Sponge
Wax Ecstatic

Second album by the hard rock band from Detroit.

The only constant member over the years, Vinnie Dombroski, wrote the album's lyrics intending to release it in 1996 as a concept about the death of a drag queen in Memphis.

Decadent theme and irony in the lyrics that recall a distinctly Reed-like style.

The singles had radio success, but the band decided to leave Sony shortly thereafter (or maybe they were dropped, who knows) to embrace the world of independent labels and shift towards softer sounds lacking that sensual drive. This is why I only appreciate their first two works.

There's no doubt that American rock (except for a few rare cases) became, between the end of the last century and the early 2000s, a genuine joke filled with teenagers whining on skateboards.
But Sponge does not fall into that category.

After the abrasive and melancholic debut of Rotting Piñata, Wax Ecstatic features sophisticated blues-tinged sounds (The Drag Queens Of Memphis) while
still offering tracks with immediate impact (Silence Is Their Drug and the title track of the album).

The ballad "Have You Seen Mary" was included in the soundtrack of Kevin Smith's film "Chasing Amy".

An energetic album that immerses you in a climate of escapism that I recommend to '90s rock enthusiasts.

(I can't stomach the term "Alternative").