The Joke's on You

For the 1925 film starring Oliver Hardy, see The Joke's on You (film).
Not to be confused with the song from Excel's debut album Split Image.

The Joke's on You
Studio album by
Excel
ReleasedJune 20, 1989
RecordedApril 1988–March 1989
Studio
GenreCrossover thrash, thrash metal, groove metal
LengthVinyl version: 39:49
CD version: 43:13
2001 re-release: 63:10
LabelCaroline
ProducerRandy Burns
Excel chronology
Split Image
(1987) 		The Joke's on You
(1989) 		Seeking Refuge
(1995)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Hi-Fi News & Record ReviewB:3/A:1[1]

The Joke's on You is the second album by Excel, released in 1989. This album saw the band mix their crossover thrash sound with influences coming from different genres, including punk, hip-hop, funk, doom metal and traditional thrash metal,[2][3] and it is also driven by grooves,[4] with Far Out calling the introduction to the track "Tapping into the Emotional Void" an early example of groove metal.[5]

The Joke's on You is also the last Excel album recorded with two of the "classic" lineup members, Adam Siegel (guitar) and Greg Saenz (drums). Following their departure, Excel's music would take a different direction on their next album, 1995's Seeking Refuge.

Commercial performance

Although The Joke's on You never reached any major charts, it is often considered Excel's best release, and it features their live staples "Fired (You're)", "Tapping into the Emotional Void", "Seeing Insane" and "My Thoughts". "Tapping into the Emotional Void" gained considerable attention years after its release, due to accusations that Metallica had plagiarized the opening riff to that song on their 1991 song "Enter Sandman", which had also resulted in Excel taking legal action.[6][7][8][9]

Availability

Two different covers of The Joke's on You exist: the original version featured a white cover and the 2001 re-release featured a black cover. Like many Excel albums, the recording is out of print, but this album, along with the band's others, can readily be found for sale on Chinese, Ukrainian, and Russian mp3 websites.

Track listings

All songs by Excel, except "Message in a Bottle", originally by the Police.

Original release

Side one

  1. "Drive" (2:27)
  2. "Shadow Winds" (4:17)
  3. "Fired (You're)" (3:16)
  4. "Tapping into the Emotional Void" (4:20)
  5. "Affection Blends with Resentment" (3:56)
  6. "Seeing Insane" (3:18)

Side two

  1. "My Thoughts" (3:19)
  2. "I Never Denied" (5:19)
  3. "Message in a Bottle" (2:51)
  4. "Given Question" (3:53)
  5. "The Stranger" (2:53)

CD version

  1. "Drive" (2:27)
  2. "Shadow Winds" (4:17)
  3. "Fired (You're)" (3:16)
  4. "Tapping into the Emotional Void" (4:20)
  5. "Affection Blends with Resentment" (3:56)
  6. "Seeing Insane" (3:18)
  7. "My Thoughts" (3:19)
  8. "I Never Denied" (5:19)
  9. "Message in a Bottle" (2:51)
  10. "Given Question" (3:53)
  11. "The Stranger" (2:53)
  12. "Blaze Some Hate" (3:24)

Track notes: The last track, "Blaze Some Hate", appears only on the original CD version as a bonus track.

2001 re-issue

  1. "Drive" (2:27)
  2. "Shadow Winds" (4:17)
  3. "Fired (You're)" (3:16)
  4. "Tapping into the Emotional Void" (4:20)
  5. "Affection Blends with Resentment" (3:56)
  6. "Seeing Insane" (3:18)
  7. "My Thoughts" (3:19)
  8. "I Never Denied" (5:19)
  9. "Message in a Bottle" (2:51)
  10. "Given Question" (3:53)
  11. "The Stranger" (2:53)
  12. "Blaze Some Hate" (3:24)
  13. "Cultured" (4:42)
  14. "More Than You'd Ever Know" (3:49)
  15. "Soul Sick" (3:46)
  16. "Withdrawal" (3:58)
  17. "Priorities Astray" (3:42)

Track notes: The last five unreleased tracks are demo tracks of later material. They were originally recorded in 1991 while Excel was planning their follow-up to this album.

Personnel

  • Dan Clements – lead vocals
  • Adam Siegel – guitars, backing vocals
  • Shaun Ross – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Greg Saenz – drums, backing vocals

References

  1. ^ Douthuwite, Karen (September 1989). "Review: Excel — The Joke's on You" (PDF). Hi-Fi News & Record Review (magazine). Vol. 34, no. 9. Croydon: Link House Magazines Ltd. p. 100. ISSN 0142-6230. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  2. ^ "Excel's 'Long-Lost' Album 'Seeking Refuge' To Be Re-Released". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  3. ^ "Dreams Of Consciousness: 343: Excel". dreamsofconsciousness.com. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  4. ^ "EXCEL: SoCal Thrash/Hardcore Crossover Group To Reissue The Joke's On You Via Southern Lord This November". earsplitcompound.com. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  5. ^ "Unsolved feuds: did Metallica plagiarise the 'Enter Sandman' riff?". Far Out. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  6. ^ "It's No Joke: Metallica Song Spurs New Interest in Excel". December 16, 1991.
  7. ^ "METALLICA Threatened with Copyright Infringement Lawsuit". November 22, 2003.
  8. ^ "DAVE MUSTAINE: METALLICA's 'Enter Sandman' Was a Rip-Off". October 31, 2004.
  9. ^ "Metallica, Rip off Artists…They Stole Their Biggest Hit from EXCEL - CVLT Nation". May 8, 2015.
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