The Mr. T Experience - The Miracle of Shame 12" - Pink Vinyl

Sounds Rad (2024, Reissue)

Until this 12" reissue came out at the end of last year, I don't think I've listened to this five song Mr. T Experience EP aside from one time right when it came out back in the year 2000.  I didn't like it then, so I didn't listen to it again and it just ended up in my CD rack with the rest.  Now it's back with its first ever release on vinyl.  I commend Sounds Rad for finally getting this out there, but I do feel there are other Mr. T Experience reissues that I would have preferred be tackled first.

As much as Alcatraz was a departure from Revenge Is Sweet and So Are You, The Miracle Of Shame is so different from the rest of the MTX catalog up to that point that 25 years later, I still don't really know what to make of it.  For the kind of music that it is, it's well done and Frank's lyrics are as sharp as ever.  But it's very unlike most of what came before it.

There's the breezy, jangle of "Spy vs Spy" and "Leave The Thinking To The Smart People."  Things go a little more power pop on "Mr. Ramones."  The distortion kicks in more fully on "Stephanies Of The World Unite," but it's got a vaguely psychedelic vibe and a wacky fuzzed out outro.  The EP wraps up with the acoustic "Don’t Know Where Dan Treacy Lives."  All of these are good songs, but they're not really what I personally want from the Mr. T Experience.  It's a curveball in their discography that my peabrain still isn't able to process correctly, as it wants something faster and louder.

That said, the reissue is lovingly done as usual, with the five songs occupying the A side of the 12" and an etching of the cover art on the B side.  I'll also always support more CD only albums getting the vinyl treatment.  I picked it up because I will pick up all of these reissues.  I like Mr. T Experience more than enough to give up the money and shelf space required to have this record in the collection to keep it complete.

The Mr. T Experience - The Miracle of Shame:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kZA6E82qSeWJNFlIRFIM2XL4uM-Pygez4