Volt (EP)
Volt is the final work released by Minneapolis alternative rock band Trip Shakespeare. A six-song EP of covers, it was released in 1992 by Minneapolis label Clean Records. Volt includes songs by Nick Lowe, Thunderclap Newman, Big Star, the Zombies, Hüsker Dü, and Neil Young. History The recording of the songs on Volt, which were intended to be Trip Shakespeare's fifth album, followed two albums for major label A&M Records, Across the Universe and Lulu. Both were critically well-reviewed but suffered from low sales. Inspired by the then-current 1992 Los Angeles riots, the band chose songs about peace, revolution and freedom as a unifying concept for the album. A&M initially encouraged the project, but became unsure how to market it. A&M's promotions department, upon hearing the album, responded by saying "What do we do with this?", according to bassist John Munson. The label eventually rejected Volt and dropped Trip Shakespeare from its roster. The band broke up soon afterwards. Trip Shakespeare bought back the Volt songs from the label and released it on Clean, the Minneapolis independent label which had put out its first records. Reception The album had a mixed reception from critics. Gregory McIntosh of AllMusic wrote that