To the Center

To the Center is the debut studio album by the American stoner rock band Nebula.[1][2] It was released on August 24, 1999, on Sub Pop.[3] The album was later reissued in 2018 by the band's current label, Heavy Psych Sounds Records.[4][5]

To the Center
Studio album by
Nebula
ReleasedAugust 24, 1999 (1999-08-24)
RecordedApril 1999
StudioHanszek Audio, Seattle, Washington
Genre
Length47:51
Label
  • Sub Pop
  • Heavy Psych Sounds (2018 reissue)
Producer
Nebula chronology
Nebula/Lowrider
(1999)		 To the Center
(1999)		 Charged
(2001)

Production

Recorded in Seattle, the album was produced with Jack Endino.[6] Guitar player Eddie Glass employed a Gibson SG.[7]

Mark Arm sang on the band's cover of the Stooges' "I Need Somebody".[8]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Antichrist Magazine78/100[10]
Chicago Sun-Times[7]
Classic Rock8/10[11]
Myglobalmind9/10[12]
New Noise Magazine[13]

Exclaim! wrote that Glass "transformed himself into a veritable guitar god almost overnight in an era wherein the slightest six-string noodling is waved off the road, considered indulgent."[3] The Chicago Tribune thought that "acoustic guitars, sitar, [and] synthesizer give this Hendrix-like trio added texture."[14] OC Weekly decided that "the band also gets a little groovy, pulling out the aural incense to jam on the Fugazi-like 'Freedom' and synthesizer-laced, Jefferson Airplane-ish 'Synthetic Dream'."[15]

The Province determined that "this power trio seems to have blotted up its churn and burn from ancient Frisco acid rock band, Blue Cheer."[16] Tucson Weekly deemed To the Center "an album which undeniably pushes the band to the forefront of its genre, whether or not you've got a bong in front of you."[17]

Houston Press wrote: "On a song such as 'Come Down', Nebula actually does what few '90s bands have ever done, chemically enhanced or not: It achieves true heaviness. After the song's simple three-note syncopated intro doubles back on itself, Glass scratches his guitar pick down his strings before singing the hurried lyrics. And it's during those one and a half seconds, the time it takes for Glass's pick to travel a few inches, that Nebula is the heaviest band on earth. Not since Ritchie Blackmore's days with Deep Purple has the simple gesture of pick scratching been used so perfectly."[18]

AllMusic called the album a "retro-psychedelic heavy rock platter, long on stripped-down riff muscle and surprisingly technically adept guitar jams."[9]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Eddie Glass and Ruben Romano, except where noted. All music by Glass

Standard release
No.TitleLyricsLength
1."To the Center" 6:31
2."Come Down" 2:01
3."Whatcha Lookin' For" 2:37
4."Clearlight" 4:29
5."Freedom" 7:14
6."Antigone" 2:30
7."I Need Somebody"Iggy Pop, James Williamson4:18
8."So Low" 3:45
9."Synthetic Dream" 4:28
10."Fields of Psilocybin" 2:15
11."Between Time"Randy Holden3:22
12."You Mean Nothing" 4:21
Total length:47:51

Personnel
  • Eddie Glass – guitar, vocals, percussion, Fender Rhodes, bolbatar, drums
  • Ruben Romano – drums, vocals, percussion, sitar
  • Mark Abshire – bass, vocals, audio generator

Additional personnel

  • Mark Arm – vocals on "I Need Somebody"
  • Jon Wright – Fender Rhodes on "To the Center" and "So Low"

References
  1. "Nebula Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  2. Kassulke, Natasha (October 7, 1999). "SPOTLIGHT: NEBULA WITH ATOMIC BITCHWAX AND CORE". Wisconsin State Journal. Rhythm. p. 20.
  3. Genovese, Robin (October 1, 1999). "Nebula – To the Center". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  4. "Nebula – To the Center". Heavy Psych Sounds. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  5. Foster, Chuck (February 13, 2018). "Nebula – Let It Burn (Heavy Psych Sounds)". The Big Takeover. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  6. Niesel, Jeff (October 28, 1999). "NEBULA ... rides out choppy surf to find its 'Center'". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Entertainment. p. 15.
  7. Williams, Kevin M. (November 14, 1999). "SPIN CONTROL". Chicago Sun-Times. SHOWCASE. p. 15.
  8. Morris, Chris (November 13, 1999). "FLAG WAVING". Billboard. 111 (46): 57.
  9. Huey, Steve. "To the Center – Nebula". AllMusic. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  10. Castles, Paul (March 9, 2018). "Review: Nebula "To The Center" and "Let It Burn"". Antichrist Magazine. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  11. Needs, Kris (February 2, 2018). "Nebula – Reissues album review". Classic Rock. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  12. Pam and Mark Schaff (February 10, 2018). "Nebula – Let It Burn, To the Center, Dos EPs Review". Myglobalmind.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  13. Herron-Wheeler, Addison (January 25, 2018). "Nebula – Let It Burn, To the Center, Dos EPs". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  14. Kot, Greg (April 23, 2000). "RETURN OF THE STONER AGE BANDS LIKE MONSTER MAGNET AND NEBULA REKINDLE THE FIRE OF HARD ROCK, WITH LOTS OF SMOLDERING GUITARS". Chicago Tribune. Arts & Entertainment. p. 7.1.
  15. "CD Reviews". OC Weekly. November 4, 1999.
  16. Derdeyn, Stuart (January 11, 2000). "Quick Spins". The Province. p. B5.
  17. Seigel, Stephen (October 28, 1999). "Soundbites". Tucson Weekly.
  18. Mariani, Anthony (November 4, 1999). "Happy Daze - Nebula conjures up memories of loud Les Pauls, long hair and weed". Music.
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