Reviews (page 2 of 9)
Emo girl is mad her boyfriend killed himself without her.
Well, let’s just say 12 less gauges and she probably would have had at least 1 more star. I’d give it 2.5/5. 90s alt grunge what else can I say. Great vocals. Totally meant for Kurt, except for the … well you get it
2/5. Not great, but better than I expected given some of the reviews here! No real standout tracks, angry, mostly tuneless grunge without much to say really. Can't imagine I'll ever listen to it or any song on it on purpose, but wasn't offensive enough to give a one.
UGH, I cannot stand Courtney Love's voice. I appreciate the musicality and feel of it, but I just can't take her voice at all.
Ffs these are all muso crolitic wnkfests please for the love of christ send me something i can listen too
Nah
Not my jam. At all. Was boring and loud in my opinion.
No
i like her voice
Omg this hits so hard. Courtney Love has it.
WOOOHOOO HOLES TIME BABBYYYYYY
Loved this album!
I have mostly always sort of been a Hole hater. Maybe not a "hater," per se, but certainly an avoider. You see, kids, in the pre-internet days, any salacious rumor you heard about pop culture or celebrities was absolutely true. And I heard Courtney Love was responsible for her husband's death, and he happened to be in my favorite band. Not only that, but she was accused of riding his coattails and therefore not a "real" musician (which I'm guessing because she's a woman). There were a couple songs of theirs on MTV I wouldn't change the channel on, and maybe secretly enjoyed. It was something of a shock to me to see Hole has TWO albums on this list. Listening to their other one, I gave up all preconceived notions Courtney Love didn't count, wasn't a skilled musician, and decided she, in all likelihood, didn't kill Kurt. Also, I enjoyed the fuck out of that album. This one? Probably even better. I wasted a lot of time not listening to good music because my 14 year old self would believe anything and apparently make up my mind and a part of my personality I didn't even know about until I was in my 40s. Oh, the album! Um, the rhythm section! Wow! The bassist and drummer sound so locked in, and I LOVE the bass-forward mix. Courtney's vocals are incredible, great guitar riffs. Just melt-your-face off screaming grunge. I love it. I don't think there's a song on the album not worth talking about. Immediately started this again when it was over
Reminds me of why I’m so glad I am a Gen Xer. One of my favorite albums.
So much better than you remember…even if you adore it.
I already knew I'd give this 5. An album that shaped my teenage years. Saccharine angst and Love's snarling vocals make for a corker of an album. Favourites are still Violet and Asking For It.
Aw yeah, probs one of the best grunge albums there is tbh. I think grunge was really nothing without the women involved, Courtney Love gets a lot of stick and I think sometimes people overlook how talented she was in the midst of all the mess. Such well observed lyrics and songs that slap, just real good stuff!!
Hole > Nirvana sorry lads but it's true. This is a classic big time banger that really holds up - so good you let Courtney Love get away with *a lot* of mad bullshit even to this day. Probs my fav grunge album??
Do I hate grunge? Or do I hate grunge done by men? Or do I really just like primal rage taken out on my eardrums? 4.5 stars, rounded up.
Courtney Love is an absolute force on this album. One of the greatest albums of one of the greatest eras of music.
So much better than celebrity skin! Less polished, but all the better for it
Love this when it came out and it still holds up.
This is a real gem for me. I already had one Hole album before this one, a more recent one, and I didn’t have high expectations for this one. I was wrong. It’s authentic grunge from that era, with Courtney’s incredible vocals.
So good! I really like this genre and I tend to enjoy it even more in the rare instances when they have frontwomen.
Classis
Grunge’s greatest fuck you. Its reassessment is a fuck you to the haters, but regardless of where the consensus has now landed, the work itself is a fuck you to a lot of things: a misogynistic culture, to her peers and her riot grrrl feminist contemporaries, to herself and her own failings, to her marriage, to the world itself. Courtney has far more to say than any of her peers, and i think she’s the one that got kurt to be more direct in his own lyrics. But it’s complex and informed without being too pretentious — she’s literate in a way that normal people really aren’t anymore. She’s a hugely flawed person and her own ambition led to her outsized celebrity which led to the backlash, but we more easily recognise the artistry of male artists in that predicament, and it clearly exists in spades here.
I mean come on. This is better than Nevermind. The Dawes ear bleeding agony of rock stardom ever
The perfect grunge album, full of angst, catchy and heavy guitar riffs, and scratchy vocals
One of my best loved of the 90s. There was so much hatred toward—and even worse, dismissal—of Courtney Love. But this album is fantastic, and each and every track shines. The grooves are undeniable and the anger, love, desperation, and determination are real. It sounds just as good as when it was first released.
What the ... ? Biggest surprise of the list. 5
I wasn’t so into Hole at the time this came out but was way into Celebrity Skin and went back to this. One of the greatest rock albums of the 90s and this band does not get the respect they deserve although they’re here so maybe they do.
It's hard to think of any artist who was as unfairly maligned by the public as Courtney Love: Hole puts out this incredible punk-rock album, and immediately, the narrative is that Kurt Cobain ghostwrote it. As if no woman could write something like this. And, as she grieves her husband's death by suicide, the rumor spreads that she killed him. The shitty reality is that this was an album dealing with women's issues, and predictably, it was greeted with misogyny. "Live Through This" is an amazing record. High energy, memorable hooks, well produced. One of the best to come out of the grunge era, and sadly overshadowed by the tragedies surrounding Love’s life.
Büro, Heidenheim, Deutschland. Sehr feine Scheibe.
Can’t believe I hadn’t listened to this before. Great stuff
now THAT'S MORE LIKE IT. women rock. so hard. despite, y'know. the everything. take that as many ways possible. 4.5-5. listen to "i think i would die" or i'll shoot you myself.
Courtney Love is SO cool, actually
Great grunge album. A must for the list and fun to return to.
🔥
I listen without all the gossip surronding its release. Very interesting album. Courtney Love made a great singing.
Easily like top 3 grunge albums
Enjoyed
Jesus, you go girl. I guess she put all of her anger into this album. It's like equal parts 90s Alt-Rock and 70s Punk Rock, both put through one of the absolute worst things that could happen mid-performance, short of that one time Metallica's lead singer burst into flames. "Uncomfortably real" is the best way to describe this album. She talks about everything from domestic abuse to getting assaulted after stage diving into a particularly horrible audience. Kurt Cobain could never.
