Phaseshifter Explained

Phaseshifter should not be confused with Phase modulation.

Phaseshifter
Type:studio
Artist:Redd Kross
Cover:Phaseshifter.jpg
Released:October 5, 1993
Genre:
Label:This Way Up/Mercury
Producer:Redd Kross
Prev Title:Third Eye
Prev Year:1990
Next Title:Show World
Next Year:1997

Phaseshifter is a 1993 album by the American rock band Redd Kross.[2] [3] Three singles were released from the album: "Jimmy's Fantasy", "Lady In The Front Row" and "Visionary".

The album peaked at number 99 on the Australian ARIA albums chart in April 1994. The band supported the album by touring with the Lemonheads.[4]

Production

The album was produced by the band and mixed by John Agnello.[5] Unlike with previous albums, Redd Kross had to scramble to write or find all new songs for Phaseshifter.[6] "Crazy World" was originally recorded by Frightwig. The McDonald brothers brought on three new bandmates for the recording sessions.[7]

Critical reception

Trouser Press wrote: "With the comic relief in the songs kept out of the spotlight ... it's possible to overlook the McDonalds' colorful personalities in the lighthearted songs, hearing only the catchy tunes, the Big Noise and the skilled musicianship."[8] The Vancouver Sun called the album "12 songs of endearing melodies and post-adolescent emotionalism ... enveloped in the fierce energy of the band's live performances."[9] The Virginian-Pilot labeled it "a fully convincing hard-rock record that could have been the follow-up to Cheap Trick at Budokan."[10]

The Press-Telegram deemed the album "a brilliant merger of bubblegum and thrash-punk"; the Fort Worth Star-Telegram considered it "great trash-metal."[11] [12] The Morning Call listed Phaseshifter among the best albums of 1993.[13]

AllMusic wrote that the band "seem more bent on cutting straightforward and driving, power pop/rock anthems than going in for their '80s-style, HR Pufnstuf form of garage psychedelia."

Track listing

All songs written by Jeff McDonald and Steve McDonald, except where noted.

  1. "Jimmy's Fantasy" (J. Mcdonald, S. McDonald, Bill Bartell, Eddie Kurdziel) – 3:45
  2. "Lady in the Front Row" (J. Mcdonald, S. McDonald, Kurdziel) – 3:20
  3. "Monolith" – 4:12
  4. "Crazy World" (D. Chirazi) – 4:30
  5. "Dumb Angel" (J. Mcdonald, S. McDonald, Bartell, Roger Manning) – 2:57
  6. "Huge Wonder" – 5:02
  7. "Visionary" – 4:04
  8. "Pay for Love" (J. Mcdonald, S. McDonald, Gere Fennelly, Charlotte Caffey) – 4:13
  9. "Ms. Lady Evans" – 2:47
  10. "Only a Girl" – 3:43
  11. "Saragon" – 2:46
  12. "After School Special" (J. Mcdonald, S. McDonald, Fennelly) – 2:54
  13. "Any Hour, Every Day" (bonus track on UK/Japanese/Australian CD)

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1993)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[14] 99

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The 25 Best Grunge Albums of the ’90s . Pitchfork . 16 March 2023 . 6 October 2022.
  2. Web site: Redd Kross Biography, Songs, & Albums. AllMusic.
  3. Ali . Lorraine . Totally Krossed Out . Spin . Dec 1993 . 9 . 9 . 87.
  4. Web site: THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT BAND IN AMERICA?. EW.com.
  5. Web site: Redd Kross: Red Cross EP / Phaseshifter / Show World. Pitchfork.
  6. News: Stoute . Lenny . Redd Kross: 'A tight band that feels like family' . Toronto Star . November 19, 1993 . B13.
  7. News: Sculley . Alan . Red Kross Has Lent a Hand Over the Years . Daily Press . November 26, 1993 . Newport News . InRoads . 16.
  8. Web site: Redd Kross (Red Cross) . Trouser Press . 25 October 2022.
  9. News: Harrison . Tom . Kross Ahead of Its Time . Vancouver Sun . 21 Oct 1993 . B4.
  10. News: Wright . Rickey . References to Life and Other Things . The Virginian-Pilot . November 26, 1993 . Preview . 3.
  11. News: Grobaty . Tim . First, we got the new Redd Kross album... . Press-Telegram . October 9, 1993 . C1.
  12. News: Ferman . Dave . RRRRRock, Man! . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . October 15, 1993 . A&E . 2.
  13. News: Righi . Len . The Year in Review . The Morning Call . 1 Jan 1994 . A46.
  14. 231.