Reviews (page 3 of 9)
Nice late '90s grunge, fun listen!
Love
Courtney has a charming, peculiar voice, that sounds incredible in many tracks but in others, I get tired of listening to that raspiness. Some tunes are kind of boring and repetitive.
- really poppy punky grunge, idk what else to say. very very very sick tracks, that tread between pop, punk and grunge. this specific album is more pop if anything though, especially on tracks like awful. always those very catchy progressions, in a way its extremely corny but in another way its also very easy to listen to. sounds very riot grrl (which it probably is) its an album that is pretty on the outside and dirty on the inside, there isnt really any track that you’ll hate too much on this album. its just very pop-alternative. courtney love had a rlly good band its too bad he killed kurt cobain.
О как я ошибался когда поставил 2 Я исходил из того что слишком уж в рамках альтернативного рока этот альбом, он не выделяется крутым инструменталом, тут он простой, хотя не везде. Вокал может по началу показаться не таким энергичным, но надо слушать вторую половину. Я точно буду переслушивать этот альбом. 3.7
Did Kurt write this album? I was interviewed on tv when this came out due to the Modesto arch pic in the liner notes
I haven’t listened to this album in 20 years. I remember reading about it being the California album for Courtney Love and Hole. She desired fame and celebrity. But if you separate the celebrity from the artist and you listen to the music you realize that she had talent and the album is good. Northern Star, Celebrity Skin, Awful are all good songs. This is a good album.
This Courtney Love / Billy Corgan collaboration is better than I remember. These songs also sound more Pumpkins than I thought. This isn;t a bad thing they're just more alternative and less grunge like Live Through This. Also, Mellisa Auf der Maur is a Boss. The playing all over this album is pretty stellar.
teenage memories, whacked in the face by nostalgia
Pretty good rock album I can see why people like it I think this is a great easy listening album.
Ooh baby this sounds like the '90s. Courtney Love just has a perfect voice, idk what else to say. A much "softer" album than I was expecting, having just known Hole from reputation up to this point. I really dig this, I wonder how much it's going to be something I go back to though, just because of how much it feels of its time, and in a style I'm just not in the mood for a lot these days. Definitely something to throw into playlists but maybe not one I'll revisit on its own much. Still, a really fun album! Favorite tracks: Awful, Playing Your Song
I enjoyed this. I really liked the Live Through This album but really didn't listen to this one much when it came out. It's a slicker more polished sound but I feel like the band didn't lose themselves on it.
An intense listen
Yep awesome yep anyone who hates is Maga balding chud
muy buenas, si me gustaron
Celebrity Skin хітяра. Я цей альбом погано пам'ятав, але мені подобається така музика. Пригранжований поп-рок з жіночим вокалом одна з кращих варіацій умовної музики для радіо. Хороший рівень матеріалу, бенгери розкидані по всьому треклісту.
Давно я не слухав цей альбом і на мій подив якось він постарішав добре. Гарний такий собі радіо-рок 90х, вистачає хітів, і навіть філерні пісні тут доволі гарні. 3,5 але ближче до 4.
Pretty cool, had some cool songs 7/10
Me ha sorprendido este disco. Debí haberlo escuchado antes seguro, pero está vez prestándole atención. Es una colección maravillosa de canciones y un sonido de finales de los 90 muy puro.
When this album came out, it was difficult to divorce it from the context surrounding it. But in hindsight, it's a pretty groundbreaking album, for better or worse. There's a lot of uber-produced pop-guitar-rock like this nowadays, but at the time, I had never heard anything quite like it. (In fact, my daughter said she turned her Taylor Swift-loving friends onto this album, and they all love it.) Comparing this album to earlier Hole albums is apples and oranges. But bottom line, these are good songs with great high-end production. And it counts for something that making an album like this is just A LOT harder than making an album like Live Through This.
I like their first two albums more; they're louder, more abrasive, etc., but this is an excellent album. I like the hints of jangle pop mixed in withe rest. I like Cortney's vocals. Guitar is excellent.
These are good songs tarnished a little bit by the production, but not fatally so.
4/5 - Not much misses here. Solid 90s alternative sound. Awful is probably my favorite track.
I’m too young to know much about Courtney Love’s drama or why she’s so notorious, so I’m judging this purely on the music. I was already familiar with some of the songs and I do enjoy them. At a certain point, though, some of the tracks start to blend together, which I’m not really a fan of. Maybe listening to each song on its own would improve my overall opinion and rating, but hearing the album all the way through in one sitting kind of taints the experience.
This is an interesting one. For some reason many of us millennials have a bunch of baggage with Courtney love, but this is a damn good 90's grunge/alt rock album. She certainly doesn't lack for emotion or attitude. This album nails the way that grunge mixed the big clean sound of 70's and 80's mainstream rock with the DIY too cool to try hard 90's. I'm a sucker for that 90's drumming. Her lyrics are better than I remembered. Hole will always be stuck as a part of the Nirvana story, but this is a strong 4 star album. A few forgettable songs but mostly really great and with a coherent vibe.
I loved the older albums by Hole, I also like this one but it has a completely different vibe than the others. Much brighter, more pop and some of their best songs. Also the lyrics are remarkably good. Fav: Malibu
Hole leave the Grunge decadence behind after Kurt Cobain's death a return with a new, glossier and glammier sound that actually suits them very well. Lost of immediate hooks and riffs, with reflections on the underbelly of fame and whatnot. Very unpretentious and catchy and not that deep, exactly what Courtney Love should be doing. Key tracks: Celebrity Skin Awful Malibu
Some albums just evoke California, and this is definitely among those. Catchy and powerful hooks abound, many will recognize a few of these tracks if they know anything about 90's alt rock. Love's writing shines again too, with a surprising amount of literary references in an alt rock record (as well as an equally surprising amount of drowning motifs). Either way, a really polished alt rock record that represented Hole's last "real" hurrah.
Surprised by the biggest single being the first track but the album holds up well. Has a good pop-grunge throughout with nice hooks. High 3/low 4
Hole are underrated - which is odd as they are pretty famous. Scuzzy 90s. My second favourite album by them … but still low 4/5
So glad that you could make it into the 1001. This is radio friendly Hole, and a great sounding album.
There are some tremendous, monstrous singles on Celebrity Skin. I like that pop rock from the late 90s was fronted by tough, uncompromising figures like Courtney Love. People wanted some rough and tumble from their radio music and happy to oblige, Hole delivers several smacks to the face. The first and last thirds of this LP go especially hard. Love is a powerful singer, and one of a dwindling number of chaotic rock stars. While I would not want to return to that era, you can’t deny that frontwomen like Love have a certain aura of cool about them.
Low 4 for me on Hole, really enjoyed all of this, great production, good hooks, the whole lot
Good stuff
This was a pleasant surprise. A very well executed, albeit fairly middle-of-the-road grunge album. Surprising only because they are a nineties band and I had never heard of them. I enjoyed the female vocals, making a refreshing change in a male dominated genre. There were no stand out songs, but it still managed to keep me engaged for the full 50 minutes. It's a simple formula, but it's well recorded and is very listenable. I'm surprised that this didn't make it onto the Tony Hawks Pro Skater soundtrack. On the fence with the rating but given some benefit of the doubt, this is a low four.
8.5/10 Really good production and vocals all around, will definitely come back to it.
Smash
#100 over here!! Celebrity skin, my second Hole album! I'm about 10% done! It's crazy to think it's gonna take years to complete. Years!!! I wish I could, like, ask for a new album when my album of the day is one I already know! I might have gotten through this in a year or a year and a half! I've got shit to do ya know!!! I have not heard Live Through This too much in my life besides through this list exercise, this seems to be more pop than that one, which would probably be a bad thing for me if not for the fact that I'm not into grunge! I like plenty of 90s alternative rock grunge adjacent albums, but nothing too grunge really, and Live Through This wasn't quite Rid Of Me let's say, still good thought. ... Celibrity skin is a really good song and I like it so far! Like the dynamics of Dying! The vocals are great on this one too! Oh I've just learned that there is a YMG cover on Live Through This, I did not notice, Colossal Youth that's an album that should be on here isn't it? Malibu I did not care too much about, Northen Star and Boys on the Radio I much prefer, I'd have chosen one of those over Malibu for a single personally. Boys on the Radio is so power pop, it's like a Cheap Trick song or something. It is good, it is good! Heaven Tonight I do not like, worst on the record for me! Petals a great choice for a closer! Ok so 3 1/2 maybe? Idk? It's the100th so I'll round it up this time!
