Throwing Muses: C-o-D

what's wrong with the production on that record? too guitar heavy? i liked it the last time i played it.

I dunno, I love it an' that ("Not Too Soon"), but I recall seeing TD play "Green" on that first Belly UK tour and, I swear, there were grown men with tears in their eyes. And the song was only six years old at that point, you'd have thought it some half-a-lifetime-away nostalgic rush or something.

Real Ramona is 20 years old this month. Good grief.

tylerw, it's too...dry? Monotonous?

"Fat Skier" is a really good ep btw. Especially "Soap and Water", which is a delightfully schizy scattershot jam.

― Senor DingDong (Trayce), Thursday, 10 February 2011 23:14 (24 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Soap & Water is alltime for me also

I quite like how ~thick~ University is but it is so so different to anything they did from say 88 or before, I'm not surprised ppl were prickly about it

yeah, it seemed to be their "we're a ROCK band" record to some extent, but i dig it. Narcizo sounds great on it. And Hersh's vocal on "Shimmer" is scary good.

Oh I've heard some of (all of?) the early demos when they had that other member who played keyboards. Some of it was utter cheese! Like, nothing at all like what was to come - just clumsy 80s home pop band.

― Senor DingDong (Trayce), Thursday, February 10, 2011 3:28 PM (8 minutes ago) Bookmark

Wow I never knew that their 1st 7" EP was a legit release! Why has this not been put out on CD?!?! yeah the one keyboard-based song is awful but it has The Party, which is total spine-tingling amazement.

Ah yes thats the one! Thats right, I remember being staggered that "Santa Claus" was so old. It sounds really creepy on that ep, very cracked and raw.

sorry to videobomb, and the sound's not the best, but I've watched this a million times
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1exb_Uk-i-M

intense yo

I love seeing them live. I've seen them about 4 times now I think. Earlier on they were riveting - she'd look so posessed. These days she's a lot more laid back but still kicks ass hard. I took my ex to their last show here (posted above) and afterwards he would not shut up about how hot Kristin was.

Man I need to listen to the Bob Mould duet now.

Aaaargh I havent ripped half my TMs albums, what is the matter with me! *grump*.

"Dio" isn't as moving in reality as it is in memory.

I dunno, I love the matched roughness of Bob and Kristin's singing.

When I was in high school and the first album came out, I said to my friend David "imagine how amazing it would be if this chick sang with Michael Stipe?" (at the time REM hadnt turned into the bloated mess they are now of course).

So when she did "Your Ghost" I think I died a little bit.

Yeah I only listen to Stipeless versions these days. Such a great song.

Maybe it's because "Hunkpapa" is the first Muses record I ever bought but I find a lot to recommend on there. "Devil's Roof" is great, and "Mania" and "The Burrow" are both freakin' amazing.

Following the publication of "Rat Girl," Kristen and the Muses have been releasing free "Season Sessions" via the website, one each season, with newly-recorded, stripped down versions of Muses songs. There's a version of "Hook In Her Head" in the most recent set that is absolutely fucking tear-your-head-off great, probably better than the version on "Ramona." The complete track lists so far have been:

Fall
-----
Buzz
Devil's Roof
Flying
Mania
Mercury
Red Eyes
And A She-Wolf After The War

Winter
---------
Colder
Shark
Soap & Water
Juno
Hook In Her Head
Night Driving

If you don't already have them, grab them right away.

wow thanks for that

The only time I saw her was with 50 Foot Wave. I like everything that she's trying to do with that band (loud, not centered on her, etc) but I find that what really draws me in is that spare, desperate sound like on "You Cage", most of Hips & Makers, and some of the 1st LP. I tried Grotto and didn't click with it at all, maybe it's time for a revisit.

Another version of Mania is never a bad thing!

Ugh I hate "Dizzy"!

― Senor DingDong (Trayce), Thursday, February 10, 2011 6:09 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Well no not hate. But I dont like it.

― Senor DingDong (Trayce), Thursday, February 10, 2011 6:10 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

i don't mind dizzy but it seems like time has been unkind to it

will agree with everyone saying real ramona and the debut

― down in the eustachian tube at midnight (electricsound), Thursday, February 10, 2011 6:11 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark

I still like Dizzy quite a bit, but my fondness for it may be mostly rooted in nostalgia -- it was the only Muses song I knew for the LONGEST time, when I was a kid, b/c it was on one of those cheap Sire 'Just Say ________' comps, which I used to rock on my walkman ALL the time. I think 'Counting Backwards' may have been on another one of those. It was def the 'college rock' phase of TM that I gravitated to first. It wasn't until a few years ago, actually, that worked my way back to the more esoteric early records (which are def my current favorites). I really dig the Chains Changed ep b/c it combines the best both eras imo, esp.'Finished' & this track (not a beatles cover):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXcRvKaea5Q

ooh, that's one of my very favorites.

