Reviews (page 4 of 10)
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!
I really enjoyed this! I have never heard of them, but adding this to my regular rotation. Good vibes.
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!
Better than Nirvana btw.
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
Hole were a decent band operating in a pretty tumultuous timeline. Some crackin songs on this, more power pop than grunge. Courtney has the 'riz', the songs are tight and some good low end on the bass. Few fillers in there, but the hits are great.
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.
Actually really enjoyed, not sure what I expected. A good alt rock vibe.
The 90s are having a comeback moment and I feel like the trend is seeping through to indie rock. Some of these songs would not be out of place on today's indie radio stations.
More enjoyable than expected. I think I would have rated this lower at the time.
Courtney Love is the only grunge singer I respect.
Celebrity Skin is the third studio album by Hole, originally released in 1998. I've always had my hang-ups about Courtney Love. Maybe it was the media-backed misogyny that I ended up internalizing bad feelings towards her. I always thought she was pretty trashy (and she seemed to wear that label with pride), but I'm working on creating a different view of her. Earlier in this list, I got "Live Through This" by Hole. I thought it was an OK grunge/punk-ish album. I think I gave that one a 3. I did NOT expect Hole to pivot to pop-influenced alternative rock just a mere 4 years later! This album is way more polished than their previous efforts. It makes sense because apparently they hired some big shot producer to work with. And I did not expect Love's voice to gel with this sound... but it really works. Some may call it a soulless compromise in attempt to stay relevant (which they succeeded in; there were a few hit songs on here). I think it's a welcome change of pace for Love. Less focused on trying to be mega aggressive/controversial and more focus on introspective lyrics and arrangements. You can really hear the Smashing Pumpkins influence on here. I was very surprised by this one. Definitely a weird change of pace for the band but I think it works.
Honestly what a banger of an album. Combining 80's and 90's alt rock into a super album. Courtney's voice isn't as bad as I recall and perhaps the music she made wasn't bad either. However, I do think she had something to do with the death of Kurt Cobain. So negative points.
As tragic a tale as nirvana and just as much tabloid fodder. But is it good? It is good. Maybe not great. But good. Strong songs and musicianship. A not untalented band at all. Ignore the drama. This is a good listen.
The history, person and music are inseparable. It's more than 2 catchy songs. She undeniably has a voice. And a unique recognisable style here. It's much better than I remembered. I really like the guitar and vocal sound on the opening track, the fun rebellious punk sounds of Celebrity skin and Malibu. It's all attitude and remind me of the stories of their wild and highly sexualised concerts. I don't expect much from the rest of the album .... It's ok. I give them points for having a finite and recognisable sound and one of few angry female voices to make it mainstream.
7/10
Pretty decent music with good lyrics. A lot of vibe songs. 3.6
Great late 90s!
Almost tempted to give it a 5, but it's not quite there for me. Still, a very good album overall. The title song rocks!
I've never heard of the band. I really like it very much. Great music and great voices. I will certainly listen to more of it. 4/5
I had never listened to Hole before, this was awesome. Angsty rock with bite behind it, really sweet album.
It didn't have too high highs, but it was all around enjoyable
Yep got to give it to Courtney Love this is a great album, classic 90’s alt rock.
July 5, 2024 HL: title track, "Awful", "Use Once and Destroy", "Northern Star", "Heaven Tonight" I can barely remember why I was dreading coming across this. Was it the promise of slick late 90's production, that Billy Corgan was involved, or that it's Hole/Courtney Love? Because I really liked the last Hole (Live Through This), & I highly rated the Smashing Pumpkins' 2 albums. So, maybe it's that I'm twice shy about 1998 albums (for some reason my least favourite year in music, at least according to the data here). Well, dread was unfounded If I have any real criticism, it's that Love's vocal performance seems flatter than I remember, and that it drags a bit after the firecracker that is the first three songs. Yet from "Use Once" onward, I got back in it. "Northern Star" brings back the visceral roars I remember from the last Hole, in the form of... a spooky acoustic ballad! The rest of the album is very poppy cuts, but wouldn't be unwelcome on MY 80s/90s radio, that's for sure.
Let me start with I am not a fan of Courtney Love. That has colored my opinion of both her and her music for decades. I wish I had listened to this album when it first came out. It's much better than it should be and would have been an amazing album at the time.
