a play on the genres of acid rock and acid house.[3] Parker supported it with a North American tour, backed by the Figgs.[4]

Production

Parker wrote the songs on acoustic guitar.[3] "Turn It into Hate" was written a few years before his previous studio album, 12 Haunted Episodes, and set the tone for the rest of Acid Bubblegum's "aggrieved" songs.[5] Parker was backed by Andrew Bodnar on bass, Gary Burke on drums, and Jimmy Destri on keyboards.[6] He produced the album, which was recorded in 13 days.[6] "Obsessed with Aretha" was written after Parker saw Aretha Franklin perform at the Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 1995; he had long been impressed with her "technically great" voice but found it to be symbolic of a lack of "soulfulness" in society.[7][8] "They Got It Wrong (As Usual)" alludes to the suicide of Kurt Cobain.[9] "Bubblegum Cancer" criticizes the tobacco industry for marketing cigarettes to minors.[10] "Girl at the End of the Pier" is about the suicide of a young woman.[11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
All Music Guide to Rock[12]
Chicago Tribune[13]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[14]
The Great Rock Discography5/10[15]
The Guardian[16]
Lincoln Journal Star[17]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[18]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide[19]
Sunday Republican[20]
The Tampa Tribune[21]

The Record called the album "a soulful rock-and-roll treat that proves the old basher still can summon the spit and vinegar."[22] The New York Times stated that Parker "returns to the stubborn righteousness that has brought him loyal fans for 20 years."[23] Lincoln Journal Star said that he "surrenders completely to his baser impulses, firing caustically and hilariously at all sorts of pop-culture targets" and "the playing is lean and rocking, the melodies some of Parker's best in years".[17] The Observer noted that "while he can still write some potent lyrics, trying to be the most rage-filled rocker around is an odd ambition for a 45 year old."[24]

The Chicago Tribune concluded that "though the verbal hostility sometimes sounds staged, the music truly sizzles."[13] The Los Angeles Times stated, "It's a cranky thinking-person's album, along the lines of Lou Reed's ticked-off-guy-on-a-barstool record, New York."[3] The Washington Post noted that Parker "now distrusts youth culture every bit as much as he has always distrusted the Establishment."[25] The Tampa Tribune called it a "punchy, intelligent and tuneful treat".[21] The Indianapolis Star labeled the album "probably the best unheard disc of 1996."[26]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Turn It into Hate" 
2."Sharpening Axes" 
3."Get Over It and Move On" 
4."Bubblegum Cancer" 
5."Impenetrable" 
6."She Never Let Me Down" 
7."Obsessed with Aretha" 
8."Beancounter" 
9."Girl at the End of the Pier" 
10."Baggage" 
11."Milk Train" 
12."Character Assassination" 
13."They Got It Wrong (As Usual)" 

References

  1. ^ The Rough Guide to Rock (3rd ed.). Rough Guides. 2003. p. 770.
  2. ^ Allan, Marc D. (1 September 1996). "Rush of CD releases will fill void left by dearth of concerts". The Indianapolis Star. p. I6.
  3. ^ a b c McShane, Larry (1 November 1996). "Graham Parker Unleashes His 'Acid' Humor on Us All". Los Angeles Daily News. Associated Press. p. L22.
  4. ^ Morse, Steve (4 October 1996). "Eddie Vedder rages and Graham Parker rocks". The Boston Globe. p. E16.
  5. ^ Boehm, Mike (2 November 1996). "Graham Parker Aces 'Acid' Test with Attitude". Los Angeles Times. p. F2.
  6. ^ a b Alexander, Randy (18 October 1996). "Parker returns to rock with the Figgs". Hartford Courant. p. F14.
  7. ^ "Calling in the Reinforcements". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 13 October 1996. p. F3.
  8. ^ Maples, Tina (24 October 1996). "Veteran rocker Parker turns to young sidemen for tour". Cue. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 10.
  9. ^ Milano, Brett (December 1996). "Acid Bubblegum". Stereo Review. Vol. 61, no. 12. p. 98.
  10. ^ Jordan, Chris (11 October 1996). "Original angry rocker". On the Go. The Home News & Tribune. p. 6.
  11. ^ Gnerre, Sam (22 November 1996). "Old and new Parker shines on 2 releases". The News-Pilot. p. K28.
  12. ^ All Music Guide to Rock (3rd ed.). Backbeat Books. 2002. p. 841.
  13. ^ a b Reger, Rick (25 October 1996). "Graham Parker Acid Bubblegum". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 57.
  14. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 420.
  15. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2004). The Great Rock Discography (7th ed.). Canongate. p. 1142.
  16. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (25 July 1997). "Pop CD Releases". The Guardian. p. T18.
  17. ^ a b Moser, Daniel R. (20 October 1996). "Rock". Lincoln Journal Star. p. H6.
  18. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide (2nd ed.). Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 857.
  19. ^ (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. p. 616.
  20. ^ O'Hare, Kevin (29 September 1996). "Playback". Sunday Republican. p. D3.
  21. ^ a b Ross, Bob (4 October 1996). "Records". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 21.
  22. ^ DeMarco, Jerry (11 October 1996). "Parker: Angry Does It". Lifestyle/Previews. The Record. p. 35.
  23. ^ Pareles, Jon (18 October 1996). "Still Stubbornly Surly". The New York Times. p. C26.
  24. ^ Spencer, Neil (3 August 1997). "The week in Reviews: CDs: Pop". The Observer. p. 9.
  25. ^ Himes, Geoffrey (28 November 1996). "Music Boxes". The Washington Post. p. R16.
  26. ^ Allan, Marc D. (26 November 1996). "'70s music that stands test of time". The Indianapolis Star. p. D1.
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