Superjudge
Encyclopedia
Superjudge is an album
by Monster Magnet
, released on April 6, 1993 (see 1993 in music
).
being an EP
) and also their debut for A&M Records
. It was recorded and mixed by Steve Rosenthal
at New York
's "The Magic Shop" studio in October, 1992. All original material was composed by Dave Wyndorf
.
The album fared poorly commercially, largely due to its release coinciding with the advent of the grunge
era, which ultimately resulted in a dramatic decline in the popularity of heavy metal
in general. The album includes cover version
s of Willie Dixon
's "Evil", and Hawkwind
's "Brainstorm" from their 1972 album, Doremi Fasol Latido
. It is the first Monster Magnet album to feature lead guitar
ist Ed Mundell
, who replaced founding member John McBain
.
Music videos were made for the songs "Twin Earth" and "Face Down". Though a commercial disappointment in the months following its release in 1993, it has since become a very influential album within the stoner rock
genre.
unless noted otherwise.
An import version of Superjudge is also available, containing live bonus tracks.
Additional musicians
Technical staff and artwork
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet is an American stoner rock band. Hailing from Red Bank, New Jersey, the group was founded by Dave Wyndorf , John McBain and Tim Cronin...
, released on April 6, 1993 (see 1993 in music
1993 in music
This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992....
).
Overview
Superjudge was Monster Magnet's second official album (TabTab (album)
Tab is the title of Monster Magnet's second EP, released in 1991. Originally released on Glitterhouse Records, it was reissued in 1993 to capitalize on the success of the band's debut album. Though long enough to qualify as a full-length album, it is referred to as an EP...
being an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
) and also their debut for A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
. It was recorded and mixed by Steve Rosenthal
Steve Rosenthal
Steve Rosenthal is a longtime labor and political strategist based in Washington, DC. The New York Times has described Steve as one of the Democratic Party's “smartest and most influential strategists”....
at New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's "The Magic Shop" studio in October, 1992. All original material was composed by Dave Wyndorf
Dave Wyndorf
David "Dave" Albert Wyndorf is the lead vocalist, guitarist, pianist, trombonist, and songwriter for the American stoner rock group Monster Magnet. He is the frontman and only original member of the band.-Early life:...
.
The album fared poorly commercially, largely due to its release coinciding with the advent of the grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
era, which ultimately resulted in a dramatic decline in the popularity of heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
in general. The album includes cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of Willie Dixon
Willie Dixon
William James "Willie" Dixon was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. A Grammy Award winner who was proficient on both the Upright bass and the guitar, as well as his own singing voice, Dixon is arguably best known as one of the most prolific songwriters...
's "Evil", and Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
's "Brainstorm" from their 1972 album, Doremi Fasol Latido
Doremi Fasol Latido
Doremi Fasol Latido is the third studio album from Hawkwind, released in 1972. It reached #14 on the UK album charts.-New Members:The rhythm section of Dave Anderson and Terry Ollis was replaced by Lemmy and Simon King, both of whose style differed notably from their predecessors. This changed the...
. It is the first Monster Magnet album to feature lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
ist Ed Mundell
Ed Mundell
Ed Mundell is a rock guitarist most notable for his work with stoner rock group Monster Magnet from 1992 to 2010. In 2011, it was announced that Mundell had formed a new project, 9 Chambers, with Greg Hampton , Jorgen Carlsson , and drummer Vinny Appice .-Bio:Mundell grew up in New Jersey and is a...
, who replaced founding member John McBain
John McBain (musician)
John Paul McBain was a guitarist for Monster Magnet, Wellwater Conspiracy, his solo work, and has contributed to The Desert Sessions...
.
Music videos were made for the songs "Twin Earth" and "Face Down". Though a commercial disappointment in the months following its release in 1993, it has since become a very influential album within the stoner rock
Stoner rock
Stoner rock or stoner metal is a subgenre of heavy metal, combining elements of psychedelic rock, blues rock, traditional heavy metal and doom metal. Stoner rock is typically slow-to-mid tempo and features a bass-heavy sound, melodic vocals, and 'retro' production...
genre.
Track listing
All songs written by Dave WyndorfDave Wyndorf
David "Dave" Albert Wyndorf is the lead vocalist, guitarist, pianist, trombonist, and songwriter for the American stoner rock group Monster Magnet. He is the frontman and only original member of the band.-Early life:...
unless noted otherwise.
- "Cyclops Revolution" – 5:43
- "Twin Earth" – 3:55
- "Superjudge" – 6:49
- "Cage Around the Sun" – 4:55
- "Elephant Bell" – 3:59
- "Dinosaur Vacuum" – 6:02
- "Evil" (DixonWillie DixonWilliam James "Willie" Dixon was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. A Grammy Award winner who was proficient on both the Upright bass and the guitar, as well as his own singing voice, Dixon is arguably best known as one of the most prolific songwriters...
) – 3:14 - "Stadium" – 3:41
- "Face Down" – 4:11
- "Brainstorm" (TurnerNik TurnerNik Turner is a British musician, best known as a founding member of space rock pioneers Hawkwind. Turner plays saxophones, flute, sings and is a composer...
) – 8:04 - "Black Balloon" – 3:05
An import version of Superjudge is also available, containing live bonus tracks.
Bonus Tracks (Import Version)
- "Nod Scene" [Live] – 6:26
- "Snake Dance" [Live] – 3:33
- "Medicine" [Live] – 4:24
Personnel
Monster Magnet- Dave WyndorfDave WyndorfDavid "Dave" Albert Wyndorf is the lead vocalist, guitarist, pianist, trombonist, and songwriter for the American stoner rock group Monster Magnet. He is the frontman and only original member of the band.-Early life:...
- guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, vocals, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Joe Calandra - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Ed MundellEd MundellEd Mundell is a rock guitarist most notable for his work with stoner rock group Monster Magnet from 1992 to 2010. In 2011, it was announced that Mundell had formed a new project, 9 Chambers, with Greg Hampton , Jorgen Carlsson , and drummer Vinny Appice .-Bio:Mundell grew up in New Jersey and is a...
- lead guitar - Jon Kleiman - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Additional musicians
- Tim Cronin - "Mountain of Judgement" according to album's liner notes
Technical staff and artwork
- Steve Rosenthal - mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
- Edward Douglas - assistant engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
- Joe Warda - assistant engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
- Bogdan Hernik - assistant engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
- Bernie GrundmanBernie Grundman-Biography:He is most known for his mastering work and his studio, Bernie Grundman Mastering, which he opened in 1983 in Hollywood. The studio, which includes engineers Chris Bellman, Patricia Sullivan and Brian Gardner, mastered 37 projects which received Grammy Award nominations in 2005.Grundman...
– masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced... - Rich Frankel - art direction
- Rob Leecock - cover "Bull God" painting
- Michael LavineMichael LavineMichael Lavine is a portrait photographer based in New York City. He grew up in Denver, Colorado, and graduated from Denver's South High School in 1981....
- photography