Extreme - Waiting for the Punchline

**jimmy** · 01.09.01, 06:35 PM

Anybody own this album.

This was my first introduction to Extreme, other than hearing a few tunes on the radio.

After a few listens, I told a buddy, "I consider this CD to be as good as some of the earlier VH albums."

Raw guitars. Very few overdubs. Sounds like Nuno is playing right there in front of you. There are a few solos on there where I'm like, "how the hell did he do that?"

Interesting lyrics, great hooks, different guitar sound, just a solid album.

I bought their album that had "Rest in Peace" on it after hearing "Waiting for the Punchline." It just doesn't compare. It's overproduced shit. Drums are horrible. The guitar is really processed.

Anybody else ever had the pleasure of listening the whole CD?

**JWS_5150** · 01.09.01, 06:41 PM

I tried to get Waiting for the Punchline but it's gonna mean shelling out extra bucks for an import album.

I have III Sides (the album you refer to with Rest In Peace) - the drums could be a lot better, and the guitar just wasn't loud enough for the most part.

Nuno did most of the production on that album...who knows what happened with it. I like the music on it - it's a nice change of pace - but I agree, the production is off.

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Strange is even more beautiful.

**YankeeRose** · 01.09.01, 07:35 PM

I have all of Extreme's albums. I disagree, III sides is a much better album.

I would say Pornagraphitti is the best Extreme album, and Punchline is the worst.

Extreme was a incredible band though, I listen to them almost every day!

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**m4rk0** · 01.09.01, 10:59 PM

I agree, Waiting for the Punchline is the worst album. The first 3 were Fuckin' Brilliant!! I just found an old live Bootleg back from 1988. I totally forgot how good it was!

**Steely** · 01.10.01, 06:43 AM

Jimmy, looks like you and I are one of the few to think Punchline is their best. I just love Nuno's guitar tone on it. And it's much more raw than than III Sides...and you can feel the anger they were going through during that time before they called it quits.

**Dr.5150** · 01.10.01, 03:50 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by YankeeRose:
I have all of Extreme's albums. I disagree, III sides is a much better album.

I would say Pornagraphitti is the best Extreme album, and Punchline is the worst.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

What YankeeRose Said!

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**rxman** · 01.10.01, 04:14 PM

Count me among the few who thought "Waiting for the Punchline was their best album. I really enjoyed that album a lot.

"Pornograffitti" rocked too. "III Sides to Every Story" was a mistake. The first album was o.k., but I thought they were trying to be a hair band back then. Probably the record company's idea.

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**NOaverageJOE** · 01.10.01, 05:14 PM

Well, I also don't have "Waiting For The Punchline," because I don't wanna order the import online. I think the first album is okay...Some of it is annoying. "Pornograffiti" is a great album! I love it. Every song on there is excellent. I also really enjoy "3 Sides." The album has so much meaning and feeling and everyone does a nice job on it, especially Gary and Nuno. Nuno's songwriting is also extraordinary. I wish Extreme would get back together. They were one of my favorite bands.

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**JWS_5150** · 01.10.01, 05:50 PM

I love III Sides - experiments like that always leave a pretty good taste in my mouth. But it could've used better production.

Haven't heard the rest of 'em - I was gonna get 'em but I haven't had much time lately, and getting an import really sucks.

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"ceasar got too big and powerful- just like these bubblegum bands and rappers.....
the ides of march marked his demise!"
--VanEdge, on how Van Halen will whip music into shape

Dirty Faced Kid - looks like I need a shave

Strange is even more beautiful.

**jimmy** · 01.10.01, 06:00 PM

I can't beleive that some of you think that "Punchline" is their worst.

I guess it is a real departure from their earlier sound. At times the tunes on "Punchline" seem to just drag on and on. Gary's just fucking screamin', "naked....naked.....naked................"

Nuno's guitar sound is like the clean channel of an amp turned all the way up and the amp is just naturally starting to naturally distort.

Very few effects and overdubs.

Nuno's guitar on one side of the mix, with Gary's vocals on the other side. Really reminds me of the early VH stuff.

The earlier Extreme stuff I've heard is just not my cup of tea. This last effort has a lot of soul and heart to it. There's not really an attempt at a hit at all. I think that this album is what Extreme always wanted to put out. This is the shit that makes them tick. It's bare bones rock and roll.

If you're a fan of the earlier stuff, then "punchline" is not going to be something you're going to dig.

**Bassman** · 01.10.01, 07:42 PM

I liked most of the songs on "Punchline", but I still like "Porno" and "III" better overall.

You guys that don't want to get an import copy of "Punchline" should look for it at a used CD store or pawn shop. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding it.

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**m4rk0** · 01.10.01, 10:51 PM

I didn't mean to say that 'Waiting for the Punchline' was a bad album, I just liked the first 3 albums better. But there were still some brilliant songs on it, and they had a better drummer on some of the songs!

**vh3fan** · 01.11.01, 11:21 AM

When I first bought Punchline I had an hard time getting into it. Over the last 5 or 6 months I have come to enjoy that cd alot. My favorite Extreme has to be their first Cd. That album rocks!

3

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**NE169** · 01.11.01, 12:50 PM

Punchline was pretty good--though I thhink it suffered a bit when the 1st drummer left--he had a good solid sound--that's probably why it took so long to release the record after "There Is No God" single was released; the 2 B-sides that didn't make it on the album were some of their best tunes.

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