Material Issue

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Material Issue was a power pop power trio from Chicago, Illinois. Their trademark was a brand of dense, rich, manic, and powerful pop tunes. Their lyrics revolved heavily around themes of love and heartbreak— with a phalanx of girl’s-first-name-titled songs. Singles such as “Diane” and “Valerie Loves Me” remain staples of rock radio.

Formed in 1985, Material Issue was the brainchild of frontman Jim Ellison (who also played guitar, lead vocals and wrote all Material Issue songs). The early days of Material Issue was a revolving door of bass players and drummers. However, Ellison met bassist Ted Ansani while both were attending Columbia Music School in Chicago in 1986. Drummer Mike Zelenko was recruited when the duo found him through an ad in the Illinois Entertainer later that year. With the Material Issue lineup set, Ellison – with Ansani and Zelenko eager to join him and ready to follow – set his sights on conquering the pop world.

In 1987, Material Issue released an EP on their own Big Block Label (so named for the big block engines of the 1970s muscle cars Ellison loved) which operated out of Ellison’s bedroom at his parents home in Addison, Illinois. In 1988, “Sixteen Tambourines” appeared on College Music Journal’s compliation and CMJ glowingly referred to Material Issue’s music as a “hooky brand of high-powered psycho-pop”. In 1989, their buzz grew further with the release of the single “Renee Remains The Same” which got heavy airplay around Chicago.

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Popular tags: power pop, chicago, 90s, alternative, rock  See more

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• International Pop Overthrow
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• International Pop Overthrow 20th Anniversary…
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• Freak City Soundtrack
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• Destination Universe
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Top Tracks

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1		Valerie Loves Me			121
2		Diane			32
3		Renee Remains The Same			22
4		International Pop Overthrow			20
5		Out Right Now			17
6		This Letter			16
6		Very First Lie			16
8		Chance Of A Lifetime			15
9		Crazy			14
10		Trouble			13
11		There Was A Few			12
12		This Far Before			11
12		Kim The Waitress			11
14		A Very Good Idea			9
14		Li'l Christine			9

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