About This Footage
The grainy footage of Material Issue's story is a rare gem that shines a light on a band that was out of time, yet eerily prescient. Formed in Chicago in the late 1980s, Material Issue was a power pop trio that navigated the treacherous waters between post-punk and alternative rock. Their music was a nostalgic throwback to the golden age of power pop, with catchy hooks and guitar-driven melodies that recalled the likes of Cheap Trick and Big Star.
The band's lead singer, Jim Ellison, was a charismatic frontman who embodied the spirit of 1980s excess, with his razor-sharp wit and androgynous stage presence. But Material Issue's music was more than just a nostalgic exercise in retro chic - it was also a deeply personal exploration of love, heartbreak, and identity. Their songs often featured women's names as titles, which added to their sense of intimacy and vulnerability.
The footage in "Out of Time: The Material Issue Story" is a poignant reminder of the band's struggles to find their place in the music world. Sandwiched between the post-punk era of The Cure and Depeche Mode, and the alternative rock movement of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Material Issue was caught in a temporal limbo, unsure of where they fit in. Their music was too polished for the grunge crowd, yet too raw for the synth-pop fans.
The interviews with original band members Mike Zelenko and Ted Ansani offer a fascinating glimpse into the band's inner workings, as well as their struggles to make it big in the cutthroat world of rock 'n' roll. The inclusion of Jim Ellison's family members adds an emotional depth to the narrative, highlighting the personal costs of the band's commercial failure.
One of the most striking aspects of "Out of Time" is its use of archival footage and photographs, which transport viewers back to a bygone era of music history. The grainy black-and-white images of Material Issue's early days, with their skinny ties and big hair, are a nostalgic treat for fans of 1980s rock. But the film also acknowledges the band's influence on later generations of musicians, including Jeff Murphy, Joe Shanahan, Jay O'Rourke, Jeff Kwatinetz, Matt Pinfield, Steve Albini, and more.
The significance of Material Issue's story lies not just in their music, but in their place within the broader cultural landscape. As a power pop trio from Chicago, they embodied the city's rich musical heritage, which spanned from blues to jazz to rock 'n' roll. Their struggles to find an audience reflect the challenges faced by many artists who operate outside the mainstream, yet still manage to create music that is authentic and innovative.
Watching "Out of Time: The Material Issue Story" is a journey into the heart of power pop, with all its attendant joys and sorrows. It's a film that will resonate with fans of Cheap Trick, Big Star, and The Replacements, as well as anyone who has ever felt like an outsider in the music world. As the footage fades to black, one thing is clear: Material Issue may have been out of time, but their legacy lives on, waiting to be rediscovered by a new generation of fans.
Curated from public records and music databases.
34:18
10:36
14:54
0:17
