Throwing Muses | ||
| Allmusic Biography : One of the greatest college bands of the 80s, Throwing Muses was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Kristin Hersh and her half-sister guitarist/vocalist Tanya Donelly with a few friends from high school. In 1986, the groups debut album was put out by the prestigious British label 4AD; Throwing Muses was the first American band to be released on that label. Throwing Muses angular, anguished, mercurial sound had much to do with Hershs mental illness (she suffered from a form of bipolarity that caused her to hallucinate), especially on early albums like House Tornado. Released in 1991, The Real Ramona marked a break from the heaviness of the previous albums, with lots of shimmery pop gems penned both by Hersh and Donelly, who contributed at least one song per album throughout her stay in the band. Creative tensions between the two songwriters rose until Donelly left in 1992 to play with the Breeders and ultimately form Belly. That year Hersh re-formed the Muses with drummer David Narcizo and released the bands fourth album, Red Heaven. After that, Hersh released a solo album and toured extensively, leaving fans to wonder about the status of the Muses. In 1995, however, Hersh and the rest of the Muses (Narcizo and bassist Bernard Georges) released University, one of the bands most cohesive and accessible efforts. University was followed by Limbo in 1996. The groups dissolution was announced soon after, with Hersh continuing on as a solo artist. In a Doghouse, a collection of rare early Muses material, followed in 1998. In spring 2000, the Muses reunited for a special event called the Gut Pageant, which featured a set from Hersh, Narcizo, Bernard Georges, and Robert Rust, as well as a solo performance by Hersh, short films by Narcizo, and a picnic lunch hosted by the group. During three weekends in 2002, the trio got together to record another album; released the same day in 2003 as Hershs The Grotto, Throwing Muses (self-titled, just like their debut) was the groups rawest, loudest album. Donelly provided background vocals on some of the songs. Hersh and Georges subsequently recorded and toured as two-thirds of 50 Foot Wave, and Hersh continued her solo work. In 2011, the Muses assembled Anthology, a double-disc compilation of favorites and B-sides, and toured in support of it. Two years later, Hersh reunited with Narcizo and Georges for Purgatory/Paradise, a sprawling 32-track album accompanied by a book designed by Narcizo. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 21 Title: Chains Changed Released: 1987-01 Tracks: 4 Duration: 13:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Finished (03:51) 2 Reel (02:47) 3 Snail Head (02:38) 4 Cry Baby Cry (04:24) |
 | Album: 2 of 21 Title: The Fat Skier Released: 1987-07 Tracks: 7 Duration: 25:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Garoux des Larmes (02:37) 2 Pools in Eyes (03:20) 3 A Feeling (03:08) 4 Soap and Water (02:25) 5 And a She-Wolf After the War (03:30) 6 You Cage (01:39) 7 Soul Soldier (08:49) |
 | Album: 3 of 21 Title: House Tornado / The Fat Skier Released: 1988-03-21 Tracks: 17 Duration: 55:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Colder (03:23) 2 Mexican Women (02:47) 3 River (03:57) 4 Juno (01:59) 5 Marriage Tree (03:07) 6 Run Letter (05:03) 7 Saving Grace (02:44) 8 Drive (03:25) 9 Downtown (04:05) 10 Giant (03:54) 11 Walking in the Dark (04:40) 12 Garoux des Larmes (02:37) 13 Pools in Eyes (03:20) 14 A Feeling (03:08) 15 Soap and Water (02:25) 16 And a She-Wolf After the War (03:30) 17 You Cage (01:39) |
 | Album: 4 of 21 Title: House Tornado Released: 1988-03-25 Tracks: 11 Duration: 38:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Colder (03:19) 2 Mexican Women (02:47) 3 The River (03:57) 4 Juno (02:03) 5 Marriage Tree (03:01) 6 Run Letter (05:03) 7 Saving Grace (02:39) 8 Drive (03:25) 9 Downtown (04:05) 10 Giant (03:54) 11 Walking in the Dark (04:40) |