Excelente
Altijd al zalig gevonden
Dit is echt top! Ik kende enkel het eerste nummer van dit album maar wil ze allemaal vaker luisteren Heb uiteindelijk heel de dag geluisterd
As so many others have noted, Courtney Love’s public persona and tumultuous relationship with Kurt Cobain may have overshadowed Hole’s talent, which was very much hidden in Nirvana’s shadow in 1993-1994. The opener to this album, 'Violet', is arguably the best song on the album. Courtney Love's raw, savage energy and vocal performance is inspiring, her shouts of "Go on, take everything" chill-inducing. Fortunately, while 'Violet' is my favourite track on the album, it's far from the only good one. The album oscillates between higher intensity, grunge tracks ('She Walks on Me' being one of the heaviest) to more mellow, introspective tracks like 'Doll Parts'. 5⭐️
anyone who doesnt like this album clearly isnt an angry woman
i fucking love hole, this album is so fucking cool and great, i love it. like... i'm miss world too
So annoyed I'd never stumbled across this beforeZ Unfiltered, melodic rage with incredible punk attitude. Superb vocals from Love and this hits HARD. Will add to the rotation.
9/10
Once again listening to a v familiar album all the way thru for the first time in a while - every track is a 5 out of 5.
This is so much better than most of the shit this list put me through. Not a grunge fan but this is probably the best album i've heard from the genre (possibly better than NIrvana) Also Courtney Love is one the only good artist that's idiotic enough to complain about her band's rating on RYM
I'm not sure what the term "This Is My Jam" is supposed to mean exactly, but I'm pretty sure this is that for me.
Yes I love Joan Jett type rock music
el mundo todavía no ha hecho suficiente justicia y las pibas realmente deberían clamar venganza
This album is focused, packed with emotions and lyricism, and quite the punch of ambition. Very little to complain about.
que pedazo de álbum, las vibras, el flow, todos los temas, todo top global, muy bueno, si me lo disfruté bastante
#47 This one is really good and aggressive. I love the first song Violet a lot. 5 stars.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I put this off because I knew I’d get it on here eventually and now I got it!! And I’m just like sooooo excited omg. Well, I’ve now finished it and I can confidently say that it’s one of the best albums I’ve ever heard. Every single moment is just absolutely incredible, Courtney Love is one of the best vocalists for this genre, and just… it’s all so insane and raw. The vocals especially, and the way that they break, and the way that Love obviously does not care, adds a surprising amount to the album’s quality.The guitars are incredible, the lyrics are spectacular… everything about this album blows me away. I’ll be listening to this one a lot. 10/10
One of the major revelations for me as I never checked out this album despite liking it's follow up Celebrity Skin. Shamefully there was probably an element of sexism to this and either not taking it seriously (as she was overshadowed by her beau Cobain) or being literally scared of it - & strong women in general. Luckily this is not the case now and this is almost perfection. Hoping I get more time on my own to listen to it more (it's good Friday and extended relations won't want to hear it!).
This album rules. I would trade all the Elvis Costello, U2, and Britpop for more of this. Is L7 on the list? Bikini Kill? More of this!
They should have got more credit at the time, but at least more people now realise how great this album is. Punkier than Nirvana, and personally I like them better
Love a good punk album
Loved this when it came out, still love it now.
Mellon Collie and THIS in one week. I'm blessed. Oh Courtney with you guts wretching rage how I love you. Another album that's with me a long time now and is not going anywhere. Of course this review isn't objective but even if it was it wouldn't be less thet 4 stars. Often I feel that Courtney is perceived first as Curt Cobain's wife and then like artist on her own. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but she's underestimated and overlooked as an artist on her own. Just somebody who rode the wave of her husband's fame. Ofcourse thus band isn't only about Courtney but you got the point. This album filled with female rage, catchy melodies, beautiful instrumentals, the truest lyrics and lot of screaming has a special place in my heart.
This is a huge album. It ain't half so scary as Pretty on the Inside, but I still think this album scares people with not only the history and story behind it but with how good and engaging and listenable it is. Deserves more credit even. 5/5, and yes it should be on the list of 1001. Pretty on the Inside should too. I haven't listened to it since I was disappointed with it on release, but my recollection is that Celebrity Skin doesn't really earn its place on this list. Looking forward to when it comes up to reassess.
Say what you want about Courtney but she could belt out some rock. Plus, raw words that summed up emotional despair. Simply a great (grunge) album, or better a great indie album that compares favorably with any other contemporaneous "grunge" album back in the 90s. 5 "doll part" stars.
I remembered this as more polished-sounding than the other Hole album we listened to, but I'm not sure that's right. I'll have to listen to them both again in sequence. Which will be fun; this is great stuff.
5/5 - Solid as hell front to back. So 90s. So riff heavy. So great. Only nit I have is that the song structures can get samey when you listen to the whole thing, but it's a minor nit.
It’d probably rate it a bit below 5 but damn, camp rock this well delivered deserves more
Odličan album
No. 137 amazing album, some of the most raw grunge shit i’ve ever heard.
I think this was the fourth CD I ever bought (after Prince Diamond and Pearls, Nirvana In Utero, MJ Dangerous). Awesome album. Also turned me onto Young Marble Giants, whose album Colossal Youth is excellent and sounds like it could have been released yesterday even though it was 1979 (Courtney covers a song from it).
Where was this when I was about angsty teenage girl in high school?? (It existed, it just wasn't on my radar)
This transports me back to a time when I was 15 and Kurt had just died. Things felt messy and messy and then this album seemed to appear out of nowhere. And with very listen it kept getting better and better. It still holds up over 30 years later and there’s an argument to be made that is one of the greatest albums from the 90s. Man the songwriting is awesome on this. Andre or the of these songs would end up on every mixtape my friends and I made. Courtney’s reputation has evolved over the years but this album remains a document of a band who were young and hungry and on the precipice of exploding.
Oh fuck I think I would die is the ‘I want him he’s all gone’ song (ot doesn’t have that bit) but it’s still wonderful. So is the closer rock star. So many are just amazing 5/5
Prefer the debut but this still holds up really well today.