Always preferred the other Hole album since it's more raw and punkier. The album has more pop sensibilities. Either way a fine listen.
Favourite song: Northern Star
Great punk album
This was unexpected. I don’t hate it like I expected to. It’s very slick. I’m sure the grunge heads hated the fuck out of it. It’s just a commercial rock record, but it’s got some moments for sure. The bummer is it goes on too long. Those fucking late 90s’ and early 00s’ LPs that go on too long. Cut 3 or 4 tracks and it’d be better.
Holy! ‘Awful’ is a good track that rips into terrible men. ‘Malibu’, ‘Use Once and Destroy’ and ‘Northern Star’ are songs that I really enjoyed as they intensified the post-punk / alternative rock atmosphere set out in the opener ‘Celebrity Skin’. Alongside that the blunt lyrics sung by Love which speak to the experience of womanhood, depression and the idolisation of the ‘celebrities’. I enjoyed the visual imagery brought out in ‘Northern Star’ with “Charity and gratitude. They run to the pines. It's black in here blot out the sun. And run to the pines. Our misery runs wild and free And I knew, the fire and the ashes of his grace. And I wait staring at the Northern Star” To conclude this album like many others I have reviewed will enter my go to albums or self-described ‘Music Emporium’ going forward. Ratings wise this is a solid 4/5 once again. - GEMV (28.12.2026)
Hole is the 90s. i <3 Courtney Love
8 - GOOD
אלבום נחמד, אין לי כוח לפרט יותר בשלב זה של חיי, לא אלבום מדהים מאוד
Title track is a smackdown perfect banger. Overall I think this is a great rock record. Reminded me in turns of Liz Phair and even Neutral Milk Hotel. This is not as noisy as Hole’s other two records - there’s some acquiescence to pop structures and sunny melodies that I personally think really works. I’m not surprised this is their most commercially successful endeavor. Love’s writing is sharp and her unwavering, unmistakable vocals hold it all together.
Takes me back this album , well saying that I think the main singles celebrity skin and Malibu were on constant repeat when I was a wee nipper and my sister was big courtney love fan so those songs on circulation a lot on good old days of MTV As a hole …. No pun intended liked the album , as said before celebrity skin was a big hit straight off the bit your in with the big in your face power chord riff great catchy verses and choruses love the production for what it is really smashed mix reminds me of butch vig There’s a few songs that stand out in this record for me Malibu I always enjoyed again Courtney delivering some great lyrics and the blend of acoustic guitars and then into the heavy choruses on guitars really stand out on this Think my pal Joe Horner mentioned Billy Corgan helped compose this album and can tell with some of the smashing pumpkin like heavy guitars The song awful again really catchy I found and definitely delivers great hooky. Melodies carries the mood nicely Hits so hard - really like the bright guitars and how it’s been picked in the verses just nice arpeggiated chords nice catchy chorus Reasons to be beautiful - nice fat drum groove got the Dave grohl vibe going on , powerful vocals can tell corgan given some input to this , just typical Courtney love style singing she’s slightly off but that’s what makes it so raw she’s showing her hurt in her vocals and it sounds real The backing vocals stood out for me In the choruses really nice how they build up and sit underneath There’s a couple more I found really good northern star loved the instrumentation the timpani drum rolls every so often made it atmospheric some great picked acoustic guitar Love how Courtney goes up the octave for the chorus at the end Used once and destroy enjoyed the intro and Tom Tom groove like a NIN track some awesome guitar effects too I don’t want to give this a full 5 rating but think definitely worthy of a 4 , just loved it for me it’s a nostalgia trip and , really catchy rock album one of Holes Best
I was initially skeptical, perhaps even swayed by the drama surrounding Courtney Love, but Celebrity Skin completely won me over. It’s a polished that trades the unrefined noise of grunge for slick, melodic power-pop without losing the band's emotional potency and the record feels grand and cinematic, delivering undeniable hooks in tracks like "Malibu" and "Northern Star" that have aged beautifully into late 90s classics. While it’s definitely a glossier and a more radio friendly departure than their previous work, it doesn't feel like a hollow sell-out, rather, it showcases Love's sharp lyricism and commanding vocal presence in a new light. Looking back, I realise I slept on this album for too long, it’s a masterclass in alternative rock that proves Hole was much more than just a grunge footnote, earning its place as a quintessential soundtrack of its era regardless what the likes of Dave Grohl and Kat Bjelland say...
rip kurt
Höga toppar, djupa dalar. Svag fyra
I’m sure I heard most of these songs back in ‘98, but really only recognized the title track. Really love female lead vocals, especially over grungy rock like this (had no idea this was Courtney Love until reading other reviews).. Solidly 4.25/5 almost 5 stars
Sweet spot for hole
I really like this. Hole deserve to be talked about more when it comes to 90s alternative bands. Really good pop songwriting, and some of the references to Kurt hit me pretty hard. Favourite tracks: Celebrity Skin, Hits So Hard, Malibu, Reasons To Be Beautiful, Northern Star, Petals
4 out of 5. This album rocks.
Girl power rock can be so epic!
Their earlier albums are more to my taste
Better than I anticipated, less harder rock and more poppy than I expected as well. Flowed well throughout, good range of style, not as samey as expected. Not sure why I hadn't listened before. The single 'Celebrity Skin' was obviously well known but enjoyed the rest too.
Excellent 90s alt rock
that opening track
Good, solid hard rock - good music, good vocals. I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Raw & emotional, dare I say underrated 90s grunge album from Courtney Love & the gang.
Shamed I never listened to this earlier. I’ve known about Hole for a long time but just never bothered to actually check them out. I feel like so much of their reputation nowadays is tied to Nirvana and Courtney’s relationship with Kurt Cobain but they deserve better than that
Liked it more than I thought I would. There’s just as much Breeders/ Belly going on (melody and 60’s vibe) as there is Mudhoney/ Nirvana.
toll
Tenía ganas de pop rock así que vino en un momento indicado. Ya había escuchado a Hole pero aquel trabajo no me gustó tanto como este, es muy disfrutable.Me gusta mucho la escritura, tanto los temas como la manera de desarrollarlos.
You know what? I'm going to say it. Courtney Love gets way too much hate. I have seen far too much unjustified vitriol thrown her way and I know that that's been the case for over 30 years, which is unfortunate if you ask me. Is she perfect? Of course not. She's made some pretty big mistakes in her life, sure, but she's not a monster, she didn't "ruin" Hole, and most importantly of all, SHE DID NOT KILL KURT COBAIN. I can not believe that there are still people who perpetuate this disgusting myth! I'm genuinely convinced that most of the hatred for her stems from either subconscious or, more often than not, conscious misogyny. People just love to have a woman to hate on, don't they? Anyway, let's talk about the album now. This is my first time listening to Hole and I'd say I had a pretty good time. I think Courtney Love is a solid frontwoman. Her voice is good for the songs and her writing is pretty strong as well. There's songs like things about fame and love and such, and there are even a few songs that one could interpret to be about Kurt! I mean, it makes sense. Good stuff. The songs are all enjoyable. The title track at the beginning is fun. "Malibu" is very good. Pretty consistent album all throughout. I guess I should mention that Billy Corgan helped write a good couple of songs on the album. that's neat. Good thing he's not singing on the album though, am I right? Nah, I jest. I don't hate Corgan's voice as much as others do. That's kinda the theme of this review, I guess. I don't hate this as much as some do. In fact, I actually enjoyed this album quite a good deal. It's great. Decent 4/5.
Fantastic. Muscular grunge with big hooks. Courtney Love is a great frontwoman. I really enjoyed this. I should be listening to Hole way more often. This is the second album of theirs on the list, and I thought both were great.
"Celebrity Skin" is a hell of a song, and is extra great when played really loud. I'd argue that this song is maybe even worthy of a spot on a "top songs of the 90's" list. It's dynamic, it's heavy, it's incredibly catchy and memorable, and Courtney Love has an incredible voice and presence behind the mic. Maybe it's sacrilegious to say, but I can hear some Kurt in her voice when she gets a little more raw.. other people hear that too right? I also think you can hear it a little in early Foo Fighters tracks, almost like they picked up a little technique from him. "Malibu" is a nice track too, and it makes me really miss this type of rock where bands were really dynamic and had lots of guitar tone changes and vocal tone shifts. This is a good album and a really hard one to rate. I don't feel right giving it only a 3, but it does feel a little short of a 4. 3 is just way too low though, so i'm giving it a 4.