3.6
I’m a Hole fan. This is not my favorite Hole album, but Courtney writes insightful lyrics and has an interesting voice both literally and figuratively. At least musically (I’m not a person who has studied her life, but I know it’s messy) she deserves more respect than she seems to get.
So 90s
Liked this more than I thought I would.
Rocks decently hard in a conventional, '90s alternative way, but with better melodies and just a touch of melancholy. One likes this better now than one did them.
Bad ass female vocals - this album transported me back to the 90s.
Grata sorpresa.
Never hear it before but liked it!
Good album, so much more than just a Kurt Cobain conspiracy theory. Boys on the Radio sounds an awful lot like The Replacements' Unsatisfied. Fave Tracks: Celebrity Skin, Awful, Malibu 3.9/5
2000s teen movie style i love it
Rolled into this album with a vague memory of thinking it was disappointing. Turns out it just wasn't as rough as Live Through This; now, without any of the punk gatekeeping I remember from the late 90s, this album is considerably better than I remember. It's just that, back then, I didn't know what (or how good) power pop was.
For reasons unrelated to the album itself, I wasn't able to absorb the album as much as I would've wanted. Even with only 1.5 listens. Allow me, then, to keep this a bit short, so I didn't even up thinking of much to say. To begin with, I came into this album expecting it to be a lot... Y'know, angirer. Grungier. Punkier. Riot grrrl. That was always the impression I had of Hole, largely going by the cover to their album LIVE THROUGH THIS and maybe a sample I heard in a mashup somewhere. Color me very surprised, then, to put this on and hear California power pop and alternative. And more so to find out that I dug a lot. Hell, maybe even a little bit more than I would have LIVE THROUGH THIS. I don't have any specifics to bring up, 'cuz, y'know, as I mentioned, but the vibes are just there. And I like her voice a lot. I'unno. I just dug it a lot. Get off my back, eh?
Recognized & liked one song,the rest were ok wouldn’t seek out
Great, grungy, angry album
I listened to the whole album
Surprisingly pretty dang good
I am not a fan of Courtney Love. I am a fan of Melissa Auf der Maur and Billy Corgan can write music like few others(especially at this point in time).
Another solid 90s rock album from Hole. Weirdly I had both of their albums within three days?! Anyway I enjoyed this one too, maybe slightly less than their first but it's still very enjoyable. Favourite was probably the last track, Petals. Great lyrics and I never realised Courtney Love was so good.
Good album. Courtney Loves voice kicks ass. Does a good job of conveying of emotion. And cool instrumentals. It makes me think about how unkind where to her in retrospect. Good album
Courtney Love's California in the 90s. Great single and some other scene tracks that are a great time capsule. The lore/baggage that surround Hole and Courtney Love will always loom large. But the feel, of this record will always be a late-90s sign post.
I'm not a huge fan of 90s alternative or grunge or that whole scene in general but whenever I listen to Hole, I'm always surprised at how much I like it. It's the right balance of everything and plays itself better than expected.
Lovely nostalgic feminist pop punk. Great tunes and good consistency across the album. It's a good sign when I'm humming the tunes later in the evening.
Surprised by how many songs I knew other than Celebrity Skin and Malibu. Really enjoyed this one.
This album has a nice sound. Perfect for a sunshiny drive home from work when you're using PTO the next day. Remind me of Scorpio Rising a little bit. Not my new favorite thing but I did sell it more of their music.
In high school, I made a whole ass presentation about how Courtney Love killed Kurt Cobain, because, y'know, how dare that bitch marry my man, right? Now, 15 years later, I finally got over it and took the time to actually listen to Hole and, well, damn, it slaps pretty hard. I'm sorry I was a hater, Courtney. I give you a 4/5 to repent.
It's alright, better than average
Awesome - I think Courtney Love is a bit mental, but this is decent
Melodic masterpiece…. Well produced with great tunes I hadn’t heard before. Enjoyed, Celebrity Skin (knew words), Awful, Hit So Hard, Malibu, Use Once and Destroy, Northern Star (about Cobain) and Heaven Tonight.4*
Bastante chulo, en general. Y como tiene mi hit Celebrity Skin, ahí le va un 4.
