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Customer Reviews of Throwing Muses

they're back!
At the height of (singer-songwriter) Kristin Hersh's alleged mental problems (hallucinations), Throwing Muses put out 2 of the best records of the late 80's/early 90's indie/4AD scene. The Fat Skier EP (their best work) and the untitled first album showcased Miss Hersh's tormented angst in sharp disjointed fragments that couldn't help but simultaneously fill the listener with both fear and empthy.
However, as the medicines kicked in and her children popped out, Mrs. Hersh's songs and voice mellowed considerably. The TM albums became more and more predictable and soft until all that was left was guitar folk music.
So, it was with a bit of trepidation (albeit excitement and joy) that I popped the new self-titled Throwing Muses into the CD player.
Oh my, they are back indeed!
Unlike later TM albums or any of Kristin's solo stuff, don't expect catchy hooks or song structures that follow any reasonable pattern. Do expect raw passion with lyrics you can dissect 100 different ways. Do expect to be emotionally spent by the brilliant cacophony of screaming girl and guitar. (Also, expect insane drumming by one of the most unheralded drummers alive) Do expect an album that gets better and better with each play.
Finally, I've read some disappointment with the exclusion of the lyrics. To this I say - NEVER read lyrics while listening to music! You'll miss the point.
take care.

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What do you have on your mind?
I didn't realize how much I truly missed Kristin Hersh rocking out until this masterpiece was released.

This side of the Atlantic, she is far more known for her beautiful (yet largely acoustic) solo work. But where she truly shines as a musician is belting out songs for her band.

I don't know where to start with this album. Amazingly, this just might be the best ever Throwing Muses album while at the same time being the most accessible since The Real Ramona. It could appeal to anyone who enjoys the current alt rock/punk that permeates the radio thesedays.

I have always loved Throwing Muses because their music will rock you silly. But then you hear Kristin's profound lyrics and you're just grateful. Her words are pure poetic bliss. You will be floored and able to identify with what she writes. She has a true gift for songwriting that I've yet to see anyone even come close to.

Standout songs here are the frenzied "Mercury", the bouncy "Solar Dip", the euphoric "Half Blast", and gorgeously raw "Civil Disobedience". Founding Muse Tanya Donelly offers her beautiful voice to five of the songs. The harmonies Tanya and Kristin make are worth the price of this CD alone.

This is honestly one of the best rock CDs I have ever heard in my life. Very highly recommended.

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DON'T MISS THIS ONE
(sorry to shout like that...) Here I am, some 15 months after this album's release and I've finally gotten around to getting a copy. When it (and The Grotto) did come out, I had been listening to Throwing Muses for ten years, but not much at all recently. Plus, I'd already heard most of these songs in acoustic-demo format through the "Works In Progress" feature in throwingmusic.com, and they hadn't excited me too much. But none of that gave me a good idea of what this album sounded like.

Kristin plus her songs plus an electric guitar is always an awesome force of nature, no question about it. I read her say once that she uses distortion as kind of a "crutch," but so what! Kristin on "crutches" backed by Mr. David Narcizo (one of my favorite drummers of all time), will whoop your @$$, buddy, so watch it! Yes, Kristin's electric guitar plus Dave's drumming makes ALL these songs just bristle, burn, and flat-out rock. I am so ashamed for letting this sit for more than a year before buying it.

The production and sound are fairly rough and raw, but that's exactly right for these songs and this band at this time. Mr. Culver's reviews are usually on-target, but I'm afraid he's really missed the boat on this one. And someone else said this one reminded them of Red Heaven, but I don't really see that, except for the loud, distortion-heavy guitar: _Red Heaven_ has kind of a faraway feel, to me at least, while this one is right in your face. If I felt the need to compare this album with previous work (well, why not?) I'd call the sound of this one maybe a cross-pollination between the volume of _Red Heaven_ and the backbone and brashness of _Limbo_. Tanya Donnelly's backing vocals are mixed very much in the back, such that it's not at all obvious that it's her. That's kind of too bad, I guess, but then again, so what? And now, on to the other end of the spectrum of the Hersh experience, with _The Grotto_...