Very nice album.
It’s been 925 albums since I reviewed Live Through This, and here on Christmas Eve is Hole’s Celebrity Skin. I thought Live Through This was fine, and I gave it three stars, and I expect that this album probably won’t venture far from that rating. Looking at Celebrity Skin’s track listing, I only know the title track, which I think is an outstanding song. I’m not sure if the rest of this album is going to sound like “Celebrity Skin,” but if it does, I think I’m going to be in for a treat! I thought Celebrity Skin was really good, despite its sound was a bit of a departure from Live Through This. However, I thought the more pop-forward sound worked really well for Hole, creating an album filled with excellent guitar work, solid production, and some incredibly catchy hooks and riffs. I was a bit shocked to see that “Celebrity Skin” was the leadoff track to this album, because its sound was such a departure from the grunge sound of Hole’s previous album. I thought the title track would be an outlier on this album, and having an outlier as the lead-off track would be an odd choice. However, it wound up being the perfect opening song, because it really established the direction this album would take. From there, “Awful” and “Hit So Hard” were also really great. All three of these songs had some beautifully melodic guitar parts. Emotionally, all three of these songs brought something different to the table, but the overall sound of this album still suited these three songs really well. Billy Corgan’s influence on this album was really easy to pick up on, but this album never felt like his influence and work on it took over. I really loved the emotionally vulnerable lyrics on this album as well. Before starting this project, I didn’t know much about Courtney Love, other than tabloid stories and cruel middle-school jokes about how she caused Kurt Cobain’s death, but Hole’s two albums on this list have made me see how talented she is as a musician and lyricist. Those first three songs were easily my favorite part of the album, but “Malibu,” “Use Once & Destroy,” and “Northern Star” were very good as well. Overall, Celebrity Skin is a really good album, full of great guitar playing and some really great songwriting too.
I didn't know Hole was the major musical basis of Courtney Love's career, having only heard of her name being an icon in the rock scene through the 90s. "Celebrity Skin" is a great track and I can see why she garnered her reputation as a musician. A pretty solid grundge rock album.
Use Once & Destroy going triple platinum in my room fr
Isn't it interesting how none of the Gen-Z Disney Channel refugees who ape Courtney Love's aesthetic ever, ever, *ever* want their actual *voices* to sound like hers? How they never want to go to any of the downright *ugly* places she goes vocally, at great cost to herself? Don't let the glossy Michael Beinhorn production fool you here - inside the candy shell there's pure poison. The handwringing over the sonic slickness at the time was, and remains, misplaced - this album rocks plenty hard, and Love herself has always been clear about the El Lay influences she felt, from Nicks and Buckingham on down. Nothing here stops her from writing some of the most haunting lyrics of her era ("Love hangs herself/ With her bedsheet in her cell" is an all-time great opening line). The truth is that everybody wants to remake this album but nobody *really* wants to remake this album - nobody wants to really go where she's been, describing utter physical and emotional and spiritual abandonment on "Northern Star" so matter-of-factly, like she's giving directions to someone from out of town, before she finally goes up an octave and shreds her vocal cords like only she can. Well, could - she can't anymore, having given everything she had to the music her critics always claimed wasn't hers to begin with. Better to burn out than fade away indeed.
I was a sophomore in college when Kurt died and the anti Courtney movement was in the highest point. I didn't like Live Through This at the time and haven't revisited in 30 years. I've never heard this one. Surprised at the vocal complexities and orchestrations. Really enjoyable listen and even threw a couple on some lists. Good, good stuff.
This is a pretty good album from Hole that’s stood the test of time well, still sounding great after all these years. It’s more alternative rock, moving away from the grunge of their earlier stuff. You even get some songwriting input from Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, which adds something special.
This is good! Generally solid throughout, maybe with a bit of a dip in the middle (?) but for the most part these are some great, upbeat rock tracks with some good melodies and hooks. I like the punky vocals and I like the guitars, and you can't deny the title track in particular is an absolute tune. 3.5 rounded up.
Good album but overstayed its welcome a bit
A good album, I liked Celebrity Skin, Awful and Use Once & Destroy the most.
More fun than I expected.
Album No. 0093 on my list. Hole is one of those bands I’ve never listened to much, even though according to my demographic background I would kinda match the target audience of the band. Maybe it’s the whole Courtney Love thing, I don’t know. Anyways, I’ve known the title track before (and unconsciously a few other songs) but “Celebrity Skin” was a rather fresh album for me. I actually enjoyed listening to it! It’s solid grungy rock, well produced, powerful. It was actually much better than expected (again possibly due to the whole Courtney Love thing). Not all tracks were top notch, but most of them are pretty solid and there are some very good ones on this. In particular: “Celebrity Skin” (as already mentioned), “Malibu”, “Reasons To Be Beautiful”, and “Use Once And Destroy”. Good one! 4/5 stars.
Yeah, ts shit is good. Really enjoyable, Listened to it twice in a row. I always have a weak for some good rock. Prob like a 4/5.
O did not.loatem to this album when it came out except for the lead single which was on MTV all the time. I have to rethink my opinion of Courtney Love because this is a really well done and musically varied album. I look forward to the other Hole album on the list.
Really solid album but I don’t think I like it as much as its predecessor. There are a few killer songs and the rest of them aren’t bad either. I enjoy the album cover as well. Rating: 4.3
MALIBU! I F wit this. 7.4/10, banger banger banger album. not the best album thus far. but I think the one i was most surprised by? I think I heard celebrity skin and thought "oh yeah these guys" without realising just how strong their back catalogue was. anyways. deffs one for future me to come back to.
Gonna listen to a lot of these tracks much more. MALIBU and CELEBRITY SKIN are properly fantastic and more well know, but glad to listen to the remainder of the album. PLAYING YOUR SONG was delightfully cool.
Good enough to run back another time. Between a 3-4 so I’ll give it the nod
Definitely a cool album. I had never actually heard of anything by Courtney Love (constantly got Hole confused with Garbage - common mistake I'm sure) but this was better than I had expected
Enjoyable
I guess unfairly maligned as "Mrs Kurt" there's some really excellent stuff here. I'm not sure I like it quite enough to go for the full-5, but the opening to "Celebrity Skin" (the track and indeed, the album) means a minimum 4 alone. "Oh make me over" bwang, bwang, bwang, bwang, bwang BWANG.
Really quite good
Power pop songs with post grunge arrangements. Full of great melodicism and vocal harmonies that go with Courtney Love's forecful throaty delivery, that cut through a mix of heavy, sludgey, buzzsaw distorted, and bright jangly guitars. I only ever knew the title track, but there's a ton of good stuff going on this album. Favorites: Awful, Malibu, Heaven Tonight, Petals
The album: rocks. The unhinged reviews on here: do not rock. Calm down. Courtney Love isn’t your ex or something! Go to bed, gramps!
Very much of its era. If you’re a fan of the mid-late 90s grunge rock, you’ll almost certainly enjoy it
i thought this would be crap but courtney love is actually class lowk
Enjoyable rock
I really enjoyed this. First 5 songs are just brilliant. The second half is not quite up to that level but still very good and keeps your interest piqued. This is more alt rock than grunge (even bordering on some pop in cases). It is beautifully well produced and it is even almost general population accessible (hence the popularity of songs like Malibu). There were maybe 2 or three songs that were a bit poppy (heaven tonight I am looking at you) I dismissed Courtney Love a bit back in the days thinking she was producing music on the coat tails of Kurt Cobain, but the two albums I have heard beg to differ. She is an great musician and this was perfectly stereotypical alt rock from that era . I really like her voice. Boys on the Radio might well be my standout track. I might want to own this 4 stars
just so good, really masterful divergence away from grunge into more alt rock which is so quintessential late 90s. love her or hate her Courtney Love is an icon!
I think I'm probably just craving any alt rock at all, but this was great.
I liked it a lot!
Hole is so underrated. Great album.
A Classic.
Enjoyed this one, some solid catchy rock that does feel foretelling of some of the 2000s rock to follow. On second listen I enjoyed it even more, guitar riffs and harmonies are just so nice. Title track is definitely my favorite, just has some really great lines in there (“I’m glad I came here with your pound of flesh” is a favorite of mine).Glad I listened to this and got an introduction to Courtney Love and Hole, hadn’t actually listened to them before this so this was a nice glimpse into her style.
