Wonderful (Circle Jerks album)
Wonderful is the fourth studio album by the American hardcore punk band Circle Jerks, released in 1985.[1][2]
| Wonderful | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1985 | |||
| Recorded | Crystal Studios, Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | Hardcore punk | |||
| Length | 33:27 | |||
| Label | Combat | |||
| Producer | Circle Jerks, Karat Faye | |||
| Circle Jerks chronology | ||||
| ||||
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
The Daily Breeze wrote that the album "has the speed and energy that belies [Keith] Morris' disinterest in the punk scene, and the record showcases the band's outrageous sense of humor."[4] The Los Angeles Times noted that "the new rhythm team of bassist Zander Schloss and drummer Keith Clark lends tight support to the slower, more heavy metal-ish tunes."[5]
In an AllMusic review, Alex Ogg wrote: "The Circle Jerks were always a limited band that happened to cover the basics exceptionally well. However, Wonderful is the worst example of the treadmill approach to hard rock/punk that engulfed them in the mid-'80s. Greg Hetson and Keith Morris were trying out yet another rhythm section (Keith Clark and journeyman Zander Schloss), but the real fault lies in their gutless, inconclusive self-production and lackluster songwriting. Dodge this and opt for either their earlier or later work. The one saving grace is the cover artwork by Gary Leonard—featuring your heroes resplendent in tuxedos and cheesy smiles."[3]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Wonderful" | Greg Hetson, Keith Clark, Keith Morris | 2:20 |
| 2. | "Firebaugh" | Clark, Zander Schloss | 1:37 |
| 3. | "Making the Bombs" | Harlan Hollander, Clark, Morris | 3:24 |
| 4. | "Mrs. Jones" | Morris, Schloss | 2:11 |
| 5. | "Dude" | Hetson, Schloss | 2:24 |
| 6. | "American Heavy Metal Weekend" | Hetson, Clark, Morris | 3:22 |
| 7. | "I, I & I" | Chris Desjardins, Tito Larriva | 2:18 |
| 8. | "The Crowd" | Schloss | 1:35 |
| 9. | "Killing for Jesus" | Bob Ricketts, Eddie Muñoz, Hollander | 4:44 |
| 10. | "Karma Stew" | Schloss | 1:32 |
| 11. | "15 Minutes" | Clark, Morris, Schloss | 4:14 |
| 12. | "Rock House" | Hetson, Clark, Schloss | 2:31 |
| 13. | "Another Broken Heart for Snake" | Clark, Mark Free, Las Palmas-La Canada Childrens Choir | 1:15 |
| Total length: | 33:27 | ||
Personnel
- Keith Morris - vocals
- Greg Hetson - guitar
- Zander Schloss - bass
- Keith Clark - drums, piano on "Another Broken Heart for Snake"
- Guest musicians
- Jamie Sheriff - strings on "Another Broken Heart for Snake"
- Productions
- Karat Faye - producer, engineer
- Jim McMahon - assistant engineer
- Ken Perry - mastering
- Mark Weinberg - design
- Gary Leonard - artwork
- Peter Oliver - photography
References
- Petric, John (December 12, 1985). "Punk Group Mellowing". Features. The Columbus Dispatch. p. 4.
- Moon, Tom (January 10, 1986). "The Circle Jerks". Miami Herald. p. 6D.
- Ogg, Alex. "Wonderful - Circle Jerks". allmusic.com. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
- Lev, Michael (January 24, 1986). "Circle Jerks bridge the rock-hardcore gap". Daily Breeze. p. E12.
- Matsumoto, Jon (2 Feb 1986). "Hard-Core with Heart". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 57.