| House Tornado : Allmusic album Review : On their second album and first major-label release, Throwing Muses apply more polish, craft, and melody to the challenging style they forged on their debut. The pop sheen on songs like "Colder" and "Saving Grace" makes their sudden dynamic shifts and tempo changes more accessible without dulling them. Kristin Hersh finds ways to mold her complex music into more straightforward song structures, particularly on "Juno" and "Run Letter." Tanya Donelly develops her own songwriting voice with "River" and "Giant," though both songs still feel like self-conscious attempts to blend with Hershs material. "Marriage Tree" and "Mexican Women" flesh out the Muses unique take on country-tinged post-punk; "Saving Grace" and "Walking in the Dark" are two of the groups best stream-of-consciousness meditations. House Tornado isnt quite as wild a ride as Throwing Muses debut, but the album does prove that the band could expand on its unique sound without sacrificing any originality. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 21 Title: Hunkpapa Released: 1989-01-23 Tracks: 13 Duration: 42:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Devil’s Roof (03:39) 2 Bea (04:18) 3 Dizzy (03:41) 4 No Parachutes (03:17) 5 Dragonhead (04:04) 6 Say Goodbye (00:37) 7 Fall Down (03:40) 8 I’m Alive (02:49) 9 Angel (03:24) 10 Mania (03:02) 11 The Burrow (01:20) 12 Take (04:57) 13 Santa Claus (03:47) |
| Hunkpapa : Allmusic album Review : On their third album, Hunkpapa, Throwing Muses volatility settled into a jangly, angular style of college rock. Not quite as riveting as Throwing Muses or House Tornado and not quite as accessible as the bands later albums, Hunkpapa finds the Muses in transition; most of the albums songs just arent as focused or powerful as their other work. The over-produced sound robs promising songs like "Santa Claus," "Fall Down," and "Devils Roof" of their immediacy, and tracks like "No Parachutes" and "Im Alive" sound like rejected songs from House Tornado. However, Hunkpapa isnt a total loss: the wild, desolate "Bea" and harrowing "Mania" put rock muscle behind the wildness of the Muses early work, resulting in two of their best songs. Tanya Donellys "Dragonhead" and "Angel" continue her growth as a pop songwriter; though its reported to be one of her least favorite Muses songs, Kristin Hershs "Dizzy" proves that she can write relatively straightforward pop songs as well as anguished, complex ones. Though Hunkpapa is somewhat disappointing, the albums best moments rank among Throwing Muses finest work. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 21 Title: The Real Ramona Released: 1990 Tracks: 12 Duration: 40:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Counting Backwards (03:15) 2 Him Dancing (01:10) 3 Red Shoes (03:33) 4 Graffiti (02:37) 5 Golden Thing (02:25) 6 Ellen West (02:49) 7 Dylan (01:40) 8 Hook in Her Head (06:32) 9 Not Too Soon (03:09) 10 Honeychain (04:24) 11 Say Goodbye (03:54) 12 Two Step (04:34) |
| The Real Ramona : Allmusic album Review : The Real Ramona marked the perfect balance of Throwing Muses angular songwriting and latent pop tendencies. Where Hunkpapa tried, somewhat unsuccessfully, to mix these elements, this album succeeds with surreal pop songs like "Counting Backwards" and "Red Shoes." Theyre catchy and riveting, clearly linked to the bands early material yet more focused and accessible. "Graffiti" and "Two-Step" are two of Kristin Hershs most appealing pop snippets, but dark, uncompromising tracks like "Say Goodbye," "Ellen West," and "Hook in Her Head" reaffirm that she can still write troubling, fascinating songs like nobody else. And just before she left the Muses to form Belly, Tanya Donelly finally arrived as a full-fledged songwriter with the giddy, gleeful "Not Too Soon" and "Honeychain," proving that she could be a charming foil to Hershs more challenging style. Their final album as a quartet, The Real Ramona highlights the best points of the groups sound, making it a great starting point for new Throwing Muses fans. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 21 Title: Firepile Released: 1992-07-20 Tracks: 4 Duration: 14:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Firepile (03:10) 2 Manic Depression (02:57) 3 Snailhead (02:39) 4 City of the Dead (05:40) |