Not heard in full before. Will definitely listen to again
something about kurt and hole living rent free in his head
Every Hole (album) is a goal (for catchy social critique).
you go girl 🖤
my high school self believed that courtney and i were going through the same hell
vibing
Wow I slept on this album when it came out. I had never made it past the first single but I really enjoyed this.
Pop with a grungy childhood. It’s catchy, like glitter on a switchblade. You can feel its fingerprints all over later pop rebels like Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus, who clearly took notes on how to snarl through the sparkle.
Courtney Love, I owe you an apology. I was unfamiliar with your game.
Liked it pretty much. Not on my recurring list thoough
Супэр. Лучшая песня - Celebrity Skin.
an incredible followup to live through this. i thought this was unfairly poopoo'd when it came out, it's got some all timers on it and none of it is ever worse than pretty good
Musisoinnissa on tarpeeksi rosoista särmää ja Courtneyn ääni kruunaa kokonaisuuden. Vaikka ei tee mitään ihmeitä, niin on esimerkillinen tapaus omassa genressään.
When I first heard Celebrity Skin I had written it off as far inferior to Live Through This, almost unlistenable, I think I ditched listening to it halfway through. Funnily enough, purely by chance the last thing I listened to yesterday before going to bed was Live Through This, from start to finish, a perfect five star album. Giving this a fresh play through, it's actually not a bad album at all. It's just not anywhere near as good as their previous album. There's moments where it all comes together, but they're mixed in with moments where it sounds too much like the Smashing Pumpkins, too much pop and polish. I'm going with a low four stars, which surprises me, as I figured this would be a two star album when I saw it come up today.
Previously rated: #425 - Live Through This (3/5) ************************************ Album #954 I liked this one a bit better. Only knew the title track going in. Pretty solid, catchy grunge-pop all the way through.
It’s much better than i expected- catchy melodies, badass vocals and authentic 90s vibe
I liked this album more than I thought I would. I was familiar with Celebrity Skin and Malibu, both of which I think are decent tracks, but I was pleasantly surprised by the first four tracks of the album as a set. Favorite songs that were new to me are Awful and Northern Star. I might put Awful in my general rotation of favorite singles.
Enjoyed it more than I expected. I've obviously heard of Courtney Love but never listened to her music.
I liked it! I hadn't listened to much Hole but I enjoy their sound
A surprising four-star album that has held up rather well.
I love a good girl punk band and Hole is one of the classics. I've never really thought about it beyond that!
I liked this more than I was expecting to. It sounds “produced” but I’m not sure I’d say overproduced. And yeah maybe sounds like it belongs to that era, so somewhat derivative too. But not bad.
GEIIIIILLL han eifach echli angst, dass de grund, dass es uf de liste "ja nachane hend sie sich ufglöst :(" isch, aber mal luege! celebrity skin isch nüt augeöffnends aber macht easy spass banger after banger bis jz malibu isch na nice mitem hindergrundgsang aber isch jz schochli sehr radiofründlich iwie isch vlt en fuule verglich aber d giti bi reasons to be beautiful erinneretmi recht ah nirvana dying findi megaa, sehr ruhig und melancholisch au use once and destroy isch MEGA nirvana..aber vlt ghöris au eifach willi druff sensibel bin boys on the radio findi megaaaa, iwie warm? jöö heaven tonight isch iwie au so herzig playing your song nomal chli zum abgah😝🤟 poah würkli nöch am 5i. schlussendlich vlt echlii z wenig "speziell" aber s album macht megaaa spass
I was surprised how good this album was. Some really good alternative/punk songs on this LP. The title track is really good.
Glad I listened, made me reavaluate the band
Really enjoyed this. I already knew a couple of the songs and I think this would grow on me to be 5 stars in the future.
I absolutely think this holds a candle to Live Through This. It's different, sure, and its production doesn't match the raw goodness of its predecessor's, but it still packs a solid punch. The band sounds great, and Courtney is in fine voice. Her songwriting is both lyrically and melodically rich, and this batch of songs is more than diverse enough to make for an engaging listening experience. 4/5
Glad to see Hole on this list, but I would certainly have put Live Through This ahead of Celebrity Skin Over the course of three albums Hole have gone from Teenange Whore to Malibu, and while things have become a little easier on the ear during that journey, it feels like maybe a few too many rough spots have been ground down to make this more of a mass-market product for teenage girls who like to dabble with a rebellious look at the weekend
Would usually go to Live Through This when listening to Hole, but this album deserves more attention. Very good!
I am pretty sure that if that album was made by a man, or even a less "controversial" figure than the lead singer, Courtney Love, this would be mandatory listen to any music fan. It is wonderfully diverse in sound, full of hooks, and intelligent writing. It can be both angry and energetic, soft and touching, it goes everywhere but still tied together by charisma and the state of California. This is very solid in my opinion, I thoroughly enjoyed most songs, there are only a few misses in my opinion. (Hit so hard, Northern Star even though it has a pay off). People saying it is pop-y are kinda missing the point of the album, whichwas evolving their sounds, and some of it is also quite rock leaning. I see hard work, I see talent, I see charisma, really really good.
Courtney Love is unfairly maligned a lot of the time which leaves people not listening to this awesome banger of an album.
After being thoroughly impressed with Live Through This, I had an inkling of the sonic direction Hole went with next, considering I've heard the title track and "Malibu" in my crossings. After starting as a noisy punk rock outfit, the band switched to power pop with their follow-up, aiming to deconstruct the California sound. They also brought in more outside personnel for instrumental contributions, most notably Courtney Love's ex and Smashing Pumpkins' frontman/songwriter, Billy Corgan. As a result, Celebrity Skin is the kind of record that sounds awesome, even if it doesn't quite live up to the quality of its predecessor. I might as well get my nitpicks out of the way. The album's production sounds thoroughly polished, such that any semblance of aggressive noise rock tendencies from Hole's first two records has been removed. To be fair, I think Michael Beinhorn was a solid choice for producer this time around, given his pedigree on albums like Soundgarden's Superunknown. I also believe that Courtney Love came into these sessions with the full intention of subverting a more mainstream style while still retaining memorable hooks and the cynical lyricism of previous efforts, and that does work to a point. But as the album plays, I can't help but miss the more confrontational ferocity that was present in her lyrics and vocal performance, as the overall mid-tempo pace and cleaner guitars carry less weight. That said, like I mentioned, the hooks are still present and elevate this record a little more than a standard mainstream alternative rock affair. Besides the singles, I also consider cuts like "Hit So Hard", "Reasons to Be Beautiful", and "Heaven Tonight" to have some catchy riffs. "Playing Your Song" has the most angst in the presentation, paired with the filtered guitar line. "Northern Star" proved to be an excellent ballad with the string arrangements, serving as Courtney's heartfelt tribute to her at-the-time boyfriend, actor Edward Norton. Finally, "Petals" was an effective closer about stripping away the false exteriors of those around you to see their true selves, no matter how horrid they may be. Even if I prefer Live Through This, I still consider Celebrity Skin to be an enjoyable record. Unfortunately, Hole would go on to disband multiple times, as Courtney has largely abandoned them to pursue her solo career. If anything, it's impressive that we got as many good records out of them as we did.
This was a solid album from start to finish. Hole really hit that late 90s sweet spot where alternative rock was getting a bit shinier but still had some bite to it. The whole thing feels confident and well put together without losing attitude. Favorite song: Celebrity Skin It is also pretty cool that Billy Corgan was involved as a guest writer and artist. You can definitely hear his influence in some of the melodies and structure. The title track stands out right away and sounds exactly like the opening song to just about every late 90s or early 2000s teen movie, and I mean that in the best way possible.
We were all really rude to Hole in the 90's.
I’ve somehow never heard this album before. It is much poppier than I would have expected. I’m pleasantly surprised. 4 star
I always loved “Malibu”. This is a nice album. 4*
So good
Solid album.
There's plenty of controversy and debate surrounding the band Hole, but if one sets that aside and focuses purely on the music, then this album is amazing and one of the big surprises thus far that I enjoyed it as much as I did.
There's a few really great tracks on this album I really enjoyed a few listen throughs today - this would have been a good weekend album!
A tough one to rate. Celebrity Skin as a track is very good. The rest seems like a pretty good album. Petals is solid second. Probably a 3.5, but for consistency, rounded up.
