 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2021) |
| The Joke's on You | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 20, 1989 | |||
| Recorded | April 1988–March 1989 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Crossover thrash | |||
| Length | Vinyl version: 39:49 CD version: 43:13 2001 re-release: 63:10 | |||
| Label | Caroline | |||
| Producer | Randy Burns | |||
| Excel chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
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| Source | Rating |
| Hi-Fi News & Record Review | B:3/A:1[1] |
The Joke's on You is the second album by Excel, released in 1989. The song "The Joke's on You" was already released on the previous album, Split Image. This album saw something of a departure from the hardcore punk influences of its predecessor, boasting a more traditional thrash metal sound, akin to that of Anthrax and Bay Area bands like Exodus, Testament, Forbidden or Vio-lence. The album also features doom metal influences, as well as some of the earliest examples of groove metal.
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.[2][3][4][5]
The Joke's on You is also the last Excel album recorded with two of the "classic" line-up 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.
- ^ 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 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "It's No Joke: Metallica Song Spurs New Interest in Excel". 16 December 1991.
- ^ "METALLICA Threatened with Copyright Infringement Lawsuit". 22 November 2003.
- ^ "DAVE MUSTAINE: METALLICA's 'Enter Sandman' Was a Rip-Off". 31 October 2004.
- ^ "Metallica, Rip off Artists…They Stole Their Biggest Hit from EXCEL - CVLT Nation". 8 May 2015.