At first it didn't hit me like grunge should hit. But the "louder" songs, later into the album, convinced me.
The other album might be better but tons of bangers on this one and the mixing is better too
The peaks in this are really high but there is a lot of filler. I want MORE snarl.
Sehr fein.
Good but not great
My expectations were incredibly low, as the only other time I ever listened to Hole was their previous "Live through this" also featured in this book. I thought that one was absolutely atrocious and rated it 1 star. This album is heaps better. It's actually even good! Nothing groundbreaking, so not much to say. Just good, solid alternative rock.
Ganske nice
Man I sure did Love this one!
God bless women.
Rock alternativo del grupo de Courtney Love. Un megahit. Está bien. Un 4.
A really good surprise. Will be listening again.
Loved this. Just what I needed.
Really like Courtney and Eric swinging for the fences. Sounds so big and goes down smooth. The light just radiates. To that end, it's hard not to mention the Billy Corgan participation as this album feels like the sound he shot for with Zwan a few years later. But Love divides the "Hole" lyrical image with the sheen of guitars in excellent matrimony. The chiming "Heaven Tonight" was a nice surprise picked up on this listen.
It’s a good album, underrated I think
I think we often overshadowed by Courtney loves relationship with the musically superior Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain and her own irrational behavior which, honestly, left me feeling turned off my the spectacle. It’s honestly a shame because this album is well constructed grunge music rock in a post-grunge era. The classic single Celebrity Skin is a fun song with punk flair (personal favorite) down-tempo songs like Hit So Hard and Dying show a rare depth for both the artist and music. This album definitely deserves more attention that it got.
celebrity skin awful malibu (and more that i didn't catch the names of)
4++
Never listed to this album before - as a T. Rex fan, I enjoyed it.
While I think this album lacks the edge of Hole's earlier works, they traded that edge for musical and lyrical depth, and really created something beautiful here as a result. It's cleaner, catchier, more polished and incredibly listenable, while the lyrics point to darker, more cynical themes. It's an interesting, smartly crafted contrast of the brightness of California against the dark side of the music business. Courtney Love's lyrics are incredibly poetic and rich with references, pointed but subtle. That's a rare thing in music. Fave Songs: Celebrity Skin, Boys on the Radio, Heaven Tonight, Hit So Hard, Awful, Malibu, Petals
Four years is a long time. Trends come and get commodified, loved ones turn into past tense and improbable careers become realized. Such is Hole's fitting into the celebrity skin. As such, there is an ugliness lurking within and Courtney Love (seemingly in a good position for once in her life) isn't afraid to spill out the contents in whatever mood she may find herself in, whilst the remainder of the band have allowed the light to shine through and let it reflect their playing. Alas, Celebrity Skin is proof that Hole can adapt to changing climates while maintaining their credibility along the way. It's a bit of a shame that it didn't last for long. Favorites: Celebrity Skin, Hit So Hard, Malibu, Reasons to Be Beautiful, Dying, Use Once & Destroy, Boys on the Radio, Playing Your Song.
This is a great album. Fantastic sound, great set of songs. I've always loved the single, it's an absolute classic. OK it's one that obviously appeals to my musical taste but it was still very consistent across the whole album and just a great production.
As simple as it sounds, it's quite an enjoyable alternative rock album.
They don't make rock like they used to.
I thought the album was full of bangers. Guitar solos were cool. Courtney Love managed. Better 90s rock.
That chick is awful, but still she rocks hard
Didn't expect to like it; but I really did. So much better than the pop garbage that has been fed to me here. Still, a bit lacking in genius. But filled with musicality - great to listen to and a very good all over album
Say what you want about Courtney Love, but this album is a banger.
i was tossed this right after the Foo Fighter's first album. I had nvere listened to either and they are not really needing of comparison but... this album is much better than the Foo Fighters. It is exciting right away and slimps a bit into paint by numbers but still done very well and sounds great all the way through pretty good for Pop Prock.
I had super low expectations for this album, maybe even a little dread--but it was far better than i expected.
I think my peer group did a disservice to Hole because I was always under the impression they sucked. But this rocked! Loved the production, and instrumentation, and the vocals. It’s lyrically pretty good too. Sad I’ve missed out on this for so long. 4.5/5
Solid 90s rock album. No matter how conflicted I feel about Courtney Love, I'll always enjoy Hole.
