Customer Reviews

Red Heaven

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Could this be one of the most undervalued and underappreciated albums of the 1990s? Yes, I do insist so. I bought this knowing the crazed, fragile brilliance that is Kristin Hersh. She has always been the mind and force behind this band. I don't care what anyone says about Tanya Donelly leaving the band and a hollow space that that created. Donelly was not that important in this band, as far as I am concerned... she went on to do her own things... and let Kristin do hers. And what Kristin Hersh does best is ROCK. She has highly idiosyncratic vocals, very weird lyrics, and carefully crafted, ingenious songs. All of these elements come together on this completely joyous musical raucous! It is decadent. Superlative do not begin to describe how brilliant this is. You would be wise to check this out FIRST in your anthropological dig through Throwing Muses history because this is the core of what the band is. Previous albums are also brilliant, but this is a showcase of brilliance at its supreme level. Divine moments here include "Dirty Water", "Summer St.", "The Visit", and the incomparable "Rosetta Stone". This is an unforgettable album. GET IT.

Lots of people say Hunkpapa or The Real Ramona are the places to start, because apparently the band suffered following Tanya Donelly's departure. I don't think anything could be further from the truth. This album is abrasive, melodic in a cyclone sort of way, driven and full of bizarre imagery. Music needs more women like Kristin Hersh who basically reinvent the guitar when they play it.

i've read interviews in which kristin hersh has said that this was her favorite throwing muses album. the trimmed-down three piece band rocks hard and tight on this one, and still manages to include a lot of variety and originality. definitely worth repeated listens.

When I first heard "Firepile" I could barely contain myself. This album gets better and better each time you listen to it. It was so good I went out and bought the oh-so bland Belly. If you want the real thing this is the place to start.

This is my favorite Muses album (Limbo is a close second) and they really rock out here. Also, some of Hersh's most mature work displayed in all it's glory on "Pearl" and "Carnival Wig." All the songs are great here except I dislike "Dio" (question of taste I guess). Sophisticated alternative rock with great lyrics. Oh, and David's drumming is fantastic.

Power rock with no frills, alternating with frequent acoustic interludes, spooky vocals and sur-rural lyrics not unlike prime Dylan - Hersch was exploring similar musical sources. Red Heaven grabbed my attention on its release because it truly seemed to be inspired by muses.

Hersch's lyrics have a timeless feeling of hard luck survivors in small remote towns separated by long stretches of highway - without ever making any such obvious references. The ensemble and production are bony and flexible in both electric and acoustic modes, casually shifting tempos and melodies (perhaps why it sounds unstructured to some), again making Red Heaven sound somewhat outside of its time and enduring as a musical document.

Dio's about as aggressive as anything on the CD, and Hersch and Mould sound great together, a little like Buddy and Julie Miller. I especially like Pearl, Dirty Water, Backroad, and Rosetta Stone but there are no bad songs and the sequencing holds up interest from end to end. Red Heaven is as good as their excellent self-titled debut (though a little more primal), much better than University, and highly recommended for anybody who wants to explore this band.

"Don't touch me... there's history on your hands..."

Can you beat lyrics like that???? You must buy this album for its intelligence!

Red Heaven is excellent work. Firepile, Carnival Wig...it just friggin' ROCKS! On par with Limbo, it won't disappoint any true TM fan.

Although shortly released after the departure of two of the four members of the band ( guitarist Tanya Donelly and bassist Fred Abong left to form Belly ) , " Red Heaven " is a particulary strong collection of solid rock tunes .

Hersh's hellish vocals once again whip the air , the lyrics are out of control and striking ( " you're furious / i beg you for sin / i beg your skin / you buy a w***e / don't give her water !..." ) plus the element of suprise , a key behind the group's eternal freshness is still here . " Pearl " for example starts off as an acoustic melody of some sort and exactly when you feel like the song has nothing more to say , the Muses deceide to rock , giving to the track a whole new dimension .

So far so good . Fans will be happy for one more time yet ... how many others will be impressed ? It's strange how less organised this sounds and how less important it feels in comparison to " The Real Ramona " - arguably the band's best record - released just one year ago . With the exception of " Carnival Wing " - so beautiful in it's own angst - there's not a track here capable of braking the wall standing between their indie fanbase and the wider rock audience .

Kristin Hersh deserves credit for not giving a damn all these years for what the charts want and for playing the game always in her own terms . " Red Heaven " clearly doesn't lack the talent nor the energy . What's missing here is the vision .

If you're a fan of earlier Throwing Muses, such as House Tornado, Hunkpapa, or The Real Ramona, this album will disappoint you. It seems a lot changed between The Real Ramona and this album. For one, Tanya Donelley left band. She seemed to give the band a needed contrast to Kristin Hersh's depressive songs.

I am a fan of Belly and the Breeders, so it should be no surprise that post-Donelly Throwing Muses has very little appeal to me. However, Hersh's solo efforts are beautiful and you should check out "Hips & Makers."