# 🎸 In-Depth Review of Hole's "Celebrity Skin": A Polished Paradox of Fame and Despair ### 🎵 Album Overview - **Artist**: Hole - **Album**: Celebrity Skin - **Release Date**: September 8, 1998 - **Label**: DGC/Geffen Records - **Producer**: Michael Beinhorn - **Key Contributors**: Billy Corgan (co-writer on 5 tracks), Charlotte Caffey (Go-Go's), Jordon Zadorozny (Blinker the Star). --- ## 📜 1. Lyrics and Themes ### 📖 Lyrical Depth and Imagery - **Poetic Influences**: Courtney Love's lyrics were inspired by T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land" and Shakespearean motifs, particularly the theme of fleeting beauty and decay (e.g., "Petals" references "darling buds of May" from Sonnet 18). - **Water and Drowning Motifs**: The album is dedicated to "all the stolen water of Los Angeles and to anyone who ever drowned," reflecting personal tragedies (e.g., Kurt Cobain, Kristen Pfaff, Jeff Buckley) and symbolic struggles with addiction and loss. - **Celebrity Critique**: Tracks like the title song ("hooker/waitress/model/actress/oh just go nameless") dissect the exploitative nature of fame, portraying Hollywood as a veneer of glamour hiding systemic rot. ### 🎭 Thematic Tensions - **Grief and Reinvention**: While expected to be a "widow's album" after Cobain's death, *Celebrity Skin* instead explores Love's transformation into a Hollywood figure, balancing self-reinvention with critiques of the same culture she inhabits. - **California as Metaphor**: Los Angeles symbolizes the American Dream's duality—a paradise built on stolen water and false promises, echoing the film *Chinatown*. --- ## 🎶 2. Music and Sound ### 🎹 Musical Evolution - **Genre Shift**: Hole moved away from the noise-rock and grunge of *Pretty on the Inside* and *Live Through This* toward a polished, power-pop alternative rock sound, drawing comparisons to Fleetwood Mac and The Byrds. - **Melodic Craftsmanship**: Songs like "Malibu" and "Heaven Tonight" feature shimmering guitars, lush harmonies, and infectious melodies, while retaining a underlying darkness (e.g., the sugary yet sinister "Boys on the Radio"). ### 🎸 Instrumentation - **Guitar Work**: Eric Erlandson's guitar parts blend jangly Californian rock with aggressive alt-rock riffs, using diverse equipment including vintage synthesizers and effect pedals. - **Rhythm Section**: Despite drummer Patty Schemel's demos being replaced by session player Deen Castronovo, the percussion remains tight and driven, though lacking some of the raw energy of earlier albums. --- ## 🎛️ 3. Production ### 💽 Production Style - **Polished Sheen**: Producer Michael Beinhorn (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Marilyn Manson) prioritized radio-friendly gloss, using early ProTools-like technology to achieve a "computerized perfection" that contrasted with the band's earlier lo-fi aesthetic. - **Controversies**: Beinhorn's treatment of Schemel—forcing endless takes and eventually replacing her—created internal rifts and ethical concerns, though the final drum tracks are technically proficient. ### 🎙️ Sonic Layers - **Textural Richness**: The album layers synthesizers (e.g., Duran Duran-esque sounds in "Heaven Tonight") with distorted guitars, creating a balance between accessibility and subversion. - **Vocal Performance**: Love's voice shifts from a raspy roar to a refined, almost Stevie Nicks-like croon, reflecting the album's themes of performativity. --- ## 🌟 4. Themes and Conceptual Depth ### 🎪 Fame and Identity - **Self-Mythology**: Love embodies and deconstructs archetypes like the "witch," "Medusa," and "evil widow," using her own celebrity as a case study in demonology. - **Authenticity vs. Sellout**: The album questions rockist ideals of authenticity, arguing that in a media-saturated world, embracing pop artifice can be a form of rebellion. ### 💔 Loss and Resilience - **Grief as Subtext**: While not explicitly focused on Cobain, references to his suicide note ("better to rise than fade away") underscore songs like "Reasons to Be Beautiful" and "Malibu". - **Empowerment**: Tracks like "Awful" encourage resilience ("If the world is so wrong / yeah you can break the mold with one song"), positioning music as a tool for survival. --- ## 📈 5. Influence and Legacy ### 🏆 Commercial and Critical Impact - **Chart Success**: *Celebrity Skin* debuted at #9 on the Billboard 200, went platinum in the U.S., and spawned three Grammy nominations, becoming Hole's most commercially successful album. - **Enduring Recognition**: It appears in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" and NME's "Greatest Albums of All Time" list (265th), influencing later artists like Ariana Grande in blending pop sweetness with dark themes. ### 🎨 Cultural Commentary - **Pre-Social Media Vision**: The album presaged reality TV and influencer culture, critiquing the commodification of identity before these phenomena peaked. - **Feminist Reassessment**: Love’s unapologetic ambition and flaws have been reevaluated as a proto-#MeToo statement, particularly her early criticism of Harvey Weinstein. --- ## ✔️ 6. Pros and Cons ### 👍 Pros - **Songwriting Craft**: The collaboration with Billy Corgan and others yielded hooks and arrangements that are both immediate and enduring, e.g., the iconic riff of "Celebrity Skin". - **Thematic Cohesion**: The California concept ties together personal and political critiques, creating a unified narrative arc. - **Production Quality**: The album’s sleek sound appealed to mainstream audiences without fully sacrificing edge, exemplified by the balance in "Reasons to Be Beautiful". ### 👎 Cons - **Over-Polishment**: Some fans and critics felt the producer’s zeal for perfection stripped away the band's raw energy, leading to a "sellout" accusation. - **Ethical Concerns**: The mistreatment of Patty Schemel during recording casts a shadow over the album’s legacy. - **Nostalgic Datedness**: Some guitar tones and production choices are firmly entrenched in the late-'90s alt-rock era, which may limit timelessness for modern listeners. --- ## 💎 Conclusion *Celebrity Skin* remains a complex, contradictory masterpiece—a album that critiques the very fame it courted. Its polished production and melodic sophistication broadened Hole's appeal but alienated some core fans. Lyrically, it is Love's most nuanced work, weaving personal grief with sharp cultural commentary. Despite its ethical and aesthetic compromises, the album’s exploration of identity, loss, and reinvention ensures its relevance in discussions of rock, feminism, and celebrity culture. As Love snarls, "I'm not selling cheap"—and indeed, *Celebrity Skin* demands to be valued on its own terms.
Great album and songwriting. Sounds like a hybrid of Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, and Alanis Morissette with more grit and agression and less vocal training (but not in a bad way in this case). This album came out at the end of the grunge era, and was definitely heavily influenced by many of the big bands of the era.
Pretty solid. I didn't care much for Hole or Courtney Love when I was a kid back in the 90's, but giving a fair shake today as an adult, I do see the appeal and the artistry she had.
Proof that reprehensible people can record great songs.
Really really cool
The vocals were so well mixed on this album! Plus I love Hole!
Courtney Love is criminally underrated as a songwriter and musician, for reasons that probably have nothing to do with a loud, cantankerous woman who happened to married to one of the biggest rock stars in the world. Unfortunately, Hole was not exactly prolific - that would be the cantankerous bit - but those albums had crazy range on them. This one is quite good! It's a move towards power pop, and light years away from Pretty On The Inside - hilariously so. That said, it falls short of the heights of Live Through This. It just doesn't hit quite as hard as that record. Still, there are some phenomenal tracks here. The title track, of course, Reasons to be Beautiful, and Playing Your Song all stand out. It's good!
4/5
Just a solid rock album, artistically light years away from where they started. Compare Pretty on the Inside, Teenage Whore, and Babydoll from the first album to Reasons to be Beautiful and Boys on the Radio on this one. That being said, Celebrity Skin merges the raw feel with strong musical talent and thoughtful lyrics. Elevates the whole album.
I wasn't really a fan of Hole in the 90's but I have really come to enjoy them since. That said, I think Live Through This is the superior or more trailblazing album so kind of surprised to see Celebrity Skin pop up on this list. Maybe the other album is coming? The title track is a showstopper - brash, energetic, melodic. It probably is their best song even if this isn't their best album. Awful and Malibu are two other solid rockers; probably why they were singles too. But I think the best song next to (or on par with) the title track is Dying. It's different - slow and haunting - but it is damn good. It also shows Courtney Love was a good lyricist and/or wasn't relying on Kurt Cobain. I don't think there are any other really good songs on the album, but there are a few solid ones in Use Once and Destroy, Boys on the Radio, Heaven Tonight, and Playing Your Song. 3.5 with a roundup for good 90s rock.