Du très bon grunge ou même je dirais alt rock. Je pense même avoir préféré lui à Live Through This. Je trouvais qu'il avait un peu plus de personalité et d'unicité. À réécouter. 8/10
This is fun for a second, then pretty boring, then fun again. Rarely hits the feels in any significant way, but I can get behind most of it. Feels cool. 4/5
This album was a pleasant surprise to me. I had given up on Hole after Live Through This, which I found to be a really good album. I didn't know "Celebrity Skin" would be such a good listen. I would give the album 5-stars because I find it to be an important post-grunge listen, but towards the middle of the album the songs tend to drag a little bit. Billy Corgan giveth and Billy Corgan taketh away. He can write a good song but also has a tendency to have bloat in some of his songs.
Top album! Sets the tone right from the off with the first 4 tracks showcasing their strengths. Plenty of the old grunge sound but mixed up with some Americana pop and harmonies. Standout tracks are ‘Awful’, ‘Boys on the Radio’ and ‘Heaven Tonight’. A solid 4 and a nice trip back down memory lane.
Hole! I bought their debut single on 7" and thought it was great, as is their debut album (Sounds just like Mudhoney). However this is a million miles away from their debut. I know 'Celebrity Skin' which is good for what it is, not so much Grunge or Hardcore, but pop-rock. (Can't beat a good old radio friendly unit shifter, sorry!). Mrs Cobain sounds much more calm and controlled vocally, similaly with the toned down instrumental agression. Also, on the cover, Courtney doesn't look like she's in need of a good scrub for once, in fact quite the opposite. I'm she sure she would have done anything to make this sell by the bucket load, so lets be glad she didnt go too far. Some really good tracks here, such as; 'Use Once and Destroy' and 'Playing Your Song'. Turns out Billy Corgan helped with arrangement of the songs, so glad he didn't supply any vocals. I really don't know whether to give this a 3 or a 4, as I did enjoy it.
I really enjoy the grungy rock of the album, distorted guitars and attitude of the lyrics.
Courtney did that Shit!
It's not bad, I really liked a lot of the guitar parts in these songs.
Kurt’s widow produces her Nevermind. Not quite as epic or polished as that album, but hits hard when it needs to.
Loved the album and it was a very pleasant surprise. The vibe established in the first songs are a perfect personal match for me. It lacks one final star for irrelevancy and a couple songs that were not the best fit maybe. However, I loved discovering this band and this album and I am definitely looking forward to hearing more from them.
No l'he escoltat sencer però m'ha agradat bastant. Tenen un estil molt interessant que em sembla súper icònic de l'època i que m'ha entrat molt bé
Courtney Love's presence in the public eye has moved so far past being a musician who was married to Kurt Cobain. In between the release of Live Through This and this record, so much had happened. I didn't even know she made music until recently. I only knew her as "the Kurt Cobain girl". And it explains the title of the album. That is a lot, even for someone as famous as she was at the time, to handle. So setting aside any controversy and conspiracy over the last 30 years, I want to acknowledge Courtney and her band solely for their music. Of which I think is some of the most respectable alternative rock of the 90's. This is a much cleaner sound than their previous albums, with more of a focus on alternative rock and power pop. And those differences are definitely apparent in songs like Boys on the Radio or the title track. This may seem dumb, but there was a moment where it felt like I was listening to Weezer with a female lead singer. Malibu specifically, which gives me such Beverly Hills vibes. And although I actually enjoy those songs quite a bit, and think Courtney matches that vibe very well, I believe her vocal inflections also lend her to being a good fit for the heavier sound too. And there are glimpses of that heavy sound on songs like Reasons to Be Beautiful and Use Once & Destroy. The latter of which I think has a really cool usage of synths. And although I don't want to compare Hole to Nirvana, because they are very much their own thing, the main riffs and melodies of those songs feel Kurt Cobain inspired. I mean come on, what alternative rock band wasn't borrowing from Nirvana in the 90's? Rating: 7/10
Actually pretty good. Sad sad story about the band but I liked the music. 4 of 5
Doesn’t live up to that monumental single but still really solid
I loved this album. I’ve always loved this album. Northern Star is amazing.
