All About Ajax

[Ajax Ex-Junkie]

My Involvement with Ajax
Review of Ajax's "Ex-Junkie"
First Album: "Ajax"
Second Album: "The 8-Track Tapes"
EP: "Aphrodite"
Single: "Ex-Junkie"
Promo CD: "Ex-Junkie"
Miscellany

My Involvement with Ajax

I actually know only a little about Ajax -- perhaps because there is little to know. I first began hearing the song "Ex-Junkie" in February of 1995 on Live 105 (KITS, 105.3, San Francisco). It received airplay across the states on "Alternative" stations around that time.

I got e-mail from the lead singer, Mitchel, in March after she posted on alt.music.alternative.female and I replied about how much I liked the song. Since Ajax seemed deserving of attention, I decided to create this home page. And buy all of their albums I could find.

I have no connection with Ajax or their management or any record company or any corporate scumdogs.

Review of the Song "Ex-Junkie"

"Ex-Junkie" is very hip and fast-paced (you could definitely dance to it), with hilarious stream of consciousness narrative sung by Mitchel (who also wrote the lyrics). It's a great song. (I'll get a sample up here eventually. Mail me a reminder if you're interested.)

Ajax's First Album, "Ajax"

[Ajax Album Cover] Ajax's first album, Ajax, may be hard to find. It was published by WaxTrax (WAXCD7113) in 1990. It's...different. I picked it up used for $4.95 from Amoeba Records in Berkeley. I'd have to say it's a cross between ambient funk and the death chants of strung-out patent attorneys. Mitchel mentioned that it's very different from how their new album will sound and that she doesn't personally recommend it, although it is funny to hear how much they've changed.

Tracks include:

  1. One World
  2. Born to Tragedy
  3. Your House is Mine
  4. Medicine
  5. B Box
  6. Mind the Gap
  7. Madhouse
  8. Haze
  9. Fast Car
  10. I Miss the Point
All songs were written by AJAX: Mitchel, Michael Roy, Michael Hornburg.

Second Album: "The 8-Track Tapes"

"Ex-Junkie" is the first single from Ajax's forthcoming new album, The 8-Track Tapes. (If there is another album between the first one and this one, I don't know about it.) But the album itself doesn't seem to be out yet, at least not in my area.

EP: "Aphrodite"

In November, I found Ajax's latest EP, "Aphrodite" (on Zoo Entertainment, a division of BMG, catalog 72445-11119-2), again at Amoeba Records. It contains the following tracks:
  1. experience No 2 (3:21)
  2. ohm (6:00)
  3. ex-junkie-trent vedder mix (3:10)
  4. over (3:41)
  5. once in a while (6:43)
The cover is a beautiful head shot of Mitchel and a strangely-colored sunflower (I'll scan it someday).

Inside are some amazing photos of Mitchel and some swirly words: "dots of roadkill, in a small room, that saves his soul over my last cup of tea, I realized that time goes on and on and on unconfused and uncomplicated, bright with limitless angles of perception lavendar cushions placed beside rays of a healing sun
i stole, i saved, we saved, we have nothing but time, debbie and helen and suzie, seems like they were a part of me. i want to be in the middle of change, rejoicing in its experiment, clear cool words of optimism reveal themselves sweetness at the core."

Single: "Ex-Junkie"

December I found a copy of the Zoo single for Ex-Junkie at (of all places) Tower Records in Emeryville. The single, which was only $2.99, contains SIX versions of Ex-Junkie, including the same two versions that are on the promo (below), as well as an extra-bass mix and a funky one. Very soon I'll add in the catalog information and the names/times of the song.

Promo: "Ex-Junkie"

This is the first thing I bought by Ajax, back in February of '95. It contains the radio mix and the a capella mix. Here's the information from the single's sleeve:

AJAX
first installment of
'THE 8-TRACK TAPES'
``ex-junkie'' 1. radio mix (3:08)
2. a capella (2:11)

IL-1971
(c) INFINITE LOVE RECORDINGS 1995

Representation: Fred Davis, esq.
Tel (212) 956-5100 Fax (212) 956-1820

Radio: Promotion Roger Smith
Tel (818) 907-1122 Fax (818) 907-1133

Management: Black+White Music, Inc.
Tel (212) 321-2791 Fax (212) 938-0332
EMAIL blk+wht@panix.com

This is what else is printed on the CD (or see for yourself -- it's worth checking out their Infinite Love logo):

Luv
Ya

ajax@panix.com
written, performed, and produced by mitchel & hornof neem & peelu music
(BMI) h music (ASCAP)

for promotional use only
unauthorized use will cause spiritual demagnetization and severe flashbacks
infinite
love

Miscellany

Since I don't want to undergo any spiritual demagnetization, I'm promoting the single. There, I'm safe.

If you finger ajax@panix.com, you find out that Mitchel's real name appears to be Arleen L. Mitchel and that she doesn't log in very often...

I bought the promo CD single in February '95 and it is reviewed in the February CD Reviews section of my apartment tour.

Live 105's Transmitter Adjustments show (Sunday nights at 10:00 p.m. with Big Rick and Steve Masters) used to play the song almost every week. I've requested it a few times from Lisa Carr when she was on late at night. But it's been a long time since I last heard it on the radio. But maybe somewhere stations are starting to playing it now, since the single's out?

You could always ask mitchel herself.

Last updated 1/4/96 by E. Stephen Mack -- estephen@emf.net
Zeigen's Dilemma