Emergency Third Rail Power Trip


Emergency Third Rail Power Trip is the debut album by American rock band Rain Parade, released in 1983. It is one of the most prominent records in the Paisley Underground movement of the 1980s.

Critical reception

In a contemporary review for The Village Voice, music critic Robert Christgau felt that the band imitates "dumb" music from the psychedelic era, specifically "the wimpy singing, wispy tunes, unsure drumming, repetitive guitar effects, and naïve world view of, oh, Kaleidoscope, Morning Glory, Aum."
However, AllMusic's Denise Sullivan would later state that the band was "clearly way ahead of their time," adding that "it would take years before sleepy music ... would catch on." As a result, the "traditional, gentle psychedelic pop" of this record "sounds no more made in the '80s than in the '60s or '90s." In his 2003 book Turn On Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock, critic Jim DeRogatis stated, "Emergency Third Rail Power Trip is not only the best album from any of the Paisley Underground bands, it ranks with the best psychedelic rock efforts from any era", with uplifting melodies offset by themes that were "dark and introspective." DeRogatis added:
Songs such as "What's She Done to Your Mind," "Kaleidoscope," and "Look at Merri" showcase Piucci and the Robacks' ethereal vocals, Eddie Kalwa's precise drumming, Matt Piucci's colorful sitar, Will Glenn's violin and keyboard accents, and an intricate, chiming, but droney two-guitar attack that picks up where the Byrds left off with "Eight Miles High."

Musician and critic Scott Miller, in his 2010 book Music: What Happened?, cited "1 Hour Ago" as one of 1983's best songs, calling the Rain Parade "core practitioners" of the Paisley Underground movement, with this album being "probably the most certifiably trippy of the branded projects."

Track listing

  1. "Talking in My Sleep" – 3:49
  2. "This Can't Be Today" – 4:36
  3. "I Look Around" – 3:07
  4. "1 Hour Ago" – 4:14
  5. "Carolyn's Song" – 4:05
  6. "What She's Done to Your Mind" – 2:56
  7. "Look at Merri" – 6:34
  8. "Saturday's Asylum" – 3:45
  9. "Kaleidoscope" – 5:35
  10. "Look Both Ways" – 3:10

2024 vinyl reissue bonus disc

  1. "What She's Done to Your Mind" – 3:09
  2. "This Can't Be Today" – 4:16
  3. "I Look Around" – 3:02
  4. "Look Both Ways" – 3:24
  5. "Saturday's Asylum" – 3:42
  6. "First of September" – 4:50
  7. "What You've Done" – 3:33
  8. "Look at Merri" – 5:25
  9. "Paper Girl" – 2:28
  10. "Speedway" – 1:58
  11. "No Good Trying" – 3:23
  12. "Unexpected" – 3:42
  13. "Time Machine" – 1:08
;Vinyl reissue notes
  • Track 1 recorded by Ethan James at Radio Tokyo Studios, Los Angeles, 1982. Released as a single in 1982; featuring Michael Murphy on drums.
  • Tracks 2–4 recorded in late 1982 on 4-track by Vitus Mataré; featuring Brian Norris on drums. Tracks 2 and 3 previously released on the WarfRat Tales compilation in 1983; track 4 previously released on the extended CD version WarfRat Tales in 2005.
  • Tracks 5 and 6 recorded live at CBGB, New York City, October 12, 1983.
  • Tracks 7, 8 and 13 recorded in 1982.
  • Tracks 9 and 10 recorded live in Los Angeles, 1983.
  • Track 11 recorded live at the Anti Club, Los Angeles, January 20, 1983.
  • Track 12 recorded live in 1983; venue and exact date unknown.

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes.
;Rain Parade
  • David Roback – vocals, guitar, percussion
  • Matt Piucci – vocals, guitar, sitar, harmonica
  • Steven Roback – vocals, bass
  • Will Glenn – keyboards, violin
  • Eddie Kalwa – drums
;Additional musicians
  • Michael Murphy – drums on "Kaleidoscope"
  • Kendra Smith – backing vocals on "This Can't Be Today"
  • Amrit – backing vocals on "This Can't Be Today"
;Technical
  • David Roback – producer
  • Rain Parade – producer
  • Ethan James – engineer; co-producer on "Saturday's Asylum"
  • Eddy Schreyer – mastering
  • David Arnoff – back cover photography