What a pleasant surprise! I love this. The only thing keeping it from a 5 for me is that some of the tracks have really similar sounds and kind of blend together, which makes it so that nothing in particular really stands out in a major way. But I really enjoy that sound, so I'm not mad about it.
Oh fuck yeah! I always forget about hole but they too had a very definitive style and sound I mean hell she was Kurt Cobains GF! and I can see her nipples lol. BOOOOOBS! HAHAHA The first track, Celebrity Skin I've definitely heard a ton on the radio. 4 stars
Rating: 8.5/10 Great rock album. Love the energy on it, almost every song on this album is great and not as a single bad song. Really liked Courtney Love's voice and passion as well as the energy throughout the album. Wish they took a bit more risk on this album but still consistently great. Favorite songs: Celebrity Skin, Northern Star, Petals. Least favorite song: Playing Your Song.
Good. Not a stone cold classic but unique in its own way.
The lyrics are really smart and inventive, and the songs have a lot of impact despite keeping close to the light alternative style.
Totally underrated in terms of songwriting, even if things fall off on the end of the album.
It was really nice to hear a rock album, and one with a lot of variance like this. You can hear what comes before and after it.
A band I don't think I've heard a song of before but it was pretty brilliant! Opening song was probably the highest point, especially with how unexpectedly brilliant it was from the get go. Really liked some of the slower and quieter songs on the album, as well as the raucous - some vibes of foos (unsurprising), nine inch nails, the cure and the cranberries. The album did have some variety but overall it did fade into one block but still a 4/5 for me Highlights: Celebrity Skin, Dying, Heaven Tonight, Petals
never gave this a real listen back in the day. Actually, better than I imagined. Some songs reminded me of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts with pure rock
I’ve been a fan of the song Celebrity Skin since its release, it’s just so catchy. I don’t think I ever get sick of listening to that song. The other singles on this album never lived up to that level. Malibu is good but it was nothing I would purposely go out of my way to listen to and I thought Awful never got much attention in Australia. So I went into the album knowing I’d love the first song but not sure what to think of the full album. I was surprised to see Billy Corgan was involved in so many of the songs. While spinning this, I could easily pick out the songs he was involved in, he has a style and it shows. I honestly enjoyed this more than I expected. Standouts: Celebrity Skin, Hit So Hard, Malibu, Reasons to Be Beautiful, Dying
Darn fine album, 4 stars.
4.5
Celebrity Skin: Ohhh. This song. Yeah I recognize it. Fun. Feel like I should be playing some late 90s games. I can jam. Awful: Reminds me of the Murmurs but with more energy.<3 Dying: Too whiny Northern Star: Love the vintage guitar vibe Boys on the Radio; Love it Heaven Tonight: this one's weird. Feel like I'm missing some context here. Petals: Wow, I hate this lyric. So uncomfortable.
Yeah I love ‘em!
Wish i listened to closer bc it was real fun
Better than I remembered!
"Celebrity Skin" was an amazing song and a great opener to the album. "Awful" was a great, catchy track. "Hit So Hard" and "Malibu" were both decent. "Reasons to Be Beautiful" was good. I liked the brief dips in intensity that occurred a couple times. "Dying" was fine. "Use Once & Destroy" has some nice drumming from Dean Castronovo. Good song. "Northern Star" was a lovely acoustic piece with great bouts of increased intensity, great drumming that compliments the song, and a great use of strings. Excellent song. "Boys on the Radio" was a nice mix of acoustic and electric guitars with a catchy, sing-a-long chorus. Great song. "Heaven Tonight" and "Playing Your Song" were a pair of great songs, with the latter having a really nice guitar tone. "Petals" was an excellent choice as closer. It was catchy, had a bridge that kind of reminded me of "Celebrity Skin," and closed with a great use of strings. Overall, the albums starts strong with "Celebrity Skin" and "Awful," meanders for the rest of the first half with decent songs that I don't feel justify their runtimes, and fortunately picks back up for an excellent second half. I think the use of acoustic guitars really helped with the pick up.
A pretty good pop rock album about California. If I could I'd give it a 3.5 tho I prefer Live Through This.