 | Album: 8 of 21 Title: Red Heaven Released: 1992-08-10 Tracks: 26 Duration: 1:27:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Furious (03:52) 2 Firepile (03:10) 3 Dio (02:51) 4 Dirty Water (03:38) 5 Stroll (01:00) 6 Pearl (05:37) 7 Summer St. (02:17) 8 Vic (01:07) 9 Backroad (03:47) 10 The Visit (03:47) 11 Dovey (00:56) 12 Rosetta Stone (03:33) 13 Carnival Wig (04:11) 1 Juno (02:49) 2 Marriage Tree (02:51) 3 Pearl (04:01) 4 Stand Up / Dovey / Mexican Women (03:41) 5 Run Letter (03:15) 6 Soap and Water (02:29) 7 Rabbits Dying (03:55) 8 Cry Baby Cry (03:16) 9 Counting Backwards / Handsome Woman (04:26) 10 Take (04:58) 11 Soul Soldier (03:14) 12 Bea (04:09) 13 Delicate Cutters (04:41) |
| Red Heaven : Allmusic album Review : Undaunted by the departure of Tanya Donelly to form her own group, Belly, Kristen Hersh continued Throwing Muses as a trio on the bands fourth album, Red Heaven. The pared-down lineup gives rock songs like "Furious" and "Backroad" a more powerful, muscular sound and pop tracks like "Dirty Water" and "Firepile" a crisp, spacious feel. Overall, Red Heaven is the Muses most rock-oriented album since House Tornado, especially on songs like the Bob Mould duet "Dio," "The Visit," and "Rosetta Stone," but the bands pace has slowed into a slinky, winding groove that is more solid and forceful than the volatile tempo shifts of its early work. However, the ballad "Pearl" rivals anything on Throwing Muses with its spooky unpredictability, and the charming, delicate "Summer St." is one of Hershs most endearing songs. One of Throwing Muses finest albums, Red Heaven showcases Hershs continuing development as a powerful and eclectic singer, songwriter, and guitarist. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 21 Title: The Curse Released: 1992-11-16 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:06:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Manic Depression (03:17) 2 Counting Backwards (03:17) 3 Fish (04:20) 4 Hate My Way (03:59) 5 Furious (03:45) 6 Devils Roof (04:11) 7 Snailhead (02:41) 8 Firepile (03:00) 9 Finished (04:00) 10 Take (03:56) 11 Say Goodbye (03:22) 12 Mania (03:18) 13 Two Step (03:55) 14 Delicate Cutters (04:34) 15 Cottonmouth (03:31) 16 Pearl (05:42) 17 Vic (00:57) 18 Bea (04:37) |
| The Curse : Allmusic album Review : The Curse was "a temporary release" from 4AD, a live record from Throwing Muses two October 1992 shows at the Grand Theater in Clapham, London. Though the Muses were touring to support Red Heaven at the time, only four songs from that record can be found on this 18-song set. One would wonder if they had much confidence in their recent material, as over a third of Hunkpapa appears here, and they even dig up a couple B-sides (their instrumental take on Jimi Hendrixs "Manic Depression" leads off the disc). A pleasant surprise is the presence of "Fish," which was the standout track from 4ADs Lonely Is an Eyesore compilation, but oddly enough, nothing from their brilliant House Tornado LP is included. A rather unconvincing version of "Hate My Way" follows "Fish," and an always bone-chilling "Delicate Cutters" rears its harrowing head toward the end. The execution is great, but the sound is quite thin. Dave Narcizos inventive drumming is sacrificed in the recording, the bass is missing in action on numerous occasions, and the guitars often seem way too high in the mix. All told, it makes for a good bootleg, with typically stunning 4AD graphic work. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 21 Title: University Released: 1995-01-16 Tracks: 14 Duration: 48:38 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Bright Yellow Gun (03:43) 2 Start (02:47) 3 Hazing (03:14) 4 Shimmer (03:14) 5 Calm Down, Come Down (01:48) 6 Crabtown (04:20) 7 No Way in Hell (04:44) 8 Surf Cowboy (02:45) 9 Thats All You Wanted (03:26) 10 Teller (02:52) 11 University (02:12) 12 Snakeface (03:29) 13 Flood (03:14) 14 Fever Few (06:44) |
| University : Allmusic album Review : Possibly their finest album, Throwing Muses fifth album, University, blends the rock power of Red Heaven, their first effort as a trio, with the shiny, surreal pop of The Real Ramona. The result is a collection of songs, like the album opener, "Bright Yellow Gun," that are as ferociously kinetic as they are insinuatingly melodic. At first, Tanya Donellys departure from the group might have been seen as a liability, but on this dreamy yet direct album, its an asset: it gives Kristin Hersh room for her most wide-ranging collection of songs yet. "Start," "Hazing," "Shimmer," and "Teller" are some of her