83% Best: Celebrity Skin; Reasons To Be Beautiful; Use Once & Destroy; Northern Star Must-Hear? Sure
Radical
“It’s good but I mostly like pop music” - Erin This album made me want to watch Sabrina the teenage witch for some reason. 3.5
HELL YEAH! So fucking good god damn. The hooks are fucking syrupy as hell with such a sadness underlying it. Some skips which is why it’s 4.5 but god damn so fucking good. I put this on over nirvana anyday
Courtney Love is an authentic, really good rocker/ grunger! This album is really nice.
The title track is the strongest track in my opinion on first listen along with Northern Star and Boys on the Radio, and some of the other songs are a little too 90's alt rock for me to love, but I feel a 4 would be fair. None of this is anywhere near bad.
I enjoyed this, do we really need two Hole albums on the list of 1001 albums you must listen to before you die? Probably not, but there are some serious bangers on this one.
Another great hole album. Never paid attention to this band until doing this list
Surprisingly good! I thought it’d be ok, a few good singles and then filler, but it’s a complete album.
I am a fan of Hole. This album is so much more mild than they’re pretty on the inside album which was truly punk. This album has a lot more harmonies and musicianship on it. Courtney Love was a rockstar more than a musician. It’s crazy that as great as she was as a front person for this band, she’s probably known more for being Kurt Cobain’s wife or for smacking Kathleen Hannah. Great listen.
Courtney Love has been on the receiving end of a lot of misogynistic snobbery from the music press and a particular demographic of male music fans, who saw her as some sort of Yoko figure riding on the coat tails of Kurt Cobain and even wild conspiracy theories blaming her for his death. In response, she put out a string of excellent albums, of which this is probably the best - assured, polished and confident post grunge indie rock with some real bangers. My highlight was probably the final track Petals which is insanely catchy.
Dig.
Hole became popular when I was not fully invested in rock unfortunately. I was headfirst in the line-dancing, concrete-cowboy country scene. I knew Hole’s hits, but that was all. Too bad I missed this album in 1998, but I think music meets you when you need it most. Courtney’s voice alone sounds like what the voice of perimenopausal rage would sound like and I’m here for it. It was interesting to find that Billy Corgan wrote on this album. I can definitely hear his influence. A solid album that I’d definitely listen to again and picked up another couple of favorite songs from.
So I never really listened to this album. After listening I think it's criminally underrated! You can have opinions on Cortney Love...but man, these songs were right in my early to mid 90s grunge sweet spot even if I was really only familiar with the song Celebrity Skin (which continues to be an absolute banger and phenomenal song).
I love Courtney Love
3.75/4- guess I'm discovering that I'm really into the 90s grunge sound. There's something so nostalgic about this sound, even though I was not partying in the 90s. Makes me wish I was haha
Celebrity Skin 4 Awful 3.6 Hit So Hard 3.3 Malibu 3.7 Reasons to Be Beautiful 3.9 Dying 3 Use Once & Destroy 4 Northern Star 3 Boys on the Radio 3.4 Heaven Tonight 3.2 Playing Your Song 3.6 Petals 3.5 Score: 3.516666667
Was surprised at how much I liked this album!
I'd say this is a no skips album. Top three would be Reasons to be Beautiful, Northern Star and Boys on the radio
Decent album with an iconic opener.
This is a solid alt rock album! I’ve listened to some songs by Hole before but not an entire album. Courtney Love’s voice is very raw and unfiltered which I like and it fits in well with the vibe of the album and the alt rock feel. I would give this a listen again and recommend it to others!
One of the best on the list so far. Really eclectic mix from classic 90s loud singing with acoustic guitars to sweeping instrumentation, really showing off the Billy Corgan collaboration.
Wow. This is my first time listening to a whole Hole album (heheh) and my expectations have been exceeded. I've heard Celebrity Skin many times, but it hit differently in the context of the album. And what a great choice for an opener. There are some really solid head-banging rock songs here, but my favorite is the beautifully acoustic Northern Star. (I immediately thought of Smashing Pumpkins. Interestingly, Billy Corgan was involved with some songs on the album, but NS was not one of them.) Really enjoyed this!
Starts out with a total banger, Celebrity Skin. Awful was also pretty fun. Hit So Hard and Reasons To Be Beautiful were nice and chill. Northern Star was a great example of that 90s angst, and it was a nice switch to acoustic guitar. The rest of the songs close out the album nicely. I had a lot of fun with this one. The songs average around a high 3, but the album as a whole pulls up to 4. Best song: Celebrity Skin
There were very few holes in this album. This sounds like the late nineties and smells a little bit like teen ... angst?
Pretty hot
Mich better than I remember. Very varied and good mix of slower and hard rock songs. Courtney love can rock and song at this time
Great record.
Fantastic and underrated grunge album by a fantastic frontwoman.
Geweldig album! Kende ik nog niet zo goed, buiten Celebrity Skin. 3.8
I liked this! :) Definitely will go back to it! :)
Bij Hole denk je aan Courtney Love en bij Courtney Love denk je gelijk aan Kurt Cobain. Die twee zijn onlosmakelijk met elkaar verbonden en je vraagt je af of dit album in de 1001 had gestaan als ze niet Kurt de vernieling in had geholpen door hem te introduceren met heroïne. Maar wellicht doen we mevr Love daar iets mee te kort. Het feit dat ze een soort vrouwen(rock)band leidde vind ik niet per se heel vernieuwend, want die waren er daarvoor toch ook wel. Maar dit album is wel een typisch product van de 90s, en veel mensen kennen het wel. Aan de muziek werkte Billy Corgan mee en dan krijg je wel een kwaliteitsimpuls. Neem verder bassiste Melissa Auf der Maur, die nog een geniale soloplaat maakte overigens, ga die vooral luisteren (Auf der Maur), en het zit muzikaal wel snor. Ik heb niks met de extravagante Courtney Love, maar dit is een prima albumpje dat je zo nog een keer kan draaien. 4 sterretjes
Rounding up from 3.5 stars. Good songs, late 90's production, and tight playing from Courtney Love and crew. Big Smashing Pumpkins influence with several songs written by Billy Corgan. Not having heard much of them beyond a few songs, I was surprised by this one.
Glossier than Live Through This but it really works out well. Courtney Love’s vocals really shine on this and the band backs it with a tight performance. At a runtime of 50 mins it does feel just a little bloated. After what I think are 3 really great tracks of Malibu, Reasons to Be Beautiful and Dying, Use Once and Destroy Settles falls a bit flat. I think this album rips though it’s poppy, it’s grungy. It has a bit of a Pumpkins vibe at times and I’m a fan of the Pumpkins so I like that. Courtney Love deserves a bit more respect for what she did in music and I stand by that. 4 stars
I love this album. I'll defend Courtney at all costs, and I really think that she'd be so much more revered if she was able to exist in her own steam, rather than in the Nirvana Universe. Anyway, just banger after banger after banger.
Actually kinda liked this.
We love to see some female fronted rock on here. It’s a good album
I positively enjoyed this. The instrumentation and vocal harmonies are strong and overall it’s quite earwormy. Standout Tracks are: “Awful” and “Malibu”
That was a nice rocker - really enjoyed it!
Really liked it; a sharp, catchy album with big energy and bigger attitude. Could’ve shaved off 15 minutes and been even tighter
7/10 - I enjoyed this more than expected. I liked boys on the radio and heaven tonight the most even though it kind of sounded like smashing pumpkins I liked it more.
You know, I've been a Nirvana fan for as long as I can remember, but I'm embarrassed to admit that until today I have never actually listened to a Hole album. And you know what, I don't know why because this is really great stuff. It's just everything you could want out of a grunge album still with lots of sounds and influences from various other subgenres of rock.
already returning to this frequently, just as with some other Hole albums. very nice release
The lineage of the coolest family of white people ever really delivers here. Best Song: Playing Your Song Rating: 8.5/10 (Excellent) Stars: 4/5
Goed, lekkere muziek, is wel voor herhaling vatbaar
Great band name
Liked this more than I expected. Songs were compelling, instrumentation was strong, vocals were very good. Highlights are "Awful", "Malibu", "Dying" and "Boys on the Radio". Low four stars, not sure I will revist with any frequency but still an enjoyable album.
opening song was so good I will give this a 4
3.5 - Good
4.5 stars. Courtney Love fronted 90’s alt rock. Standouts are first two songs including the great earworm title track.
This is a pretty good album from Hole that’s stood the test of time well, still sounding great after all these years. It’s more alternative rock, moving away from the grunge of their earlier stuff. You even get some songwriting input from Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, which adds something special.