I liked this more than I thought I would. I’m a sucker for layers of catchy guitar. First comparison that came to mind was Matthew Sweet. Surprised it was this album and not Live Through This, although maybe Hole has two albums on the 1,001 list.
Love it!
I never gave Hole a chance back in the day, and that’s too bad. I like this much more than I thought I would have, and I hate that it took so long to give it its due. Good rock!
I was not familiar with this Hole album. I didn't really dig all of the tracks, but I didn't find any of them particularly bad. Overall it was good.
I really really really love this album.
Good tracks, good sound. Don't let the context overshadow it.
Actually really liked this one. Good jam, didn’t get bored, and lyrics weren’t bad
Yes! I love this album's vibe. Too good to give it a 3 so I'll give it a 4, but just barely.
Surprised myself with this one, really enjoyed it & I'm sure it'll improve with further listening.
Hey they did a cover of that Doja Cat song
some typical late 90s grungey pop bangers, the rest of the album was mid to decent. Still above average album, 4 stars
A really good album.
Very pleasant, fun, punky alt-rock record that's so clearly from the 90s
I have to confess I fell victim to the narrative around Courtney Love in the late 90s. Too young to really comprehend when Kurt Cobain died, by the time I was really aware of Love she was doing solo work. I remember the way MuchMusic was talking about her at the time was pretty rough. When I eventually got into Nirvana in 2001/2002 when they had the greatest hits I had read a couple of books about Nirvana and Kurt and they were pretty clear about painting Courtney Love as the villain. Heck, I even remember the PopUp Video episode that had the video for Doll Parts went into the rumours Kurt had written that album. At least now the prevailing narrative is that Hole is one of the most important bands of the 90s and Courtney Love is a genius. Anyways this thing is pretty much start to finish bangers. You got Celebrity Skin and Malibu. A few song in the middle fell slat for me but Boys on the Radio picked it back up.
I don’t really believe in “guilty pleasure” music, but if I have any this is it. The second Hole album I’ve heard and the second one I’ve really enjoyed. No one’s doing anything particularly innovative here and it is painfully 90s, but I’m a sucker for raw lyrics.
This is another one of those solid releases that doesn't belong on the list. If Hole gets any mentions, it would be for Live Through This. There are some good tracks here - Celebrity Skin and Malibu are poppier than their earlier work without losing much power. They still bare their teeth, but they are housed in a sheen. If I could give three and a half I would. I am feeling generous and will round up.
I always thought Hole existed off of Kurt Cobain’s success but this is actually a very good album that shows they (and Courtney Love) actually are talented. Liked this one a lot.
A solid rock and roll album. The production was very strong and the guitars sounded great. I can’t pretend this was very musically interesting, but I imagine it was very important for many women to see this group in action so I won’t discount that.
The singles from this album were way overplayed back in the day and really made me despise Hole overall...now revisiting it this album was a solid. Still dislike Courtney as a celebrity.
More pop and, hence, more accessible than any of Hole's earlier work, Celebrity Skin is mainly an indictment of the music industry that chews up bands and spits them out. The anger is there but not the angst. This is a band that finally decided to turn that anger outward instead of inward. If you want to hear the Hole that everyone talked about, the Hole that was truly grunge, then this isn't it. Otherwise, it's a great late grunge/punk album.
Just a solid power pop album. Billy Corgan helped on this and you can tell. Best track: Celebrity Skin
Celebrity Skin is an A+ song & I think Courtney Love is really cool. This album was very solid, very 90s, and I really enjoyed it. Best tracks: Awful, Malibu, Reasons To Be Beautiful, Use Once & Destroy, Playing Your Song, Petals Worst track: Hit So Hard 3.5 rounded up.
Nice! Full of bangers. I particularly loved “Use Once & Destroy”.
I bought this album when it came out and I still really like it.
more than the front lady! A lot more. I had to go through twice to try to appreciate more things than I could at the first.
Love it. Very catchy
I didn't realize courtney love was the frontperson but it was a solid grungpunk album
Yeah it’s cool and really dark but I did find it a bit slow going so 4/5
Very 90s. I’m not a huge fan of Courtney’s vocals but the music is good for a one time listen.
