Search - Imperial Drag :: Imperial Drag

Imperial Drag
Imperial Drag
Imperial Drag
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (14) - Disc #1

From Kiss to the Sex Pistols, and Patti Smith to Neil Young, nostalgia was one of rock's biggest enemies in 1996. It was pervasive and suffocating, but it was also seductive as hell, providing it pushed the right buttons. ...  more »

     
   
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CD Details

All Artists: Imperial Drag
Title: Imperial Drag
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 1
Label: Sony
Release Date: 5/7/1996
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock
Styles: Hardcore & Punk, American Alternative
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 074646737828, 074646737842

Synopsis

Amazon.com
From Kiss to the Sex Pistols, and Patti Smith to Neil Young, nostalgia was one of rock's biggest enemies in 1996. It was pervasive and suffocating, but it was also seductive as hell, providing it pushed the right buttons. The self-titled debut by Imperial Drag certainly pushed mine, bringing me back to the days of my Riunite-fueled early-teen rebellion and a soundtrack consisting of cock-rock riffs and posturing (Ted Nugent and Led Zeppelin), glam hooks and gender-bending (T-Rex), and full-blown prog-rock heaviosity (ELP's stomping synthesizers). By revisiting these unheralded and now mostly unloved sounds with such unapologetic flair and flamboyance, Roger Joseph Manning and Eric Dover almost redeemed themselves for the smug power pop they used to in their Jellyfish days. Imperial Drag is the album Urge Overkill should have made to follow Saturation, and the one Redd Kross should have released to top Third Eye. Of course, it comes complete with long, greasy hair, wild bell bottoms, over-the-top lyrics ("I'm unoriginal, it's fine... I've got a boner for your zodiac sign"), and bona-fide fist-in-the-air anthems ("Boy or a Girl," "Overnight Sensation")-the better to fuel the way-back machine.Jim Derogatis

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CD Reviews

For those who appreciate smart-rock, this is a keeper!
03/24/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Despite being eventually dropped from their record label, Imperial Drag was a band that possessed the rare ability to combine rough, raw energy, with thoughtful, even humorous lyrics. Their two hit singles, "Spyder" and "Boy or a Girl," are only the tip of the iceberg. However, to gain a greater appreciation for their sound, you would probably be best served to check out the band that preceeded Imperial Drag; the band was Jellyfish, and it was fronted by gifted musician Andy Sturmer, along with Drags Roger Manning and Eric Dover, and current Sheryl Crow bassist Tim Smith. Jellyfish, like Imperial Drag, had a little less than 15 minutes of fame, which only goes to show that to be successful in the music business, "catchy and simple" continually prevails over "substance and music." Too bad. Both bands were innovative and well worth the money it costs to buy one of their CDs."
A more refined version of "Jellyfish" w/o as much 70's pop.
Hellion | 07/13/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you take the image of "Kiss meets the Phantom of the Park"'s kitsch aesthetics, and mix it with Freddie Mercury's (Queen) vocal prowess, (and vocal cleanliness), throw in a pinch of the Beatles for harmony's sake, shaken, not stirred, you get Imperial Drag. The singles that fell off the album are by far less than the best of the tracks. Spyder has the decent howl in lead vocals, Boy or a Girl of course has the catchy refrain, but throw in sounds like that of Dandilion, and you get an almost 60's folk-music-on-old-vinyl feel. Guaranteed eargasm."
Neato superb awesome glampop
Hellion | 02/15/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)

"this is a wonderfully glam and rocking album that you should never be without if you like loud guitars with really smart smart smart arrangements and incredible musicianship... so much intelligence and humour!"