Surprised by how much I enjoyed this one
some bangers, good record
Enjoyed this. Poppier than I thought, almost like a Britpop sound. The chimey guitar tone really reminded me of someone specific but I can't place it
Great voice and great sound
Hole are good.
Make me ovaaaaa
Fantastic alternative rock album!
bunda mole
Arrrrr
Not too bad for an American Pie kinda record
I was always under the impression that Courtney Love was a toxic human being. So I avoided her music. I was prepared to hate this. I'm shocked to find I'm actually really enjoying it. A lot actually. This is some great 90s alternative.
It’s too bad Courtney’s personal life has colored so much of Hole’s legacy, cuz they made a couple of damn fine records. Every time “Celebrity Skin” comes on the radio I turn it up. “Malibu” might be an even better song. The rest of the album isn’t quite as instantly catchy as those two, but it’s all high-quality 90s alt. If you’re a fan of the genre this is an essential listen.
Better than I thought this would be!
Not quite as punchy as "Live Through This," but still absolutely great and one of my favourite discoveries on here. It polishes grunge and makes it more digestible, and you can feel how it influenced Avril Lavigne and Marilyn Manson, to an extent.
I find Courtney Love to be one of the most insufferable human beings on the planet, but unfortunately this is pretty solid rock and roll.
So emblematic of the 90s, in a good way.
Kinda jangle pop-y, reminds me of smashing pumpkins too. Both of those are good things to be reminded of
I almost forgot that I’d had a Hole album previously as this was such a departure. I knew the title track but was surprised to discover that’s the grittiest, grimiest number here and the rest is very pleasant and melodic alt rock. I was almost annoyed at how clean and just plain good it is. You sort of want Courtney to swear more and scream and shout and break a few more instruments. But poor old Courtney, she was damned if she did and damned if she didn’t. I really enjoyed it.
Wow this was actually great! All I ever knew about Courtney was she was drugged out crazy and her connection to Kurt. Love the passion and grit! I feel like Julia Stiles in 10 Things I Hate About You would have approved of this album.
8/10
1 Celebrity Skin - strong 8 2 Awful - decent 8 3 Hit So Hard - lite 7 4 Malibu - strong 7 5 Reasons to Be Beautiful - decent 6 6 Dying - strong 6 7 Use Once & Destroy - lite 8 8 Northern Star - lite 6 9 Boys on the Radio - decent 6 10 Heaven Tonight - decent 6 11 Playing Your Song - lite 7 12 Petals - strong 7 Favourite 3 Tracks - 1. Celebrity Skin 2. Awful 3. Use Once & Destroy - NOTE RATINGS ARE FROM A FIRST LISTEN - SCORE - 6.8/10
The problem with hole and with Courtney Love in general is that Kurt cast such a big shadow. Hole could have come back with anything and everyone would have hated it. Courtney didn't care and did her own thing and everyone thought she was nuts. Celebrity Skin, Malibu and North Star are all great songs. This album had the hot red headed bass player show up (Melissa Auf der Maur) and she really shines on backup vocals too. For what it's worth this is a solid album.
It's a pretty good pop grunge album.
Hole on kyllä hyvää ysäri alt rokkia. Vähän ehkä grungeakin. Yhtäläisen hyviä kappaleita ja levyjä. Parhaat: Celebrity Skin, Malibu, Petals, Playing Your Song
Courtney Love is definitely a force to be reckoned with in the grunge realm as both this album and "Violet" are absolute bangers. Now there are a few songs that meander on a bit, but overall this was a very pleasant listen.
Really great album - I enjoyed it very much. The title track is a classic.
Pretty awesome, but the later tracks don't hit as much as the earlier tracks.
A lot of nice songs
Good album. Shout out Dom who had this on his topster
To me, live through this packed more of a punch, which i liked more. Nevertheless still a great album.
this sure is a 90s alt rock album. a pretty solid one too. but nothing crazy
I really enjoyed listening to this one. A bit more polished than the Hole of Live Through This, but still a great album. The most amazing song = Northern Star.
awesome album. lots of great songs on this. I think I prefer the rawer production on "Live Through This". still great though.
Often overlooked. The sheer weight of drama surrounding Courtney Love eclipses the output of a bad ass alt rock band with some big big songs. The album is very polished compared with Live Through This which isn't a bad or better thing. It's a West Coast alt album this despite being very of it's time doesn't sound too dated. It kicks butt
4/5
She may be a mess, but she was one hell of a rock star
Best album from a band I didn’t know that’s been suggested so far.
Das erste Mal das wir eine reine Frauenband hören, richtig? Fand den Sound recht cool, und der Wiki Artikel ist ja mega interessant :D 4 Sterne
Die Musik hat mich nicht dazu gebracht Heroin zu spritzen oder mir eine Shotgun unter die Nase zu halten. Besser als erwartet. 4 Sterne
I liked it. I was surprised by how pop friendly it is, I was expecting something a lot more abrasive. All sounds are a bit samey sounding but I still enjoyed having it in the background. Highlights: title track, reasons to be beautiful, dying
Liked this waaaay more than I thought I would
2x 3.6 enjoyed better than expected but still hate courtney love
Much more enjoyable than I found it to be first time around. Courtney Love has such a great voice for rock. The album starts off quite strong with Celebrity Skin and stays a pleasant listen from there. The harder edge that Live Through This had isn't here as much, there's more focus on nice guitar accompanied ballads. Still has rockers like Playing Your Song on there though. The variation in songs keeps it interesting.
*Live Through This* is Hole's magnum opus, and when this follow-up LP was released four years later, the opinionated young adult that I was instantly took it as Courtney Love 'selling out'. See also the hilarious review currently topping this section, paying tribute to Beavis and Butt-Head (folks under 30 will probably be at a loss to understand the "alternative nineties" reference here). All those admittedly understandable reasons can explain why you could consider this record quite derisively overall. In a way, I still think that Hole decided to "sell out" here, whatever the term really means. Those Fleetwood Mac overtones bobbing though the nineties-like saturated guitars say it all. Yet I also get why Courtney Love couldn't care less about what so-called "alternative" kids would think of her after the different ordeals she had been put through since the release of the prophetically-titled *Live Through This*. Going to California and leaving Seattle behind was probably the best choice she could make to "survive" (what's more "American" than reinventing yourself after a trauma, even if it leads you to apparently "shallower" territories?). Hence the different "new" tones of this album. More crucially, I've revisited this record quite a few times since it's release, and I admit that a lot of its songs slap. You have the hit singles "Celebrity Skin" and "Malibu", obviously, but also the catchy "Awful", the devastating acoustic ballad "Northern Star" -- obviously drawing from Love's grief after her husband decided to leave this earth -- or the twisted scorcher "Playing Your Song" --proving that Hole had not lost their gritty edge after all. And the epic closer right after that penultimate track, "Petals", is everything you can love Hole for, thanks to its killer chorus and its relentless drive, worthy of a road trip flick. *Celebrity Skin* ends on a double-bang for sure I also now admit that most of the other tunes are actually pretty good. On the downside, there's the lengthy "Hit So Hard", the pointless ballad "Dying", or the mundane "Boys On The Radio" (without those three cuts, you could have a perfect album, even if one a little too short). But what matters is that there are also the very nice "Reasons To Be Beautiful", the tense "Use Once And Destroy" or the jangle pop, REM-adjacent "Heaven Tonight". In other words, the assets, whether very good or stellar, far outweigh the flaws here. Interestingly, the unifying "Californian" themes of the album also bring some cohesion and interesting overtones to what is otherwise a distinctively "manufactured" effort. In a sense, the glossy production values add to the 'decadent' or cynical themes found in some of the songs, and help make it a memorable listening experience. Some listeners might discuss the sincerity and authenticity of the whole thing, if only because Billy Corgan officially gave a hand to Courtney and Eric for some of these songs. But whether or not you like the guy and his music, you can't deny he has a knack for earworms, so I guess his input was welcomed here. And what truly matters is that Love's abrasive and sensitive personality still pierces through the gloss and the subtle "pop" recalibrations. All in all, a very pleasurable LP, if not Hole's *true* masterpiece. 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 4. 8.5/10 for more general purposes (5 for musical competency + 3.5 for the artistry) Number of albums left to review: around forty, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 450 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 271 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 326
I really love Hole, this one and Live Through This are just so superbly grungy and refreshingly poppy and incredibly modern and exciting. This one has a ton of really great, moody, more acoustic tracks that are perfectly punctuated by Courtney Love's vocals.