Conpletely new to me, a genre I would have loved in high school and atill appreciate now. Sweet album.
It’s not “Live through this” but still a good, enjoyable album. Boys on the band is one of my favorite cuts from this work. Pd: I always sigh to Melissa on the Malibu video, have to admit it!
This was my exercise in being open-minded, since I remembered really not liking Hole in in the 90s (too many thoughts tied up with Nirvana and my punk leanings). It was better than I remembered, and I enjoyed listening to the whole album no longer as a teenager.
segundo mejor disco de hole me encantan casi todos los temas amo malibu pd t amo courtney love
As a huge fan of Hole's previous album, Live Through This, I was disappointed by this album when it came out. It was missing some of the anger and grit of the previous album and instead had a more pop and polished feel. This album produced a couple of huge commercial hits. It pained me to hear Malibu playing on my mother's easy listening radio station. As an angsty teenager, I felt betrayed by this new softer side of Hole. Now as much more mellow 40-something adult, I appreciate this album a lot more. The singles are honestly great songs, with Celebrity Skin being the strongest and an absolute banger. But many of the other songs are strong too. Northern Star is amazing, and I can't believe I never heard it before now. It reminds me a little of Disarm by Smashing Pumpkins, so I guess it's not surprising that Billy Corgan did co-write some of the songs on the album. This album was an enjoyable listen and I'm glad I finally gave it a chance.
Once again female led 90s alternative rock delivers and this time at the hands of the person that killed Kurt Cobain. I'd never had much exposure to Hole except for the Cobain jokes and this was definitely a good first impression. I'd heard celebrity skin maybe once before and it's definitely the standout of the album. Malibu and awful are also fun songs and this song goes in the ranks of elastica and the last siouxsie album I got.
I was already pretty sure this would be a 4, and I was right. I already liked “Celebrity Skin” and “Northern Star” (especially the latter) and the rest was also good, although none of it really exceeded those two songs.
Courtney Love doesn't deserve all of this hate. In fact she deserves way more praise for being one of the best grunge vocalist of all time and for dropping the second best grunge album of all time "Live Through This". This one is definitely not as good as "Live Through This", but still has a lot of great songs like the title track, "Malibu" and "Petals". 7,7/10
Opent sterk, maar kakt dan in. Vervolgens zit er af en toe nog een pareltje tussen. Naar dit soort muziek uit deze tijd kan ik wel altijd makkelijk met plezier luisteren. 'Playing Your Song' heeft de minste streams op Spotify en dat is wel zwaar onterecht. Als er halve sterren gegeven konden worden was dit exact een 3,5.
This is the kind of record I like. Melodic, big-beat indie flavured rock music with emotive singing and simple straight forward arrangements and production that lets the drums and bass breath. Of course it sounds much like Nirvana, but Sebadoh is also a touchstone and the influence is seen from pop - rock music like rumours era Fleetwood Mac. Not much I don't like about this album. Its my my kinda music. 4 stars
very good very nice, patiko
Classic. I'd underestimated Courtney love
3.75
I remember being a teen and been told that it was really uncool to like anything about Courtney Love, so I went a long time without ever hearing Hole. Then, around 10 years ago, Celebrity Skin came on the radio in a shop and I Shazammed it because I thought it sounded amazing. Obviously, it was Hole, and I realised I was very stupid to have avoided listening for so long. Songs I already knew: Celebrity Skin Favourites: Celebrity Skin, Northern Star There is something really great about Courtney Love’s voice. She has a good amount of growl in her singing, without losing any melody which isn’t an easy thing to do. The guitar tones throughout are fantastic, always packing a punch and giving loads of energy. I don’t know if it’s still uncool to like Courtney Love, but this album is undeniably great and nobody is going to change my mind on that.
Man, Courtney Love is a better musician than a person
Un discazo. Desde "Celebrity Skin" pasando por las enormes "Malibu" y "Northern Star", sin olvidar "Awful" o "Heaven Tonight". Un 4 estrellas de libro. Una pena que todo quede eclipsado por ser la "pareja de" y por la muerte de él.
Actually a lot of fun.
Not as good as Live Through This, but give it a listen once in a while
I was surprised at how much I liked this. Courtney Love doesn't the greatest voice, but with this genre it doesn't matter.