One of those gems from the era that i rarely hear talked about. Fantastic album start to finish. There's a lot of pain and anger expressed here.
swagger
From song one I think I knew this would be a 4-5 star album. Starts off strong and never loses a bit of momentum. I only knew Courtney Love from her relationship with Kurt Cobain, and I truly had no idea that she was this talented. I still have some opinions about her as a person, but it was really undeniable just how good this album was. This is everything I love in a grunge album. Emotional, gritty, cathartic, and I love the Jennifer's Body reference (the movie came out after, obviously, but the title was still kind of fun. Plus Hole had a song in the movie). I saved the whole album to listen to again, I enjoyed it so much. I love a good female-led grunge band. There isn't a lot of presence of them on this generator, so getting those rare gems is always fun.
I was a young teenager when grunge broke, I absorbed the big 4 bands and their classic albums through cool older kids, but never heard this, apart from the singles. Courtney Love attracted so much derision from the same cool older kids that I know I would've dismissed it anyway. By the time I was a cool older kid I was in love with punk and looked down on grunge as sad sack junkie music. On hearing this through I can now say I missed out on an incredible work, surely one of the high watermarks of grunge as a style and movement. Wow. This album floored me. The atmosphere is intensely personal, aggressive, spitting with righteous anger and detached despair. The music is soaring and dramatic without ever losing it's edge and grittiness. Like the best grunge it strikes the perfect balance between hardcore's intense dynamics and powerpop's melodic sensibilities, but crucially there is a rich, dark vein of punk rock and riot grrl running through these songs. Special mention must be given to Love, who's lyrics, vocal performances and presence lifts this album to another level. As a huge fan of Distillers I now know where Brody Dalle took her cues from. I have been unable to shake this album since hearing it. It is an incredibly effective and potent rock and roll album that can not and will not be denied. I wish I'd heard it when I was a young teenage boy.
One of the best albums of the best years for rock in history. Feisty, heavy and atmospheric. Violent is a classic opener.
Good, good, good album
Primal rage, taut beauty, bitchin' rhythm guitars, earworm melodies.
Layers upon layers of 90s music history. Violet still hits instantly from the first note. Love doesn't care what I think and shouldn't. I love that.
Extremely underrated by me. With the benefit of some distance from the internalised misogyny of the 90s, Love is very talented. And this album hits. A friend described her as a Yoko and that fits very well (although I'd say Love has significantly more musical ability).
Alternative rock, grunge, punk rock.
I love it from the depth of my heart, one of the best so far, and I think of all here
Sounds a lot like Nirvana (Not super surprising, judging by the fact that Courtney Love is the frontwoman of this band). Great album! Recommend for Nirvana fans.
By the girls, for the girls. Just some good old alt rock, angry but also catchy and high-energy in a positive way.
There are songs on this album that are my go to for when I need to feel justified anger so hearing all of it in context makes me love it even more.
I can't believe this album flew under my radar for so long. No skips, excellent songs with enough angst, grit, catchiness, incisiveness, and energy to keep me coming back.
classic?
One of the few classics that manages to be both overrated and underrated at the same time.
Great stuff!
I came to appreciate this band in my adulthood, but I wasn’t really into Hole when they were popular. I don’t think I was quite ready for Courtney Love when I was 14. But man would my life have been better if I had been.
Two Hole albums in a week is a treat for me. I like this even more than Celebrity Skin. It’s so raw and full of energy and emotion. There are some genuinely great songwriting moments on here, particularly the first half. I will forever argue that Hole deserves a lot more attention in the context of 90s alt rock bands. Favourite tracks: Violet, Miss World, Asking For It, Jennifer’s Body, Doll Parts, Softer, Softest, I Think That I Would Die, Gutless
Incredibly underrated. So emotional and raw.
Take me back to my emo teen years
**Hole – *Live Through This* (1994)** In-depth review: lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, pros & cons --- ### **1. Lyrics – raw confessionals as feminist weapons** - **Dual-voice strategy**: Love toggles between whispered vulnerability and full-throated assault, mirroring the way women are expected to be both passive and performative (“Violet”[1][4]). - **Recurring images**: beauty pageants, torn dresses, blood, milk, fire, car crashes. These are not shock-tactics; they literalise the violence baked into feminine archetypes. - **Key tracks** – *“Asking for It”*: written after Love was stripped while stage-diving. The refrain “Was she asking for it?” is sung like a cheer, exposing victim-blaming as a cultural chorus[2]. – *“Doll Parts”*: insecurity rendered as nursery-rhyme (“I am doll eyes, doll mouth, doll legs”). Written the night she realised she loved Kurt Cobain, it’s both love-song and self-dissection[2]. – *“Jennifer’s Body”*: kidnapping/murder narrative inspired by Colleen Stan; turns true-crime into allegory for every girl told the world wants to consume her[2]. - **Language register**: high-school diary meets French-feminist theory. Love name-drops *Gone with the Wind* (“I want to live through this”) and cites beauty-pageant melodrama while growling “Go on, take everything”[1]. --- ### **2. Music – grunge that remembers pop is a weapon** - **Dynamic blueprint**: Pixies-style loud/quiet/loud, but the quiet bits are folk-singalongs and the loud bits arrive with Beatles-esque backing vocals (“I think that I would die…”)[1]. - **Riff architecture**: Eric Erlandson’s guitars are tuned low but ring like 12-string jangle; he lets feedback bloom rather than suffocate, giving songs a *celestial* ugliness. - **Rhythm section**: Patty Schemel’s drums are the album’s heartbeat—loose, tom-heavy, almost *swinging* on “Miss World”. Bassist Kristen Pfaff adds melodic counter-lines that *sing* rather than *thud*[1]. - **Hidden hooks**: “Credit in the Straight World” nicks a chorus from obscure UK post-punk band Young Marble Giants, then layers Courtney’s banshee wail on top—an Easter-egg that rewards crate-diggers. - **Tempo discipline**: 38-minute runtime, no song over 3:48. The brevity makes the emotional violence feel like a drive-by rather than a siege. --- ### **3. Production – polished filth** - **Producers**: Sean Slade & Paul Q. Kolderie (fresh from Radiohead’s *Pablo Honey*)[1]. - **Sonic strategy**: – Keep bleed & room tone so screams feel *lived-in*. – Double-track vocals only on choruses, leaving verses naked. – Use vintage Neve pre-amps for grit, but SSL compression for radio-ready punch—achieving the paradox of “radio-friendly abrasion”. - **Mix choices**: snare sits *inside* the guitar swirl, not on top; Love’s voice is *in* the band, not *over* it, creating the sense she’s fighting for space—perfect for lyrics about being silenced. --- ### **4. Themes – a concept LP about surviving femininity** | Surface topic | Sub-text | |---------------|----------| | Beauty pageant | Ritualised objectification (“Miss World” crown on the cover)[1]. | | Celebrity widowhood | Premonition of media crucifixion (album released 7 days after Cobain’s death). | | Mother-daughter cycles | “I told you I’d be your worst nightmare” (*Plump*)—Love’s own mother was a therapist who published a book on parental guilt. | | Rape culture | Not just “Asking for It”; *every* track asks who gets to narrate women’s bodies. | | Self-sabotage vs self-assertion | Love refuses to be *either* damsel *or* avenger—she’s both in the same breath. | The title phrase (“Live Through This”) is whispered in the final seconds, suggesting survival is *not* triumph but scarred continuity. --- ### **5. Influence – riot-grrrl’s older sister who made the charts** - **Immediate ripple**: 1994–96 labels sign Bikini Kill, Babes in Toyland, Jack Off Jill—A&R shorthand: “find more Hole types”[3]. - **Fashion**: torn baby-doll dresses & smeared lipstick become mall-punk uniform; even Hot Topic’s 1995 catalogue quotes Love’s *Live Through This* tour look. - **Cinema**: *Jennifer’s Body* (2009) lifts song title & thematic DNA; *The Runaways* (2010) costumes copy Love’s tiara-and-choker combo. - **21st-century echoes**: Olivia Rodrigo’s *SOUR* artwork (teary mascara) prompted Love’s Instagram call-out, proving the iconography still pings[3]. - **Covers & samples**: – Miley Cyrus sings “Doll Parts” on 2020 Plastic Hearts tour. – Phoebe Bridgers interpolates the chord progression in “I Know the End”. --- ### **6. Pros & Cons** | Pros | Cons | |------|------| | 1. **Feminine rage** mainstreamed without sanding edges—still feels dangerous on streaming. | 1. **Uniform dynamic** (quiet verse / loud chorus) can feel templated by track 9[3]. | | 2. **Kristen Pfaff’s bass** adds melodic ear-candy rare in grunge. | 2. **Running order** front-loads classics; Side B loses casual listeners. | | 3. **Lyrics** that reward English-class close-reading yet still work in a mosh-pit. | 3. **Courtney’s pitch** wobbles on straight-ahead rocker “Gutless”—a love-it-or-hate-it tone. | | 4. **38-minute sprint**—no filler interludes or prog nonsense. | 4. **Cobain-shadow gossip** distracts first-time listeners from the actual songs. | | 5. **Production** bridges punk rawness & radio clarity—sounds good on earbuds or stadium PA. | 5. **Limited musical palette**; if you hate dropped-D grunge guitars, nothing here converts you. | --- ### **Verdict** *Live Through This* is the rare 90s rock record that weaponised pop craft without neutering punk fury. Its literary lyric sheet, radio-ready hooks and unapologetic estrogen anger created a blueprint still photocopied by young bands discovering that the personal is political—and the political *slaps* when you scream it in a tiara.
I was really knocked off my socks by this. A lot of attitude and energy but also just really solid hooks and melody. Can’t wait to keep revisiting this.
mijn god wat een album. poëtischer en muzikale dan hun debuut, misschien iets te voor echte grunge maar who give a fuck genre discourse is dood en dit album is top
Top notch. All timer.
It's hard to argue with this record
Not sure why I'm surprised I enjoyed this so much. I love me some grunge and this is a fuckin good grunge album. Simple as. Man, she can really wail.
"I don't really miss God but I sure miss Santa Claus." Basically how I've felt for a long time now but I've been unable to put it in words
One of my fave albums ever. Not a single skip. This was Courtney at her prime (even though Celebrity Skin is also 5/5 in my books).
I was 17 when this came out and I had a preconceived idea that Hole, more so Courtney Love was not up to scratch. My thinking was probably warped by the media and being a Nirvana fan I saw Courtney as the enemy. I only knew one Hole song Celebrity Sin, I refused to like it even with it being played over and over again on the radio. This album slapped me in the face so hard it factory reset my brain and I now have a new found love for Hole!
Fierce feminist rock. Amazing
One of my favorites when I was a teenager. Girl power!
One of my favorite albums of the 90s in my teens. The perfect fuck you from Courtney to all the haters.
Oops this album found me in my riot grrl era. For real this is a great album. The sound is ferocious. The lyrics take on interesting perspectives and complex feelings about motherhood, being objectified by society and dealing with mental illness. I’ve found it quite thought-provoking and have already listened twice.
Such fun. I'm embarrassed to say that I've always considered Courtney Love to be 2nd rate artist, but, again, embarrassed, I've never listened to Hole. This is great music. So tight with the era. My apologies to Ms. Love and the band. I've wasted 30 years of my life.
Extraordinary. What exactly do you call this? Grunge? Alt rock? Riot grrl punk? Whatever it is, it's spewing with hate and vindictiveness and it's absolutely fucking rad. "I'm eating you. I'm overfed. Your milk's in my mouth. It makes me sick." DAMN GIRL By the way, Courtney Love can sang. A monstrous performance top to bottom, in the best way.
Great album
I knew a few songs already like Violet and Doll Parts. Unsurprisingly a strong female rocker album was right down my street. I love the fury in Courtney Love's screaming and Violet in particular is incredible
Can't hate this. I share her Love of Milk!
Girl rage is real
This album ROCKS. Courtney love is a fucking powerhouse lead rock band performer. Her voice is so so perfect. It’s edgy and raw and the songs are AWESOME. I definitely like this better than celebrity skin cuz it just feels more cohesive and less shiny. LOVE IT!
Wow, misogyny is very real, huh. Banger album.
"If Harvey Weinstein invites you to a private party at the Four Seasons, don't go" Courtney Love 2005
she was speaking truth but you people weren’t ready to hear it
Contender for best grunge album
Really great grunge album. The messiness of the music perfectly matches Courtney Love as well. Rating: 4.8
Masterpiece! Perfect album, perfect vocal! However, Nirvana's influence is here.
Love it
An album so good it caused Kurt Cobain to blow his head off a couple of months later. This is basically a female version of Nevermind. And it rocks.
