Jesus Urge Superstar is
Urge Overkill's transitional album, a bridge in between their noise-punk beginnings and their later, more polished pop/rock era. The production verges on dreadful, and the compositions are frustratingly unfocused, but there are occasional inventive pop hooks and melodies. For every noise-punk retread such as "Dump Dump Dump," there are also some hooky rock anthems such as "Head On." There are even some quirky experiments, the kind of which the band abandoned in their later years, such as
Urge's attempt at funk with "Polaroid Doll," the bluesy bridge in "Very Sad Trousers," and the extended epic "Your Friend Is Insane." Still, as good as some of the moments on the album are, the muddled, uncertain songwriting, as well as the shoddy production, ultimately make
Jesus Urge Superstar one of
Urge Overkill's least satisfying albums. For a true introduction to
Urge,
Saturation is still the best choice. ~ Victor W. Valdivia