most immediate, deceptively sweet punk-pop confections, rivalling previous Muses classics like "Counting Backwards" in their hooky intensity. Yet the delicate "Crabtown" and "Fever Few" reaffirm Hershs finesse with brooding, folky melodies. "Thats All You Wanted" and "Snakeface" remain two of the Muses catchiest songs, and the driven "No Way in Hell" and "Flood" show that Hersh hasnt lost any of her edge. Universitys smooth, streamlined production adds a bit of sheen to Hershs jagged, elliptical guitar lines and keening vocals, but doesnt rob either of its impact; if anything, the albums polish just heightens its flowing yet diverse sound. The album the Muses had been trying to make since Hunkpapa, University is as hypnotic as it is accessible. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 21 Title: Limbo Released: 1996-08-13 Tracks: 12 Duration: 46:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Buzz (03:18) 2 Ruthie’s Knocking (03:25) 3 Freeloader (03:27) 4 The Field (03:28) 5 LIMBO (04:25) 6 Tar Kissers (03:07) 7 Tango (02:52) 8 Serene (02:49) 9 Mr. Bones (03:09) 10 Night Driving (04:57) 11 Cowbirds (03:52) 12 Shark / White Bikini Sand (08:02) |
| Limbo : Allmusic album Review : Their first release on their own Throwing Music label, Throwing Muses Limbo is a strangely anticlimactic album. Though it should be a celebration of the Muses liberation from a major-label deal that ended up being a major disappointment, it lacks the shimmery spark of the bands best material. However, its still a solid, well-written affair; the first three songs -- "Buzz," "Ruthies Knocking," and "Freeloader" -- get Limbo off to a propulsive start, but on the whole, the album suffers from similar rhythms and progressions from song to song. "The Field" has an interesting riff; "Tango" and "Serene" are subtly edgy; dreamy ballads like "Mr. Bones," "Night Driving," and the hidden track "White Bikini Sand" are pleasantly eerie; and "Shark" closes the album on a driving, malevolent note, but few songs seem truly captivating. Limbos sequencing, which places most of the louder songs on the first half and lets the slower, quieter songs sink to the bottom, also works against the album. Strangely predictable, the effect that the Muses seventh album achieves isnt so much Limbo as déjà vu; the bands once-mercurial twists and turns feel programmed and somewhat disappointing. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 21 Title: In a Doghouse Released: 1998-09-14 Tracks: 29 Duration: 1:41:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Call Me (03:58) 2 Green (03:04) 3 Hate My Way (04:05) 4 Vickys Box (05:08) 5 Rabbits Dying (03:48) 6 America (02:46) 7 Fear (02:44) 8 Stand Up (02:56) 9 Soul Soldier (05:10) 10 Delicate Cutters (03:52) 11 Finished (03:50) 12 Reel (02:47) 13 Snail Head (02:37) 14 Cry Baby Cry (04:23) 1 Call Me (04:06) 2 Sinkhole (02:33) 3 Green (03:22) 4 Hate My Way (03:53) 5 Vickys Box (05:11) 6 America (She Cant Say No) (02:44) 7 Fear (03:03) 8 Raise the Roses (03:45) 9 And a She Wolf After the War (03:15) 10 Fish (04:43) 11 Catch (03:03) 12 Lizzie Sage (03:26) 13 Clear and Great (02:47) 14 Doghouse (01:32) 15 People (02:26) |
| In a Doghouse : Allmusic album Review : Throwing Muses classic first album was never released in the U.S., nor was their follow-up EP, Chains Changed. For well over a decade, the two records were only available as imports through 4AD, which meant that Throwing Muses, one of the most influential and individual albums of late-80s alternative rock, was very hard for anyone outside of devoted record collectors to track down. Rykodisc fortunately remedied that situation in 1998 with the release of In a Doghouse, a double-disc set that provides a comprehensive overview of the Muses early years. The first disc is devoted to Throwing Muses and Chains Changed, while the second disc contains the groups self-released demo tape The Doghouse Cassette and five recordings of Kristin Hershs earliest songs that the final incarnation of the Muses cut in 1996. Usually, such material would be the province of hardcore collectors only, but the Muses were such an original, unpredictable band in their early days that even the early demos are fascinating. The re-recordings dont quite match the other recordings here, but its fortunate that Hersh had the foresight to document these songs before they were forgotten. In this context, they are a nice bonus, but the quality of the remaining music -- especially the idiosyncratic debut, which remains a fresh, unexpected listen -- is why In a Doghouse is an essential compilation. