Crucial Music (Volume XVII: Judge Nothing)

I get a lot of records sent to me, though far fewer than I used to get.  Not actual LPs anymore (those were the days) but mostly CDs and nowadays, mp3s or links to myspace.  Truth be told, I don't like having to work to hear someone's music, so sending me a link to a place where I can hear your stuff isn't helpful but a burned CD-R is just fine as  little effort is required to put a CD in a player.  I do actually listen to nearly all of the stuff that I am sent and one the great feelings of being a music fan is hearing something new (especially if it's local) and loving it. One of the drawbacks of local bands is, whether constrained by budget or ignorance, they just record songs and put them out the cheapest way they know how, they don't know (or care) about things like mixing and mastering.  It's the mixing and mastering that allow a band to go from sounding like amateurs to sounding like pros, it really makes a difference. (Of course a bad band that's well-mixed and mastered is still a bad band but that's not the case here.)  Back in the Mid 90s, Thick Records sent me a copy of Judge Nothing's Riveter CD, their second.  I didn't know they were local (they actually live much closer to St. Louis--Alton, Illinois--but played in Chicago a lot) but with the backing of a decent indie label and some great production, they made a fantastic record.

As often happens, the band chose a production team that cuts close to their own sound: Bill Stevenson & Steven Egerton--two founding members of The Descendants and ALL--who gave the record a nice punk/pop sheen without being too clean. "Suitcase" forges its own path with a nod towards ALL.  The standout, shoulda been 'hit' from the record is the jagged but melodic "Old Houses" with a catchy lead riff and a stellar solo. Those songs, plus a crunchy but faithful cover of Badfinger's "No Matter What" make it a must buy and sent me looking for their previous album, I'm A Big Girl Now, which I can see from the sticker I paid $5.99 for at Quaker Goes Deaf (R.I.P) in Wicker Park.  Somewhere in the same timeframe, they contributed "Juggle" to a Subnation Magazine (R.I.P.) compilation. After a decade in which they opened up for some top-notch bands (Jesus Lizard, Green Day, Fugazi) slept on a lot of floors and couches and went through a few Econolines, they called it quits, amicably.  They do however still maintain a presence on MySpace, where you can stream their catalog and all their stuff is available for purchase on iTunes as well.

Have a great weekend, enjoy the music.

Comments

[HESS]

I just gave them a spin. I can see you liking these guys. There are TONS of bands I love(d) that I discovered during my college radio days that never 'stuck' made it past a first or second album. When I see them in dollar bins at used record stores I can't believe it because they are so awesome.

[Steve L.]

I saw Judge Nothing a couple of times in Chambana at the Blind Pig. Talked to the lead singer/guitarist too. At that time (1993 ?) they just opened a few gigs for Joan Jett and were very proud for doing so. Moving up & up so to speak.

They were a pretty good live band who I felt offered something different than the "standard" Champaign sound at the time.

Now that you mentioned it in the review - they did do "No Matter What" live.