Misplaced Pages

Saturation
Studio album by Urge Overkill
Released	June 8, 1993
Recorded	December 17, 1992–January 9, 1993
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	70:01
Label	Geffen
Producer	Butcher Bros., Andy Kravitz
Urge Overkill chronology
Stull (1992) Saturation (1993) Exit the Dragon (1995)
Singles from Album
"Sister Havana" Released: 1993 "Dropout" Released: 1993 "Bottle of Fur" Released: 1993 "Positive Bleeding" Released: 1993

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Chicago Sun-Times
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Entertainment Weekly	B+
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Q
Rolling Stone
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Select	4/5
Spin Alternative Record Guide	8/10

Saturation is the fourth album by American alternative rock group Urge Overkill, released in 1993 and produced by the Butcher Bros. Saturation was Urge Overkill's debut on Geffen Records, and a deliberate attempt at a hit record. The label released "Sister Havana" and "Positive Bleeding" as singles in the US and Europe. "Sister Havana" charted highly on both the modern rock and mainstream rock charts, peaking at numbers 6 and 10, respectively, while "Positive Bleeding" became a minor rock radio hit. As of 2013, Saturation has sold 277,000 copies in the US, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

On release, Saturation was met with critical acclaim. It was praised by critics for its musical variety, surreal lyrical themes, and unusual and timeless sound and production style. The album is also notable for the fact that Nash Kato – rather than King Roeser, the band's usual de facto lead vocalist – sings lead on almost the entire album. The two would split frontman duties on their next album Exit the Dragon and their 2011 comeback Rock & Roll Submarine.

At the end of "Erica Kane", a piece of dialogue by McGarrett from Hawaii Five-O is played before the music starts. The quote is from Season 5, Episode 6, titled "Fools Die Twice".

The graphic art for the album cover is an artistic depiction of the Houston, Texas city skyline.

Track listing

1. "Sister Havana" – 3:53
2. "Tequila Sundae" – 4:20
3. "Positive Bleeding" – 3:44
4. "Back on Me" – 3:12
5. "Woman 2 Woman" – 2:40
6. "Bottle of Fur" – 4:13
7. "Crackbabies" – 4:03
8. "The Stalker" – 2:52
9. "Dropout" – 4:55
10. "Erica Kane" – 3:07
11. "Nite and Grey" – 4:22
12. "Heaven 90210" – 3:49

CD bonus track: "Operation Kissinger" (hidden track) – 4:31

Personnel

• Nash Kato – lead vocals, guitars, keyboards
• Eddie "King" Roeser – bass guitar, guitars, vocals (lead: tracks 4, 8, and 11; co-lead: track 2)
• Blackie Onassis – drums, lead vocals (track 9)

Charts

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Saturation – Urge Overkill". AllMusic. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
2. DeRogatis, Jim (June 6, 1993). "A Discography". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
3. Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
4. Romero, Michele (July 23, 1993). "Saturation". Entertainment Weekly. p. 60. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
5. Moon, Tom (July 11, 1993). "Urge Overkill: Saturation (Geffen)". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
6. "Urge Overkill: Saturation". Q (84): 92. September 1993.
7. Kot, Greg (August 19, 1993). "Urge Overkill: Saturation". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 9, 2006. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
8. Himes, Geoff (2004). "Urge Overkill". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 837. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
9. Perry, Andrew (July 1993). "Mercury Rev: Boces / Urge Overkill: Saturation". Select (37): 93.
10. Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig, eds. (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
11. "Return to 'Guyville'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
12. "Urge Overkill "Erica Kane" dialogue sample from "Hawaii Five-O". "Saturation" 1993". YouTube.
13. "Australiancharts.com – Urge Overkill – Saturation". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
14. "Urge Overkill – Chart history: Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

• 1993 albums
• Urge Overkill albums
• Geffen Records albums