Excellent! Feels like it perfectly encapsulates an era. But maybe not! I wasn't very alive
file under: music that kicks ass
Good
This album was a whole lot softer than I would expect from a band named Hope headed by Courtney Love. Maybe bordering on pop music. Gave it 4 stars even though it probably only deserved 3.
I enjoyed this album a lot more than I expected. I thought the instruments were well played and Love’s voice/lyrics were solid.
Pretty solid. I’ve never listened to a Hole album before and I thought it was really good. Love the feel and vibe from this. Love’s voice I also thought sounded really nice.
Good album
I love this album, but maybe it’s because it’s heavily influenced by Billy Corgan. Or maybe it’s because the album cover is fire. Courtney Love is easy to hate, but give the girl a shot. Rock on!
I kind of enjoyed it
Not sure we need 2 Hole albums on this list but I enjoyed it anyway. More polished and less loud compared to their debut.
Surprisingly still sounding great - a classic from Durham days when i borrowed the album from Tanya and then bought my own copy as liked it so much.
Bastante bien. El anterior disco que había escuchado de las Hole no me había entusiasmado especialmente, pero este tiene mucha onda y temas poderosos. Lo escucharía de nuevo.
Классный альбом, до этого не слышал эту группу, не знал что Кортни была в ней. Заглавный трек очень клевый, слышал его на саундтреках
Hole was a seriously great band. I wish Courtney hadn't made it so easy to dislike her back in the day or I would have loved them even more.
I really wasn't sure how this was going to go. I enjoyed it SO MUCH
Better than I thought it would be. Kinda grungy, kinda poppy, very well produced. Enjoyed the singing as well.
It’s a little less grunge and a little more pop than holes previous albums, but it’s good. Similar vein to the post grungy femme pop rock that bands like Veruca Salt were doing around the same time period. Super catchy title track, and the rest of the record stands up quite well. I’ll leave my personal feelings about Courtney Love completely out of this review. An album I’ve listened to previously and will probably listen to again. 3.5*
This album rules and I regret that I hadn’t listened to it before. I knew I liked it after the first listen, but I had to listen to it two more times to process it enough to write anything about it. Sonically, this album is very dense. Every single song has layers upon layers upon layers that add up to a sound that is rich and complete without being overwhelming or competing with itself. The title track as well as “Awful”, “Hit So Hard”, “Reasons to be Beautiful”, “Use Once and Destroy” and “Northern Star” all stand out, but there really isn’t a bad track to be had. If I had to find a complaint, it’s that the album feels a little monotonous. They kinda recorded 12 iterations of the same song and while it’s a great song, a bit of variation would probably make this a better record for me. 8/10
Bastante chulo, en general. Y como tiene mi hit Celebrity Skin, ahí le va un 4.
Hate Courtney love but this is a good album
I’m glad I finally listened! Way better than I expected.
4- całkiem punkowe się okazało
The opening 5 tracks are really pretty impressive, especially Celebrity Skin and Malibu. The rest of the record is just OK but it's an OK that's in my wheelhouse I guess - rock with guitars and big drums... I really want to dislike this because I dislike some of these people (or their public image/knowledge of them) but this is just a really good record IMHO. Probably a result of Billy Corgan and Courtney Love both at the height of their powers - but the rest of the band sounds great and the production is top notch.
When this came out I ignored it. I'm not into hype and there was a lot around Love. Having finally listened to it, I can honestly say that it's pretty solid snarl alt rock, hype or not. Liked Songs Added: Celebrity Skin Malibu Use Once & Destroy
I love the previous album by Hole-Live Through This-I think. While I liked this album alot and don’t think I’ve ever listened to the entire album until now-I don’t see why it’s an influential album. This was the end of grunge and they are trying to make Courtney sound like Gwen Stefani. The whole album is way more produced. Anyway just my thoughts
If I may be so bold to say, this album, song for song is better than any Nirvana album that isn’t Nevermind. Maybe Kurt helped her write this one and maybe he didn’t. Courtney definitely couldn’t replicate this album sound with anything else she did. This really is a “sold their soul” album in my opinion. It’s just so good from start to finish yet as I have already said, they never had a album like this after. It’s not grunge at all, more of a pop punk formula that consistently works for bands when they get the ingredients exactly right. The only slight on this album is Courtney’s voice. It wears on you if there isn’t noise to drown it out. Choice cut: Hit so Hard
Hit me right in the teenage angst
I really liked! 8-9/10
I really enjoyed this, despite my general dislike of the grunge genre.
Another really great 90s alt album from Hole. The Smashing Pumpkins influence is apparent, but I think it really works with their style.
Courtney love is the devil, but at least, unlike Yoko, she could actually put out some damn good songs. Pretty good listen!
I listen to "Live Through This" more but this is still a damn good '90s power pop punk album. Regarding Courtney Love, all I can say is that in this house we support women's rights AND wrongs.
interesting, fun proto girl pop. Can see the influences in a lot of modern artists!
Way cleaner and better produced by their other album on the list. Very swift and to the point. Very focused. At times it's catchy but still has a swag and attitude
Catchy at times, good hits, great flow. 4/5. The worst part about this band is that the singer is such a huge ass. She is so much of an ass that the band name gets lumped in to make a brand new word, but the word still has the same meaning.
Punk rock kinda tunes. Not too bad but not my preference
I'm a 90s kid I incapable of disliking this
Po meni jedan od zadnjih grunge albuma i početak post-grungea. Album na kojem su radili meni predivna Melissa auf der Maur i meni jako dragi Billy Corgan. Album je fantastična satira Hollywooda i kako te ugrize, prožvače i ispljune + ironiziranje kako punk kulture cjelokupne Californie. Divno kako je se protežu kvoutovi razno raznik pisaca uključujući Shakespeara. Divan nadidentifikacijski album koji pljuje u facu svima koji ga doživljavaju ozbiljno. Odrastao uz njega, poslušao ga milion puta, stoga nije bilo potrebe da ga slušam opet. Nije najbolji album seattle sounda, ali zaslužuje moje poštovanje. 7/10
7/10 Imao sam dosta niska ocekivanja oko ovog albuma. Ne zbog sumnje u kvalitetu, vec sam mislio da ce mi Courtney Love ici na zivce (iako nemam nista protiv nje, ali nisam bas upoznat s njenim likom i dijelom, osim da je od Cobaina zena i da je nekoc svirala u nekom bendu). Hole kao bend me skroz preskocio, ili ih nisam dozivio dok su se vrtili na tv-u. Prva, Celebrity Skin i Malibu su mi super, a ima ih jos par koje bi rado cuo opet. Ima dobar glas, zna zaurlati i bit senzualna u pjevanju, ne isfurava se puno i dosta mi je melodicno ovo sve skupa zahvaljujuci i bendu koji ima oko sebe. Bas nekako u duhu kraja devedesetih. Takodjer, album je zadrzao svoj momentum do samog kraja i nije me udavio. Cisti prolaz i solidna sedmica.
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
Wow what a great album! Some of the best of the 90s grunge that we have gotten on here tbh. Awesome
Catchy guitar hooks With rebellious energy And forceful vocals
I enjoyed this one and will come back to it!
Can’t lie, but I was never much of a Courtney Love fan as a teen. That said, I’m glad this album came up and I got a chance to listen to it. Outside of Celebrity Skin, I hadn’t listened to the album itself prior to this morning. It’s a really good alt-rock album from the post-grunge era of the 90s, but isn’t great start to finish. While it kicks off really strong, it does suffer from some weaker tracks in the middle. It thankfully rebounds towards the end and leaves the listener satisfied.
Liked
Jus good album with California vibe
It's the second album I've heard which has made me think Hole and Courtney Love have been underestimated. This is a great recording which i will come back to. Malibu and Northern Star in particular are great songs.
Title track rocks. The rest of the tracks are good but the back half of the album is a bit uneven.
I grew tired of Courtney Love's singing tone, especially on the softer songs. Why is every song so long? I imagine I'll come back to this album in small doses.
That guitar riff and "Oh, make me over / I'm all I wanna be / A walking study / In demonology / Heyyy" slaps really hard as an album opener. Great track. I'm rating the album at a 4. It's not as good as Live Through This but it's pretty solid; Love is in great form and the album stays consistently enjoyable throughout its run. However, I didn't think there were any standout songs other than the title track. The lyrics are often quite good though, and it's got clear themes and something to say.