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 21 Title: Live in Providence Released: 2001 Tracks: 14 Duration: 50:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Firepile (03:17) 2 Snailhead (03:00) 3 Fish (04:18) 4 Fear (02:56) 5 Hate My Way (04:07) 6 Vic (01:18) 7 Take (04:35) 8 Teller (03:06) 9 Bea (04:29) 10 Soap and Water (02:43) 11 Say Goodbye (03:50) 12 Two Step (05:41) 13 Catch a Falling Star (02:17) 14 Mania (04:18) |
 | Album: 14 of 21 Title: Throwing Muses Released: 2003-03-17 Tracks: 12 Duration: 51:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Mercury (04:14) 2 Pretty or Not (03:30) 3 Civil Disobedience (03:13) 4 Pandora’s Box (05:20) 5 Status Quo (04:19) 6 Speed and Sleep (05:10) 7 Portia (03:38) 8 SolarDip (03:33) 9 Epiphany (03:16) 10 Los Flamingos (03:08) 11 Half Blast (06:14) 12 Flying (05:50) |
| Throwing Muses : Allmusic album Review : Throwing Muses were anomalous long before they came back to 4AD to record their second self-titled album. By 1996s Limbo, they were a rare band that had continued to make vibrant and vital music well after a decade of existence. And now theyre even more of a rare case; several years after that last album, they have returned with their loudest, noisiest, most immediate album yet -- and its one of their best. It only proves how much the band was missed, despite several fine Kristin Hersh albums in the interim (including another released the same day as this record). Saying the trio hasnt lost a step is an understatement, because this could pass as an album that was recorded during off-days on the Limbo tour. The unexpected shifts of tempo, created by the extremely undervalued and unique rhythm section of bassist Bernard Georges and drummer David Narcizo, combined with Hershs sorcerer-like control over her guitar -- serpentine twists, rush-inducing gusts of noise, straightforward riff shards -- whip through these songs with an alarming degree of urgency. Hearing Hersh, with her mouth like a trucker and voice like a siren, belt over the din (backed by Tanya Donelly on several occasions) remains a fantastic charge, especially when shes dishing out lines like: "Im so sorry Im cardiac baggage" and "Heres a big fat aspirin/Maybe youll choke/Thats not funny." Even though all these songs sound honed, as if they were fleshed out long before they were recorded, some have so much quickened force behind them that they come off as if the band was working against the clock. Despite this possibility, the clearest notion beyond the albums excellence is that time hasnt actually done anything to diminish the power of this band. Reunions are normally lost causes. Not in this case. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 21 Title: Live at the Middle East Released: 2009 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:14:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Devils Roof (04:31) 2 Start (03:11) 3 Shimmer (03:20) 4 Hazing (03:15) 5 Finished (04:34) 6 Speed & Sleep (05:40) 7 Tango (03:18) 8 Tar Kissers (03:22) 9 Limbo (04:07) 10 Bright Yellow Gun (03:32) 11 Shark (02:43) 12 Mexican Women (03:32) 13 Say Goodbye (03:47) 14 Vickys Box (05:53) 15 Pearl (06:00) 16 Bea (04:42) 17 Mania (05:42) 18 Colder (03:32) |
 | Album: 16 of 21 Title: The Season Sessions: Fall Released: 2010-09-20 Tracks: 7 Duration: 26:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Buzz (03:28) 2 Devils Roof (03:38) 3 Flying (05:28) 4 Mania (03:10) 5 Mercury (04:17) 6 Red Eyes (02:27) 7 And a She-Wolf After the War (03:40) |
 | Album: 17 of 21 Title: The Season Sessions: Winter Released: 2010-12 Tracks: 6 Duration: 19:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Colder (03:06) 2 Shark (02:40) 3 Soap and Water (02:44) 4 Juno (02:49) 5 Hook in Her Head (03:19) 6 Night Driving (04:59) |
 | Album: 18 of 21 Title: The Season Sessions: Spring Released: 2011 Tracks: 6 Duration: 18:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Call Me (04:01) 2 Carnival Wig (02:42) 3 Catch (03:13) 4 Ellen West (02:42) 5 Fish (03:23) 6 The Letter (02:56) |