Finished is possibly one of my favouriteist TMs songs.

Ta for that link too Phil!

"Two Step" slays me.

^ If I were putting together a DJ set of early-90s 4AD releases by indie bands from eastern New England, I would fade "Two Step" into "Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf)."

An underrated song on RR is "Red Shoes."

I have such a soft spot for Limbo that I hate to ever see it slighted, even like this: "The subsequent records all have their moments" from upthread." Must be a highly subjective sentimental thing, but it's my go-to TM.

I would fade "Two Step" into "Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf)

Haaaa. Nice.

Yeah, "Limbo" was the album of the year it came out for me. Such a swanky, slinky vibe all over it. David Narcizo is AMAZING, moreso in person.

thanks for the link Phil!

^^

I should probably say here that I still go and watch KH at any given op and her recent shows, where she's been mixing up readings from her Paradoxical Undressing/Rat Girl autobiog with acoustic solo/TM/50FW etc songs have been amazing.

The book, unlike most rock star penned tomes, is a fabulous and engaging read; all the more memorable for being able to deal with such emotive subject matter (manic depression, institutionalisation, childhood trauma) in a humble but sharp manner.

She = total hero.

She so is.

What means hallucinate?
What are we supposed to see?
What are they supposed to want - get a job?
You scare me

Fuck, I love this band. For the 330 messages discussing their varying highs and lows, nobody has really pointed out the obvious - that even their weakest moments tower over 90% of music. It's amazing how, musically, Throwing Muses manage to sound like manic depression if manic depression was an audible noise, even without Kristen's twisted lyrics and intense vocals.

cool interview w/ kristin hersh via the awl - http://www.mischiefandmayhembooks.com/an-interview-with-kristin-hersh/

i didnt know there was a new throwing muses album on the way!

Here's where they sound like "Manic Depression"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwOyCAqUzxM

Fuck, I love this band. For the 330 messages discussing their varying highs and lows, nobody has really pointed out the obvious - that even their weakest moments tower over 90% of music. It's amazing how, musically, Throwing Muses manage to sound like manic depression if manic depression was an audible noise, even without Kristen's twisted lyrics and intense vocals.

― o0o00h really? (boxedjoy), Friday, February 11, 2011 5:35 PM (5 days ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

totes.

been really into acoustic kristin lately too.

NEW ALBUM!!!!!!!!!

i have this image - of a house, empty, and the wind

is moving through the house, the windows are open

the house is wood, and the back door is cracked, and there is a faint, ghostly music

i don't know why i have that image - but i always associate it with kristin, and certain types of music, and whiskey

Inspired by this thead, I went on a Hersh/Muses binge for the last few days. The 1986 self-titled is indeed golden.

i'm thoroughly convinced that every song on the real ramona is a winner. most of them have a subtle creep-under-your-skin quality as well.

^^^ Even trifles like "Graffiti" really stick with you. "Honeychain" = great predictor of what Belly was going to sound like.

oh yeah, i adore graffiti and its unique, almost magic-realist lyrics. i find it a really soothing song. so many strong songs towards the end of the album too -- honeychain being one of them.

Wax in your ears
Wax in miiiiiiiiiiiine!
heads roll and heads roll, heads roll and heads roll

The latest Season Sessions is up tody: http://www.kristinhersh.com/seasonsessions/

Track list:

Call Me
Carnival Wig
Catch
Ellen West
Fish
The Letter

Today, even.

best setlist ever

Damn I've just realised I downloaded those last 2 and still haven't listened to them yet, haha!

oh wow, I just downloaded all three of these. amazing!

She = total hero

OTM

Revive 'cos 4AD is releasing an anthology called (wait for it) "Anthology" which would not be super-interesting except the initial limited release has a BONUS DISC consisting of a bunch of B-SIDES and COMPILATION-ONLY TRACKS yahoo!

http://www.4ad.com/news/28/6/2011/throwingmusestoreleaseanthologyonseptember5th

Bonus disc tracklisting:

1. Hillbilly
2. Same Sun
3. Amazing Grace
4. Cottonmouth
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)