Nobody Special

Description

The self-titled debut album by the American punk/hard rock band Nobody Special fronted by Pat Nobody (Pat Taylor) was released on Frontline Records in 1987, distributed by The Benson Company. The album was produced, recorded, and mixed by Joey Taylor of Undercover fame at Asylomar in Huntington Beach, California. (Joey and Pat Taylor actually were brothers.)

Even though a number of bands have had the label “punk” used to descibe some of their output (Altar Boys and Undercover have probably had to bear this cross more than others), no Christian artists on a major label have really sought out to go hardcore, avoiding the accessibility of manistream rock and pop sounds. Real thrash acts like the now-defunct One Bad Pig and the buzzsaw Florida-based trio, The Lead, have been relegated to independent distribution and word-of-mouth publicity. To my knowledge, ‘Nobody Special’ by Pat Nobody, the brother of ex-Undercover band leader Joey Taylor, is the first record of its kind to be made available wherever quality Christian rock is sold.

An the key word is quality. Nobody, with the aid of producer and keyboardist Taylor, drum programs by Gene Eugene (Adam Again), and guitar solos of Chris Brigandi (previously of Lifters and Wild Blue Yonder), has laid down 15 hard-edged songs that are special indeed. Direct, often blatant lyrics ring true on Nobody’s lips, and the intensity of music and emotion of message bring integrity to things that would sound silly or crude printed on paper (“I’ve had nails through my hands and feet/ I’ve hung from a tree like a piece of meat”). While no one knows for sure just what extent of the Christian music buying public will embrace evangelistic hardcore thrash, ‘Nobody Special’ is a fine effort, and any hard rock or alternative music fan should find some fun and meaning in this special little record. [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, February 1988]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/nobody-special/389390954)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Sliding Backwards” – 2:22
A2. “That Feelin'” – 1:45
A3. “Come Around” – 1:22
A4. “I Was” – 2:14
A5. “Dissertation” – 1:02
A6. “We Are Confident” – 1:26
A7. “People Who” – 1:48
A8. “Killin’ Time” – 2:19

Side Two
B1. “Burnt” – 3:09
B2. “I Wonder” – 1:48
B3. “Numb” – 0:56
B4. “Get Off The Air” – 2:21
B5. “Ain’t That Hard” – 3:57
B6. “Separation” – 1:29
B7. “Deeper Things” – 1:39

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP and CD by Frontline Records. Re-issued by Alarma Records in 1995.

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