No Exit (The Angels album)

No Exit
Studio album by The Angels
Released	1979
Genre	Rock
Length	42:17
Label	Albert Productions
Producer	John Brewster, Rick Brewster, Mark Opitz
The Angels chronology
Face to Face (1978) No Exit (1979) Dark Room (1980)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

No Exit is the third album by Australian rock band The Angels, released in 1979. It reached No.8 on the Australian album charts in July. One single was released from the album, "Shadow Boxer"/"Planned Obsolescence", which reached No.25 on the charts in June.^[2]

On cover notes included with the 2008 reissue, John and Rick Brewster commented on songs including "After Dark" ("One of the best songs Brewster/Neeson/Brewster have ever written and recorded"); "Save Me" ("Written in the studio using a drum loop, sped up after writing 'No Exit'"), "Shadow Boxer" ("Inspired by a guy sparring with a no standing sign in Kings Cross") and "Out of the Blue" ("One of our finest songs. The high voice on the first 'baby' is George Young").

On "Mr Damage", John Brewster explained that it was "in part inspired by a head banger at the infamous Comb and Cutter at Blacktown called Brain Damage. Fans used to come to the shows with banners saying, 'Mr Damage, please play it!'" Rick Brewster added: "After meeting 'Brain Damage' backstage I drove home to Ashfield singing a verse melody all the way. I stayed up all night and finished the first draft of 'Mr Damage' some time in the afternoon. I then played it to the guys in the dressing room that night at the Stagedoor Tavern."

Reception

Reviewed in Australian music magazine Roadrunner at the time of release, it was said that, "The essential element of banality present in all pop music is balanced here by considerable invention and power and a maturity that permits the whole to be both simple and sophisticated. The lyrics are a strange combination of urbanity, paranoia and passion." The reviewer advised readers to "get pissed" at an Angels show, as they "might learn something."^[3]

Track listing

(All songs by John Brewster, Doc Neeson and Rick Brewster)

1. "Waiting for the World" – 3:22
2. "After Dark" – 5:04
3. "Save Me" – 4:07
4. "Shadow Boxer" – 2:40
5. "No Exit" – 6:34
6. "Can't Shake It" – 4:53
7. "Out of the Blue" – 3:17
8. "Dawn Is Breaking" – 4:50
9. "Mr Damage" – 3:36
10. "Ivory Stairs" – 3.54

Bonus tracks (2008 reissue)

1. "Waiting for the World" (Live at La Trobe) — 3:43
2. "Save Me" (Live at La Trobe) — 4:13
3. "Shadow Boxer" (Live at La Trobe) — 2:42
4. "No Exit" (Live at La Trobe) — 7:18
5. "Out of the Blue" (Live at La Trobe) — 3:57
6. "Ivory Stairs" (Live at La Trobe) — 5:43

Personnel

• Doc Neeson — lead vocals
• Rick Brewster — lead guitar
• John Brewster — rhythm guitar
• Chris Bailey — bass guitar
• Graham "Buzz" Bidstrup — drums

References