Edge of Allegiance

Edge of Allegiance is the third album by the American band Timbuk 3, released in 1989.^[2][3]

Edge of Allegiance
Studio album by Timbuk 3
Released	1989
Length	40:05
Label	I.R.S.[1]
Producer	Timbuk 3, Denardo Coleman
Timbuk 3 chronology
Eden Alley (1988) Edge of Allegiance (1989) Big Shot in the Dark (1991)

The album's first single was "National Holiday".^[4]

Production

The album was produced by Timbuk 3 and Denardo Coleman.^[5][6] It was recorded in Austin and mixed in Houston.^[7][8] The band employed less overdubbing than on past albums, while also singing the harmonies in the moment.^[9] The lyrics were in part influenced by Leonard Cohen; the band started listening to him after Cohen mentioned in interviews his admiration for "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades".^[10] Timbuk 3 considered the album to be evenly divided between political songs and relationship songs.^[11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[12]
Robert Christgau	B+[13]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[14]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[5]
Ottawa Citizen	[15]
Windsor Star	A−[16]

Trouser Press wrote: "Oozing sardonic desperation, Edge of Allegiance ... is yet another small triumph of sane, thoughtful songcraft—occasionally labored ('Standard White Jesus') but more often right on the money."^[17] Robert Christgau posited that "their songs will remain winsome and wise for as long as the record company puts them out."^[13] The Los Angeles Daily News considered the album to be one of 1989's best, calling Timbuk 3 "one of the decade's most underrated acts."^[18]

The Windsor Star opined that the band "have a sardonic sense of the absurd but enough compassion so that their music never sinks to mere parody and loses its punch."^[16] The Ottawa Citizen noted that "lustre and sophistication have turned the flat street-corner style into something with more depth and nuance."^[15] The St. Petersburg Times deemed the album "another cunning collection of sharp-tongued diatribes against political betrayal and social apathy."^[19]

Track listing

All songs written by Pat MacDonald, except where noted.

1. "National Holiday" – 4:02
2. "Waves of Grain" – 3:45
3. "Dirty Dirty Rice" – 2:53
4. "Pass It On" – 2:51
5. "Standard White Jesus" – 4:47
6. "Grand Old Party" – 3:16 (Pat and Barbara K. MacDonald)
7. "Count to Ten" – 3:54
8. "B-Side of Life" – 3:15
9. "Acid Rain" – 3:44
10. "Daddy's Down in the Mine" – 3:10
11. “Don't Give Up On Me” – 2:46
12. “Wheel of Fortune” – 2:30

Personnel

• Barbara K. MacDonald – Vocals, electric guitar, violin, drum programming
• Pat MacDonald – Vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, harmonica, guitar synth, sampler
• Denardo Coleman – Drums, percussion