Edge of Allegiance

The album was produced by Timbuk 3 and Denardo Coleman.{{cite news |last1=Metella |first1=Helen |title=Timbuk 3 stripping to basics for folk festival |work=Edmonton Journal |date=12 Aug 1989 |page=E1}} It was recorded in Austin and mixed in Houston.{{cite news |last1=MacCambridge |first1=Michael |title=3 FOR THE ROAD |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=29 Sep 1989 |page=D1}}{{cite news |last1=Racine |first1=Marty |title=Timbuk 3's future may be brightening |work=Houston Chronicle |date=October 3, 1989 |location=Houston |page=1}} The band employed less overdubbing than on past albums, while also singing the harmonies in the moment.{{Cite web|url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/timbuk-ing-the-system-6412614|title=Timbuk-ing The System|first=John|last=Pacenti|website=Phoenix New Times}} The lyrics were in part influenced by Leonard Cohen; the band started listening to him after Cohen mentioned in interviews his admiration for "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades".{{cite news |last1=Morse |first1=Steve |title=TIMBUK 3 IN BLOOM |work=The Boston Globe |date=2 Nov 1989 |location=Calendar |page=7}} Timbuk 3 considered the album to be evenly divided between political songs and relationship songs.{{cite news |last1=Yasui |first1=Todd Allan |title=TIMBUK 3, BACK ON THE MAP |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=5 Nov 1989 |page=G3}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000654293}}

|rev2 = Robert Christgau

|rev2score = B+{{Cite web|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=1586&name=Timbuk+3|title=Robert Christgau: CG: Timbuk 3|website=www.robertchristgau.com}}

|rev3 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

|rev3score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=8 |page=182}}

|rev4 = MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide

|rev4score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite book |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |date=1999 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |page=1152}}

|rev5 = Ottawa Citizen

|rev5score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite news |last1=Erskine |first1=Evelyn |title=Timbuk 3 Edge Allegiance |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=15 Sep 1989 |page=D6}}

|rev6 = Windsor Star

|rev6score = A−{{cite news |last1=Shaw |first1=Ted |title=Pop |work=Windsor Star |date=9 Sep 1989 |page=C2}}

}}

Trouser Press wrote: "Oozing sardonic desperation, Edge of Allegiance ... is yet another small triumph of sane, thoughtful songcraft—occasionally labored ('Standard White Jesus') but more often right on the money."{{cite web |title=Timbuk 3 |url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/timbuk-3/ |website=Trouser Press |access-date=9 April 2022}} Robert Christgau posited that "their songs will remain winsome and wise for as long as the record company puts them out." The Los Angeles Daily News considered the album to be one of 1989's best, calling Timbuk 3 "one of the decade's most underrated acts."{{cite news |last1=Britt |first1=Bruce |title=EVENTFUL COMEBACKS HELP BREAK 'BOXED-SET FEVER' |work=Los Angeles Daily News |date=December 29, 1989 |page=L13}}

The Windsor Star opined that the band "have a sardonic sense of the absurd but enough compassion so that their music never sinks to mere parody and loses its punch." The Ottawa Citizen noted that "lustre and sophistication have turned the flat street-corner style into something with more depth and nuance." The St. Petersburg Times deemed the album "another cunning collection of sharp-tongued diatribes against political betrayal and social apathy."{{cite news |last1=Okamoto |first1=David |title=Timbuk 3, Edge of Alliance |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=29 Sep 1989 |location=Weekend |page=18}}

All songs written by Pat MacDonald, except where noted.

1. "National Holiday" – 4:02
2. "Waves of Grain" – 3:45
3. "Dirty Dirty Rice" – 2:53
4. "Pass It On" – 2:51
5. "Standard White Jesus" – 4:47
6. "Grand Old Party" – 3:16 (Pat and Barbara K. MacDonald)
7. "Count to Ten" – 3:54
8. "B-Side of Life" – 3:15
9. "Acid Rain" – 3:44
10. "Daddy's Down in the Mine" – 3:10
11. “Don't Give Up On Me” – 2:46
12. “Wheel of Fortune” – 2:30

• Barbara K. MacDonald – Vocals, electric guitar, violin, drum programming
• Pat MacDonald – Vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, harmonica, guitar synth, sampler
• Denardo Coleman – Drums, percussion

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Category:Timbuk 3 albums

Category:1989 albums

Category:I.R.S. Records albums