The Hard Stuff (Wayne Kramer Album)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

''The Hard Stuff'' is the solo debut album by American musician Wayne Kramer, best known as a guitarist with the 1960s group
MC5 MC5, also commonly called The MC5, is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan, in 1963. The original line-up consisted of Rob Tyner (vocals) Wayne Kramer (guitar), Fred "Sonic" Smith (guitar), Michael Davis (bass), and Dennis ...
. It was released on January 10, 1995 by
Epitaph Records Epitaph Records is an American independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, most acts signed to the label were punk and pop punk acts, while there are many post-hardcore and emo bands ...
. The band
Claw Hammer A claw hammer is a hammer primarily used in carpentry for driving nails into or pulling them from wood. Historically, a claw hammer has been associated with woodworking, but is also used in general applications. It is not suitable for heavy h ...
backs up Kramer on most songs, with featured guest appearances by members of
Bad Religion Bad Religion is an American punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1980. The band's lyrics cover topics related to religion, politics, society, the media and science. Musically, they are noted for their melodic sensibilitie ...
, the
Melvins Melvins (sometimes The Melvins) are an American rock band formed in 1983 in Montesano, Washington. Their early work was key to the development of both grunge and sludge metal. Initially, they performed as a trio but later also sometimes appeare ...
, and
Suicidal Tendencies Suicidal Tendencies is an American crossover thrash band formed in 1980 in Venice in Los Angeles, California by vocalist Mike Muir. Muir is the only remaining original member of the band. Along with D.R.I., Corrosion of Conformity, and Stormtr ...
.


Critical reception

''
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...
'' wrote that "...''the Hard Stuff'' shows
ramer Ramer may refer to: ; Places in the United States *Ramer, Alabama, an unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Alabama *Ramer, Tennessee, a city in McNairy County, Tennessee *Ramer Field, a stadium in River Falls, Wisconsin ; People * Geo ...
to be in full command of his jam-kicking facilities," while praising the album's "vital rawness". David Sprague and
Ira Robbins ''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference ...
wrote in ''
Trouser Press ''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference to ...
'' that the album "careens from free-jazz-backed spoken word to bug-eyed metal in a manner every bit as fierce and feral as Kramer's golden age." ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...
''s Mike Flaherty was less favorable, describing the album as "a bombastic album dominated by tales of ’90s-style sociopolitical decay" and giving it a C+. ''
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
''s Mark Jenkins was also critical of the album, writing that on it, Kramer "is still tough and eclectic, but he fails to reconjure the sheer abandon of his former band's best work." Alan Crandall wrote in '' Perfect Sound Forever'' that the album "had something, that undefinable "oomph" that keeps you throwing on a particular album because you just really like it for no easily articulated reason."


Track listing

All tracks composed by Wayne Kramer; except where indicated. # "Crack in the Universe" # "Junkie Romance" (Kramer,
Mick Farren Michael Anthony Farren (3 September 1943 – 27 July 2013) was an English rock musician, singer, journalist, and author associated with counterculture and the UK underground. Early life Farren was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and aft ...
) # "Bad Seed" (Kramer, Mick Farren) # "Poison" # "Realm of Pirate Kings" (Kramer, Mick Farren) # "Incident on Stock Island" # "Pillar of Fire" (Kramer, Mick Farren) # "Hope for Sale" (Kramer, Mick Farren) # "Edge of the Switchblade" # "Sharkskin Suit" # "So Long Hank" (hidden track)


Personnel

*
Sweet Pea Atkinson Hillard "Sweet Pea" Atkinson (September 20, 1945 – May 5, 2020) was an American R&B singer known as one of the vocalists for the band Was (Not Was). Biography Atkinson was born in Oberlin, Ohio, and moved to Detroit as a child. He worke ...
– vocals on "Pillar of Fire" *Chris Bagarozzi – guitar *Randy Bradbury – bass *Sally Browder – engineer, mixing *Greg Cathcart – assistant engineer *
Dale Crover Dale Crover (born October 23, 1967) is an American rock musician. Crover is best known as the drummer for Melvins and has also been the drummer for Men of Porn, Shrinebuilder, Crystal Fairy and, for a brief time, Nirvana. He is also guitarist an ...
– drums, percussion on "Poison" *
Mark Deutrom Mark Deutrom is an American musician, composer, songwriter, and producer, best known as the guitarist for the punk rock band Clown Alley in the 1980s, and as the bassist for the multi-genre rock band Melvins from 1993 to 1998. Career In the ear ...
– bass on "Poison" *Bruce Duff – bass *Mick Farren – guest artist *Matt Freeman – bass *
Josh Freese Joshua Ryan Freese (born December 25, 1972) is an American session drummer. He is the son of tuba soloist Stan Freese and the older brother of musician Jason Freese. He is a member of the Vandals (since 1989) and Devo (since 1996), having forme ...
– drums *
Brett Gurewitz Brett W. Gurewitz (born May 12, 1962), nicknamed Mr. Brett, is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of Bad Religion. He is also the owner of the music label Epitaph Records and a number of sister labels. He has produced albums f ...
– guitar, mixing, vocals *
James Jamerson, Jr. James Jamerson Jr. (born James L. Jamerson III; August 24, 1957 – March 23, 2016) was an American bass player and noted studio musician. During his over three-decades long career he recorded with Bob Dylan, Tavares, The Temptations, and many more. ...
– bass on "Pillar of Fire" *King Buzzo – vocals on "Poison" *Wayne Kramer – bass, guitar, mixing, vocals *Steve Kravac – assistant engineer *Bob Lee – drums *
Stephen Marcussen Stephen Marcussen is the founder and chief mastering engineer at Marcussen Mastering in Hollywood, California, United States. He has been mastering music since 1979. Biography Marcussen's introduction to music recording happened in 1976 when, at ...
– mastering *
Keith Morris Keith Morris (born September 18, 1955) is an American singer and songwriter known for his role as frontman of the hardcore punk bands Black Flag, Circle Jerks, and Off!. Born and raised in Hermosa Beach, California, he formed Black Flag at the ...
– vocals on "Edge of the Switchblade" *Mackie Osborne – art direction *Tony Rambo – assistant engineer *Brett Reed – drums on "Realm of Pirate Kings" *
Kim Shattuck Kimberly Dianne Shattuck (July 17, 1963 – October 2, 2019) was an American singer, musician, and songwriter. She was the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the American punk rock band the Muffs, which formed in 1991. From ...
– vocals *Jon Wahl – guitar, harmonica *Rob Walther – bass *
Dan Winters Dan Winters (born October 21, 1962) is an American portrait photographer, illustrator, filmmaker and writer. Early life He was born in Ventura County, California on October 21, 1962. He first studied photography and the darkroom process starting ...
– photography


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hard Stuff 1995 debut albums Wayne Kramer (guitarist) albums Albums produced by Wayne Kramer (guitarist) Epitaph Records albums