Violent Femmes [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED]

Violent Femmes

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 17, 2000)
• Original Release Date: 1983
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B00004YLBC
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,146 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Emerging, literally, from the streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they gained notoriety through busking, this strange trio led by guitarist-vocalist Gordon Gano became a cult favorite with their self-titled debut album in 1983. Influenced greatly by Jonathan Richman's Modern Lovers, the Femmes' minimalist sound pitted Gano's low-volume electric guitar against Brian Ritchie's acoustic bass guitar and Victor De Lorenzo's ashcanlike homemade drum kit--all of which only served to make Gano's angst-ridden adolescent tirades more arresting. Highlights here are the rockabillyish "Gone Daddy Gone," the snotty "Kiss Off," and the emblematically nervous "Blister in the Sun." All in all, a fond reminder of the innocent days of alt-rock. (Note: The 20th anniversary deluxe version of the album includes an additional 26 demos and live tunes, 22 of them never before released.) --Billy Altman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Nice To See This Re-Issued...., October 19, 2000

By	Paul H. "rmj84" (USA) - See all my reviews

I went nuts when this album went out of print since I didn't have it. The debut self-titled release from the Femmes is hailed as the only Violent Femmes album you'll ever need, and I was surprised to see it discontinued. But I found it some time ago and know it is being re-issued. This album is the classic I hoped it to be. Many of the Femmes biggest songs are here including "Blister In The Sun", "Kiss Off", "Gone Daddy Gone", and "Add It Up." But every song on here is great from "Please Don't Go" to "Prove My Love" to "Promises." The Femmes sound is completely unique: think folk-inspired acoustic rock with a swift kick of punk in there. Gordon's lyrics are sad and angsty, yet sort of funny at times as he begs and pleads to "get just one kiss" [and a few other things ;) ] in "Add It Up" and counts down his depressions one-by-one in "Kiss Off." Bottom line: Don't miss out again; pick this up now!

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the Catcher in the Rye of Rock and Roll, September 16, 2002

By	S. Finefrock (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I remember picking up the cassette of this when it first came out and going for a ride in the car to give it a listen. By the time I got around to playing it for the second time, I was singing along to the songs like they had been decade old classics. The Violent Feemes had struck gold on their first release. A band in 1983 that played mostly acoustic instuments like upright bass, xylaphone and trash can drums was quite rare, and to do so with more passion than any of the current hardcore punk bands was shocking. Gordon Gano filtered Holden Caulfield through Lou Reed with a touch of Jonathon Richman, to create teen angst classics for that time, and times to come. The Femmes would falter after the release of their second album Hallowed Ground and would perhaps be forgotten as mere footnotes if not for their first album. In some ways this became the Dark Side of the Moon for the eighties generation. Enjoy it.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Violent Femmes' Debut is Also their Best, July 12, 2002

By	Brian D. Rubendall (Oakton, VA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The Violent Femmes proved the old popular music adage that you have your whole life to record your debut album and 18 months to record your second. They were never able to repeat this stunning, successful beginning. The band's folk-punk sound and ameturish vocals take a little getting used to, but once you do, cathcy songs like "Add it Up," "Blister in the Sun," and "Please Do Not Go" become irresistable. The subject matter rarely strays from the boy-can't-get-ANY-girl theme summed up memorably by the "Add it Up" verse "Why can't I get just one kiss?" etc. The original album ended with the achingly pretty and longing ballad "Good Feeling," though the CD version unfortunately adds two middling bonus tracks after it.

Overall, "Violent Femmes" is the one truly vital album from the band of the same name.