Ive always enjoyed Hole's hit singles. First time ive listened to this or anything by them front to back. A phenomenal grunge album i adore maybe even more than anything by Nirvana. The highs arent as high but the consistency throughout is unreal. 10/10
A teenage favorite that holds up surprisingly well! You can hear the Kurt influence, sometimes too much, but solid throughout. Nostalgia tinted glasses, maybe, but who cares.
This album does not get the credit it deserves in the grunge era. Raw, angry, emotional. Bridging grunge and punk rock.
Listened to this for the first time and yeah, this shit slaps
Actually excellent
In 1994 when this came out, I thought this album far better than any by Kurt Cobain and Nirvana. It’s 2025 now, and i STILL believe this to be true! Bangers include: Violet (I wanna give my violent more violence), Miss World (I am the one you want, can’t look you in the eye), Plump, Asking For It (If she was asking for it, did she ask you twice), and of course, Doll Parts (I am doll parts, Big veins, dog bait…I want to be the girl with the most cake). Reading the lyrics doesn’t do them justice. Courtney Love has the perfect voice to sing these words. This album still crushes all that listen to it. Epic, out of control, paradoxically restrained at times—should be owned on vinyl, too.
My 90’s Favorite - solid, beginning to end.
girliepop < 3
Deeply overlooked- Part of the holy trinity of grunge.
This is the album I listen to every time I'm pissed off or frustrated or about to fucking lose it, and like right now I am really about to fucking lose it tbh. I've been listening to this album since I was a young child, waaaayyyyy too young to understand the lyrics, but I understood the anger, the feminine rage, and it's always connected with me. This album is really personally important to me, it basically showed me that women can be angry at the world and no one can stop us, so there is no way I can give this any sort of objective review. 5/5. 31/31, for every year it's been out, every year that I have known and loved this album.
Love Hole.
Lo que habría escuchado si no hubiera estado tan ocupada tratando de ser la hija perfecta en los 90s.
Absolutely incredible. The dynamics of the soft vs. loud is just perfect. Great lyrics. Even better vocal performance, going absolutely all out every time. I love this record
I bought this new but it's been a while since I listened to it. It's a band right that the top of the game.
So solid
GO ON TAKE EVERYTHING TAKE EVERYTHING I WANT YOU TO bom DEMAIS pprt. as letras desse aqui são PICAS. não eh tão barulhento quanto o debut deles, mas eh o que mais representa a banda. a harmonia perfeita entre o pop e a guitarrada maluca noventista. dito isso, esse album eh o MAIOR do grunge foda-se courtney love é das maiores do mundo que deus a abençoe.
Loved this album. Can't believe I'd never listened to it before.
Would go crazy if I was a 15 year old girl who hated her stepdad in 2002
Quintessential Grunge album that brings me straight back to some really good times. Angsty and very well written. Cheers to old friends who didn't make it to 2025.
170 albums in, this is the first one I've given a 5 that I'd never heard before. From the opener all the way through to the end it's hard, chaotic, passionate, brilliant
This was so good, I listened to it three times. I remember when this album came out and I loved it then and I still love it now. It's so perfectly recorded and Love's performances were all stellar. The perfectly distorted screams and perfectly sweet soft parts were wonderful. All of the instrumentation was great and I just really loved listening to this and never wanted it to end. Easily 5 stars.
I almost like this as much as Neermind and In Utero. There are 2 weaker songs for me on the project, but all of the others hit reeeeal hard. I love grunge in this era. Some songs sound very similar, but shit i like that song
Courtney love is a silly parody of something, but Hole makes some good songs. Still solid after all these years.
9.5/10
It's very bleak but it's a great album
This is very punk. Pleasantly surprised
Actually love this. Hole really did stir up some unique and innegligible power in alter rock history. I do love Courtney Love's singing voice and the energy she's able to exude. It's undoubtedly an outstanding album if you put everything else aside.
4.5 - amazing! Doll parts still fantastic.
Grunge was so cool
Not bad! I’m amazed by the energy paired with the voice. I never listened too Hole but I think I would really have enjoyed it. Because now I really like it.
Angry, edgy, aggressive, tight, brilliant
Underrated and under-appreciated but never forgotten. Live Through This is the seminal album for 90s feminist rage and angst. Courtney Love is truly one of the greatest writers of all time. Her lyrics have lived rent free in my head for over twenty years and are a frequent source of comfort in my times of sorrow. A flawless masterpiece in every sense of the word, and the magnum opus of 90s rock as far as I’m concerned.
4.5
YAYYYYY violet- 7 or 8 miss world- 9, would be 10 but it's overplayed. but it is a 10. do you understand? plump- 6. doesnt live up to the rest of the songs. asking for it- 9. the bridge is heavenly jennifers body- 7 or 8. the chorus is the best part. the rest is okay, but cmon now. i like how the movie was named after it but really has no correlation doll parts- 8. ngl i prefer softer, softest for the slower softer songs, but it is heart wrenching. she wrote if before she and kurt got together, recorded it when they were married, and by the time it was released, he was dead. credit in the straight world- 9. <3 softer, softest- 9 or 10. my love. she walks on me- 9. the best part is 1:32 i think that i would die- 9 or 10. cmon now. she is the moment. gutless- 7. its fine rock star- 10. <3<3<3 one of the best album closers idgaf i am a mentally disturbed teenaged girl. of course ive listened to this album 100 times before
The best of Hole
Fantastic album
It slapped hard.
I almost gave it a 4 simply for the fact that I like the Celebrity Skin album so much more. That wouldn't be fair though. This album stand on its own and is a great work of the era.
I want to be the girl with the most cake.
Really no skips here. Yes, Courtney Love is off-putting to many, many people, but come on! This is great. Classic. All time classic videos… what’s not to love?
A classic album that was moulded from the mind of Kurt Cobain. How could it not be this good?
This was such a fun album! Love the angst, probably would have been obsessed as a teenager.
my only issue with this album is that Celebrity Skin is on a different one
perfect one of my favorite albums ever
Ярость, которую редко можно услышать в таком доступном виде. Лучшая песня - Violet.
