Here is some press Judge Nothing has received. More will be added every so often, so check back here once in a while.
reviewed in A & A issue #110, 5/27/96
(Thick)
AAAA 1/2 rating (out of AAAAA)Take one of the better punk-pop bands in the Chicago, and let Bill Stevenson and Stephen Edgerton produce them. The result: a sophomore disc that outplays the first in every way. And don't get me wrong: I like that first disc a lot. But the ALL boys have stripped just a bit from the old sound, and the result is lean, mean pop music (wait, you mean like ALL used to make?). Gone are the occasional lapses into incoherence; this album is chock full of hooky ravers that would make Mac, Laura and friends drool.
I don't say "oof" a lot, but, indeed, this album knocked the wind out of me. Fifteen songs. None of them suck, and most a great. This is one of those albums you'll be playing all summer with the top down. A perfect pleasure.
Don't believe me? Thirty seconds into the first track, "Suitcase", you'll be convinced. And rest assured, the attack doesn't let up. I already thought this was a damned good band. Riveter puts Judge Nothing into the great category.
From Baby Sue, one of the greatest 'zines around.
JUDGE NOTHING - Riveter (CD, Thick, Pop/rock)
If there ever was a band that defines the word "punchy," it must surely be Judge Nothing. This
three-piece plays powerful pop with such vigor and style that it sounds as if they've been playing
together for centuries. On this, their second full-length CD, the band reminds me of Rush...except
they sound much, MUCH better (and their vocals are good instead of annoying). Produced by Bill
Stevenson (of ALL fame), this CD cooks. The big studio sound doesn't interfere with the energy
level though. For a good example of what these guys' potential is, check out "Score Uneven" which
sounds like a hyper-energized Badfinger. At times brilliant and at other times just pure fun, Judge
Nothing is one cool band. (rated at 5 baby sues, the zine's top rating)
"I always knew new music could be this good, but no one has reminded
me lately until Judge Nothing." -Illinois Entertainer "Smart but not smarmy. Punk but not nouveau. Pop but not wimpy. Their
endlessly catchy and hook laden tunes are purveyed by these fine lads with
a passion born of boredom and brains..." -RIP "Judge Nothing wield a double-edged sword of insightful lyrics and
voluminous staccato rhythms." -Underscope "Judge Nothing have this habit of putting together little hilarious
masterpieces. Fueled by numerous abrupt (yet appropriate) time changes
and catchy melodicisms, the songs explore the carefree (at times warped)
yet focused personalities of the band's members." -Tail Spins "Judge Nothing spins melodies with the greatest of ease, and it makes
my ears happy. Those guitars come straight out of the punk handbook, but
they're pure pop songwriters." -Rayolux "Mind blowing power pop punk." -Toxic Flyer "I liked this melodic hardcore from three guys in Illinois. Very catchy.
Check this one out." -Over the Counter "A mind-bogglingly consistent model of the crunchy Les Paul slender
snare school of alternarock song writing and arranging. Each riff is
deployed with such structural intelligence and confidence that clarification
through lyrics is superfluous..." -Squealer "Aggressive windy city trio that comes right at you, pulling no punches,
taking no shit. Above average." -BUZZ "Catchy hook-filled noise pop-punk." -Inside Street "There is plenty of energy and genius blasting through the amps." -Spotlight "...screams alterna-college punk, interspersed with radio-friendly music.
You get your midwest girth, Naked Raygun-type choruses, Pirner-esque baloney,
crisp production, the works." -Etch "...has all the noise and half the anger of normal punk. The group is
vocally well-endowed: Doug has a p-u-rr-ety voice." -Bikini "Judge Nothing add a new dimension to the pop-punk soundscape. Don't
accuse them of selling out in a couple of years because they already have,
and I'm happy about it." -No Bare Feet "This is a fantastic, thoroughly impressive record that should spell
an easy future for Judge Nothing. I'm sold. -Spank "Judge Nothing plays a dynamic mix of crisp rhythms, catchy hooks, and
rabid drums, characterized by abrupt stylistic changes." -Campus Circle "...good rock 'n' roll in the alternative vein." -Angry Thoreaun "My favorite on I'm a Big Girl Now is "Junkpile", but just about
every song rocks in a really good way (5 baby sue's - "Incredible") -Baby Sue "Filled with unforgettable hooks and front man, Doug Raffety's powerful
vocals..." -Gordon's Flash "One minute, Doug will croon over soft instrumentation, the next, the
disc explodes like a shaken-up pop bottle." -Daily Egyptian Webmaster: James Lambert
