from Showcase Chicago, March 1995, Vol. 3, Issue 2


CD of the Month

The Bad Examples
Kisses 50 cents
Waterdog Records

When word got out that Ralph Covert and the Bad Examples were holed up at Idful Music with Casey Rice, everyone began searching for a deeper meaning. Have they gone (gulp) "alternative"? Is Ralph going to have something pierced the next time we see them? Fear not loyal fans...they are not now the Red Red Examples, and Kisses 50 cents is not Exile in Popville. Their first studio album in four years, Kisses... isn't much of a departure. It's another fine helping of the same crunch guitar pop that has made them one of the city's longest running live attractions.

The Bad Examples are essentially an engine fueled by Ralph Covert's songwriting. His gift for matching wry humour with catchy pop hooks equals that of Difford and Tilbrook, or on a more chicken fried level, John Hiatt. With John "The Croation Sensation" Duich's return to the blues with Lynne Jordan, former Phantom Helmsmen Steve Gerlach joins on lead guitar. Pickles Piekarski and Terry Wathen remain.

Local radio waves are sure to be jammed with cuts from this release. With its sing-along friendly chorus, "Every Poet Wants To Murder Shakespeare" sounds like the most likely cut, and "A Mindless Pop Song" is right up there with The Police's "Da Do Do Do, Da Da Da Da" for pure dumb pop fun.

It's hard to call this a "long awaited" release, because anyone who is a fan of the Examples probably knows these songs by heart already. Covert is a prolific writer and performer, and with his cohorts has been giving the people what they want for over eight years.