There is a sexist theory that people like to throw around that Kurt Cobain ghost wrote this album. My retort: Nirvana never made a record this good
When I saw the music video to Violet playing in the background on Kerrang!, I sat down in front of the TV entranced.... this was it, this was the music I needed during a time where I didn't know what each day would bring. The soundtrack to my 19th year on this planet, this album is firmly nestled into my heart forever - it was the soundtrack to heartbreak, finding my soulmate, depression, dropping out of university, breaking down and building myself back up.... this album is the definition of girlhood, and I was lucky enough to experience a transitionary period in my life listening to this album the entire time. My favourite tracks on this perfect album: - Violet (one of the best songs of all time, so many days staring at the ceiling, getting ready for nights out, watching the sunset from my uni halls window singing along to the lyrics) - Plump - Asking for it - Jennifer's body - Doll parts - Gutless - Rock star
Puttung aside a lot of what I could say about Courtney as a person, sympathetically or negatively—hot damn, now this is the kind of angry punk grunge I dig the shit out of. Those rockin' guitars, those crashin' drums, and goodness **me**, when Courtney Love's voice gets that "yelling strain" on it... I'm all for it; I'm all over it. Like, I can't remember exactly how CELEBRITY SKIN sounded, though I can tell you for sure that this has gotten me more into Hole than that album did. Jus', goodness, it's amazing this thing came out as good as it did despite everything that happened around it, both before **and** after. (And to be clear, of course this album isn't 100% wall-to-wall loud and angry grunge guitars. It gets softer musically every now and then, and I like those moments a lot as well. They keep this album up at the 5 where the louder songs put it. I'm just being honest about what I'm probably gonna remember this album for, and it's gonna be for the louder, angrier songs.)
I’m either at a 4 or a 5 – I’ll figure it out as I write this. I really fucking liked this, though. Courtney Love is, in fact, really good at this. I had some doubt back on Celebrity Skin, but she shut me up back then, and she really solidified herself here for me. She carries herself like a fucking star throughout this album – her voice is confident, her writing unabashedly honest, and the band carries that energy in a way that creates a sort of perfect storm, fueled by anger (at the world, at people, at herself) that’s mostly underlined by an acknowledgement that it is what it is, and she can only really live through it. Unlike Celebrity Skin, this album doesn’t carry Kurt Cobain’s shadow all over it, at least from a lyrical standpoint. It came out right after his death, so in that sense, a lot of this can be read with the context of Kurt, but it’s not as latent and as sorrowful as it was on Celebrity Skin. Instead, it almost feels like a harmonious anger – part of why her lyrics feel so honest to me is because so much of it is channeled from how much she and Kurt must’ve been under a constant microscope, especially when it comes to their kid. She references her kid several times on this album, and the references to “milk” (almost certainly a drug allegory) don’t go unnoticed. Granted, all of that’s about the writing and the surrounding context of the album – when it comes to the actual music, I think every single one of these songs are good, but not many of them are outright great, and that’s where I’m sort of flipping between a 4 and a 5. It’s an awesome album, don’t get me wrong – I think it does a great job of slowly building up the anger in each track over time, going from a sort of annoyed indifference, to contempt, to outright hatred by the end. However, there’s something within each track that sort of holds the album back from really hitting a full blown stride for me. I don’t think it’s the instrumentation, though a few songs do hit on the “first minute is the whole song” trope. I don’t think it’s the lyrics, but sometimes, it does feel like once Courtney’s said all she has to say, a few tracks lose their direction and sort of repeat their way to the finish line. It’s definitely not in her vocal performance – as far as I’m concerned, she’s rather flawless throughout most of this. Really, the only thing I can think of is that the album doesn’t touch on a super diverse number of themes, and that a few tracks tend to dip into a similar well from an instrumental and lyrical standpoint, but that undermines just how good all of the tracks still are, and how well this album is constructed. It’s not a perfect album, but I think I’m gaslighting myself to try and find some sort of overarching flaw here, and there really isn't one. It’s a damn good album, and I enjoyed this a lot. I’m at a 5.
probably the most emotionally direct record of the 90's grunge scene -- Nirvana at least attempted a couple hard to parse metaphors for all their fury. i know exactly what Courtney Love is thinking upon hearing the song's main conceit. this isn't in any way a put down, of course. there's something almost Hemingway-like about the lyrics on "Doll Parts" or "Asking For It" -- you don't have to do a lot of work to get what she's talking about, but it just makes it all the more impactful. in this way, i think the Young Marble Giants cover is fitting. both they and Hole are bands that embrace simplicity, like the pure elegant design of a chunk of metal that we call a crowbar. also my pet conspiracy theory is that Kurt doesn't even sing on the two tracks he's credited on, like how he didn't even really produce anything on Houdini. listen to those songs and tell me if you can pick him out in the mix, cause i sure fuckin' can't.
How did I not listen to this before? This is exactly my jam.
Ontzettend lekkere openingstrack. Daarna is het vooral 'gewoon' een lekker album met lekkere nummers. Dit soort muziek is een kolfje naar mijn hand. Dit album heeft aan het einde nog wel een paar heerlijke nummers ("Gutless" klinkt als Nirvana), waar dat andere album wat inkakte. Dat andere album van Hole kreeg een 4, deze vind ik iets dikker en daarom ga ik naar boven afronden. Een ietwat makkelijk gegeven 5 dus.
Absolute fire. My guess is Hole has kind of been Shadowbanned from public consumption because I never see this album or its singles anywhere. Damn shame, because this is one of my favorite's I've listened to doing this thing so far.
Killer 90s rock album with garage/grunge sound, especially Courtney love vocals, pronounced guitar riffs with balanced but satisfying drums and piercing lyrics throughout. Tight set, exactly what it should be. 4.5
As vile as Courtney Love can be, this is a shockingly good album.
This is very underrated.
I think I've heard them before. I like.
This was a formative album for me and it still holds up all these years later. Regardless of your feelings about Courtney Love, this is a foundational record for so many bands. It's propulsive, angry, and honest. Even now, Violet and Asking For It hit really hard. Also, for the record, I went to school in Olympia.
I'm a little ashamed to say that I only came around to this album about a year ago. I guess I (perhaps subconsciously) bought into the media narrative that Courtney Love is a terrible human and her music is just rip off Nirvana, etc. However, after hearing a few of the singles again I decided to give the album a try, and it is surprisingly brilliant. I've had it on heavy rotation since then. Obviously, it's hard not to compare them to Nirvana, given the similarities in their singing voices and style. But I don't consider that to be unoriginal. When two people live together, they're obviously going to take on eachother's mannerisms and bounce off eachother artistically. I'm not going to pretend this is the best album of the 90s or anything (as seems to be the trend of late with some in the music press), but it is significantly better than say, Bleach, in my opinion. Courtney Love was an important part of 90s grunge/rock, but she was unfairly sidelined. There is a great podcast called "You're Wrong About" that did a very interesting Courtney Love episode. I would really recommend it for any others who have a similar "block".