 | Album: 19 of 21 Title: The Season Sessions: Summer Released: 2011 Tracks: 6 Duration: 21:35 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 America (02:58) 2 Hate My Way (03:42) 3 Pandoras Box (04:45) 4 Same Sun (03:15) 5 Solar Dip (03:19) 6 Walking in the Dark (03:36) |
 | Album: 20 of 21 Title: Anthology Released: 2011-09-05 Tracks: 43 Duration: 1:30:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Garoux des Larmes (02:37) 2 Finished (03:53) 3 A Feeling (03:08) 4 Marriage Tree (03:10) 5 Fish (04:33) 6 Hate My Way (04:04) 7 No Way in Hell (04:43) 8 Colder (03:18) 9 Tar Kissers (03:07) 10 Mr. Bones (03:10) 11 Limbo (04:29) 12 Summer St. (02:16) 13 Furious (03:55) 14 Bright Yellow Gun (03:45) 15 Pretty or Not (03:31) 16 Flying (05:50) 17 You Cage (01:39) 18 Two Step (04:36) 19 Vicky’s Box (05:07) 20 Mania (03:02) 21 Cry Baby Cry (04:23) 1 Hillbilly (?) 2 Same Sun (03:11) 3 Amazing Grace (05:43) 4 Cottonmouth (03:01) 5 Cry Baby Cry (?) 6 Manic Depression (?) 7 Snailhead (?) 8 City of the Dead (?) 9 Jak (?) 10 Ride Into the Sun (?) 11 Handsome Woman (?) 12 Like a Dog (?) 13 Crayon Sun (?) 14 Red Eyes (?) 15 Tar Moochers (?) 16 Serene Swing (?) 17 Limbobo (?) 18 If (?) 19 Heel Toe (?) 20 Take (live) (?) 21 Finished (live) (?) 22 Back Road (Matter of Degrees) (?) |
 | Album: 21 of 21 Title: Purgatory/Paradise Released: 2013-10-29 Tracks: 32 Duration: 1:07:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Smoky Hands 1 (01:09) 2 Morning Birds 1 (03:27) 3 Sleepwalking 2 (01:06) 4 Sunray Venus (03:35) 5 Cherry Candy 1 (01:04) 6 Film (01:49) 7 Opiates (03:55) 8 Cherry Candy 2 (00:55) 9 Freesia (02:42) 10 Curtains 1 (01:07) 11 Triangle Quantico (01:15) 12 Morning Birds 2 (02:00) 13 Lazy Eye (03:20) 14 Blurry 1 (02:25) 15 Folding Fire 2 (00:35) 16 Slippershell (04:47) 17 Bluff (01:01) 18 Blurry 2 (01:32) 19 Terra Nova (02:37) 20 Walking Talking (01:03) 21 Milan (04:26) 22 Curtains 2 (00:44) 23 Folding Fire 1 (02:21) 24 Static (02:41) 25 Clark’s Nutcracker (02:45) 26 Dripping Trees 1 (01:48) 27 Sleepwalking 1 (02:24) 28 Smoky Hands 2 (00:28) 29 Speedbath (02:08) 30 Quick (02:34) 31 Dripping Trees 2 (01:25) 32 Glass Cats (02:23) |
| Purgatory/Paradise : Allmusic album Review : During their lengthy career, Throwing Muses began as American college rock pioneers in the 80s and 90s, and in the 2000s and 2010s, provided a model of how critically acclaimed -- but not necessarily best-selling -- artists could thrive when the industry was in turmoil. Fed up with fickle record labels, in 2007 Kristin Hersh co-founded the Cash Music nonprofit to help musicians connect with and sell music to their fans; since then, it feels like shes been been building toward a project like the sprawling, often stunning Purgatory/Paradise, which pairs 32 songs with a book filled with illustrations, essays by Hersh, and 4AD-esque graphic design from drummer David Narcizo. In 2010, she published her memoir Rat Girl; her album Crooked from that year also featured an art book. Like those releases, this album is aimed very much at die-hard fans. Hersh, Narcizo, and bassist Bernard Georges sound lean and scrappy, much as the band did on Hunkpapas volatile mix of folk and rock, while the many short songs evoke the interludes and snippets that graced classic 4AD albums such as House Tornado and The Real Ramona. In just the first three songs alone, the trio covers plenty of ground, moving from "Smoky Hands" meditative poetry to "Morning Birds 1"s righteous blaze and "Sleepwalking 2"s anguish. Throughout, the Muses explore their ruminative, acoustic side ("Curtains 1"), their raging side ("Slippershell," "Sunray Venus"), and their rare but surefire pop side ("Cherry Candy 1," "Walking Talking"). At times it feels like songs are coming at listeners ears from all directions; less patient listeners might want more focus, but this set was designed to be parsed and savored. Every part of Purgatory/Paradise -- which takes its name from an intersection in Hershs Rhode Island hometown, shedding more light on the fire and brimstone of the Muses early days -- has meaning for the band and its listeners, making it a satisfying artifact in a time when music is becoming increasingly disposable. May they ever go against the grain. | ||