Underrated grunge record. Reminds me of the girls I liked in high school.
This is good rip kurt :(
So much better than I expected
it’s always been fuck courtney love but you literally can’t argue with perfection. this is what it feels like to be a woman: scarred and raw and just fucking angry!!!! i love everything about it 1.) jennifer’s body 2.) miss world 3.) asking for it
"Live Through This" is the second studio album by American alternative rock band Hole. The music was a departure from their previous more harcore album "Pretty on the Inside" towards more refined melodies and song structures. There had been accusations that lead singer/guitarist Courtney Love's husband Kurt Cobain had written most of the songs which were denied by all the band members; Love and lead guitarist Eric Erlandson wrote the songs. The two other band members for this album were bassist Kristen Pfaff and drummer Patty Schemel. Lyrics deal with beauty, motifs of milk, motherhood, anti-elitism, violence against women, suicide, depression and child abuse. Yeah, Love covers a lot. The album was very well received critically and, commercially, hit #52 in the US and #13 in the UK. An acoustic guitar strumming opens "Violet." Loves voice comes in which goes to a scream as the band kicks in fast and hard. They do the soft-hard-soft dynamic perfectly in this song and throughout the album. The song was based on Love's tumultuous relationship with Billy Corgan. On the the first single, "Miss World," the band showcases their melodic edge. Acoustic guitar and a great vocal chorus. This song features another structure I really like in that the music is happy sounding but the lyrics describe post-partum depression and substance abuse (a dichotomy). "Doll Parts" starts with an acoustic guitar and Love singing softy. A nice melodic bass and layered vocals. It's a song about Love's insecurity in her relationship with Cobain. The band covers the Young Marble Giant's "Credit in the Straight World." The song with the most punk edge on the album as they substitute in drugs for money relative to the original. "Soft, Softest" starts off very soft and builds. It's a very melancholic and personal song. Love alludes to bullying and child abuse. This is great album. It's melodic, has catchy choruses and a hard and punk edge. It also has some songs that best display the soft-hard-soft song dynamic. The lyrics are excellent and very personal. I remember when it came out I thought it was one of the best albums I had heard in a awhile. I still think that and easily put it in my favorites of the 90's.
Blind album. I did not wanna give this a 5 cause Courtney sucks but God damn this album rocked. Im totally in for the conspiracy that Kurt helped ghost write. I would believe it and want to.
one of the best grunge projects i've heard
Love the rage and angryness
Straight out of the frying pan and into the fire. Live Through This came through at a most unfortunate time, the consequences of which would linger around its existence to this very day. That doesn't negate, however, it being not only Hole's greatest album but Courtney Love's finest hour: an unrelenting blast of righteous fury, searing proclamations and uncompromising sincerity. Regardless of the troubles that followed through the album before, during and after, Live Through This is a testament of the sheer power that surged through Hole in the 90s, whether administered through outside forces or not. Go on and take everything, she'll want you too. You'll ache like she aches anyway.
Some really great tunes on this album. Rock Star is such a great tune. That just tells you how great the other songs on this album are.
One of the most passionate and raw emotional albums. Violet is one of my all time favorite songs, and tracks like Miss World, Asking for It, and Doll Parts are all outstanding. The album doesn't shy away from some challenging angry rock, but still it delivers punch after punch. Really love this album.
A gut punch of an album given the timing and subject matter. Still raw to this day.
I hate to say how much I loved this album. Hate because everything I've read or seen about Courtney Love suggests she's a narcissistic bully but what can I do? This isn't about her. So far, this album, Steely Dan's Aja, and the Fela Kuti album are the only "new-to-me" albums from this project that I've listened to multiple times.
Definitely my favorite album I have gotten on here so far. I’ve seen the cover so many times and listen to a lot of similar music so I’m really glad I was finally prompted to listen to this. I regret not checking it out sooner.
The boys made up a good chunk of the grunge scene, but the girls can rock it too. I love how Hole offered up a different flavor of the genre. Obviously the lyrical perspective is different, but the strong feminine energy is also awesome. Standouts are Plump, Asking for It, Doll Parts, Credit in the Straight World, and She Walks on Me. Long live grunge!
What an album! It's full of rage, of energy, of melody. Listening to it almost 30 years after its released, it stands out as one of the best albums of the genre and the period.
It's annoying how good this is.
Courtney Love doing what she does best. Amazing.
4.5 rounded up to a 5
10! I LOVE this album!
Couldn't be any better; this is it. Grunge at its best. Loud and lyrically devastating.
Fits into the tiny space between L7 and Mudhoney, with hints of the Melvins and early Pearl Jam, and a bunch of other grunge progenitors. I loved it! Hope to see more of them later in the list
- Never heard this before - Heard good things about it and can see why - Very very good album - Fav songs: Plump, Violet, Gutless
Truly the most ‘real’ grunge album I’ve heard. Incredible
Waited way too long to finally listen to this, absolutely lived up to my high expectations. The anger and angst are biting. 4.5/5
Their best album by a long shot. Kurt Cobain's influence is obvious. The rage in Courtney's voice comes from the heart.
Rock solid album. More thematic depth than I was expecting, great '90s-style alt rock sound, and Love's vocals are delightfully raw. This was a pleasant surprise. Not 100% sure it quite deserves a 5, but I'm giving it one anyway.
I'll always remember hearing this album my freshman year of college. It was core shaking & everyone at the dorm was listening to it. A lot of us had mixed feelings because of her husband's death, but we had to admit this album rocked. I saw Hole at Red Rocks amphitheater, and I was a stoned & drunken mess (fitting considering the band). Great album with cutting lyrics and grunge angst.
Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Violet, Miss world, Asking for it, Jennifer’s body, She walks on me, Gutless, Rock star
Gruuunnnggge
Crazy that I get to talk about this only two days after Celebrity Skin. Because I called it. I said I thought Courtney would be better suited in a heavier format. And I was right. This is amazing. They go absolutely nuts here, and it's one of the most enjoyable album experiences from the 90's I've ever had. The best part of this album is without a doubt Courtney, and her energy/lyrical content. She is furious. Absolutely disgusted. Disgusted at the patriarchy, and at men, and at their vile behavior. And she puts it out into the world with such spite and vitriol. It makes me want to scream with her. I'll never have any way of knowing what those experiences are like, but what I do know is that she is glorious on this, and her being mad makes me mad at whatever she is mad at. The way she delivers "Fuck you!" on I Think That I Might Die is perfect, and I can't get over it. Her vocals are in a pretty consistent register throughout the whole album, but the power she brings in that register is so powerful. And the rest of the band is as equally on point as she is. They are heavy, distorted, and grunge as hell. She Walks on Me sounds almost punk with Courtney's vocals being so blown out on the verses. The only nitpick I have is that I wish the drums were a little louder in the mix. But I only nitpick when I really like something, so it's not a big deal. Rating: 9/10
Anthemic powerhouse of an alternative rock album, in a year (1994) where there was *a lot* of competition. Don't have much to add to the other positive reviews in this section--some of them perfectly explaining why the record is great. Melody-wise, performance-wise, theme-wise, *Live Through This* is just pitch-perfect---from the vicious, viscuous chords of lively opener "Violet" to the equally telluric and sardonic closer "Rock Star". 5/5. A quick note here: it's just simply mindboggling when you read the reviews about this album on this app and you realize that a lot of reviewers admitted they didn't get interested in Hole before for some sort of prejudiced reason they had against Courtney Love--a divisive figure for sure, but not always for the good reasons. I'm glad most of those reviewers changed their mind (lots of 5 and 4 stars from them), but still--seems like the feminist topics this album deals with are still relevant in 2023. Sadly. Number of albums left to review: 387 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 280 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 146 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 193
Whole
Not a fan of Hole, but this was an awesome record for the most part.
Courtney Love, regardless of anybody’s feelings toward her, possesses a volatility that cannot be replicated or put on. It’s a shame that she’ll never get the credit she deserves for her writing on this album. A feminist record that doesn’t read as performative. A singular rock record in addressing post-partum depression and the body horror of breastfeeding and womanhood in general.
I don't really miss God but I sure miss Santa Claus
An incredible album, every track was brilliant. Best tracks: Violet, Miss World, Jennifer’s Body, Doll Parts, She Walks On Me, Rock Star
my friend mahika is a big fan of hole! for good reason it seems. i liked it on first listen but i appreciated it a lot more on the second. lyrics had a lot of meaning. great sound.
Kurt’s songs were awesome lol
Lotta nostalgia for this - probably my fave Hole album... wait - I said that about "Celebrity Skin" when it came up 😆 Well, whatever. Due to a quirk of history I like Hole more than I ever liked Nirvana - didn't say that last time around! Fave track - "She Walks On Me" this time around - there are a bunch of tracks I love, though. "Violet" always hits home...
One of the best Grunge albums and, in general, one of the best rock albums of the 90s. The instrumentation and the singing meld perfectly to create that quintessential grunge vibe. Not a bad song on the album. My favorites are "Violet", "Jennifer's Body", "Miss World", "She Walks On Me" and "Doll Parts" but no song on this album is lower than a 7.5 out of 10 to me. An easy 9.5/10 and sometimes it is even a 10/10 for me.
J’aime toutes les chansons de cet album. Elles ont toutes leur accroche particulière. Et je ne veux pas les réduire à un groupe féminin, mais leurs paroles ont saisi l’essence de l’expérience des femmes
Look, I get it. Courtney Love's voice can be a hard sell for some folks. Her riot grrl gone grunge aesthetic isn't for everyone. But it 100% works for me. The songwriting is razor sharp, the performances are in your face and unrelenting, and the production is peak 90s grunge. But the biggest selling point here is Courtney Love. Not only is her songwriting top-notch, her performances bounce between sweet crooning and ragged screaming. She refuses to let you get comfortable. And that's SUPER appropriate given the subject matter of these songs. They're not comfortable. "Live Through This" is a rare example of an album where the lyrics and the music are perfectly matched. It's masterful and I'm here for it. Full marks.
This exercise has made me realize I'm a significantly bigger grunge fan than I thought. Insert obligatory comment about Courtney Love here. On the basis of this album alone, it was fantastic. Powerful backing instrumentals. Great voice for grunge. Ever topical subject matter. This album's got it all. Favorite track: Asking For It
love angry women who go rahhhhhh nyowwrrrr pow pow pow
I’m quite excited for today’s album. I’ve previously listened to Celebrity Skin and thought it was fantastic, so I’m hoping for more of the same today. Fingers crossed! Songs I already knew: None Favourites: Plump, Jennifer’s Body I love this album. There is so much attitude, but without sounding the same all the way through. I adore Courtney Love’s voice - there is plenty of natural distortion there but without losing any melody. She reminds me of a slightly cleaner sounding Brody Dalle whom I’m also a fan of. The guitar tones of this record are fantastic too - the cleaner sounds are good, but when they crank up the distortion it is simply bliss. The lyrics to Plump reveal just how unchanged the media is now in regards to promoting unrealistic bodies. This is genuinely a timeless album and very easy to recommend.
A quite extraordinary album. Love is an underrated artist. If you thought male grunge acts had it bad, my god, their angst and anger was nothing compared to this. Raw, impactful, taking a stand and making a point. My new favourite band thanks to this project.
Courtney Love is my favorite grunge vocalist now haha what the fuck
I think this is vastly underrated masterpiece of the era - lyrically, musically and thematically - Love and co really don’t get enough credit. From the urgency in Violet to the rose thorn rasp in Miss World - all have deep meaning in a genre where the voice of women is generally muted - while Love is confrontational while being vulnerable, honest and jeering at the same time. A great great record.
It took me an hour to go from "meh, too noisy and messy" to "god, I love this". Doll parts, the song I've known as Tricky's, sounds so fresh and powerful, I can't help listening to it on repeat. Oh, and the cover is a legend!
Fajne
I already know so many clever political songs from this album, very curious to hear the whole thing! That was awesome. That felt like Rage Against the Machine levels of righteous fury. Five stars
Still one of my favourite ever albums, and in a world where I am constantly trying to listen to stuff new to me, it's one of the few records I still regularly return to. I don't care so much that Courtney is so divisive, this is just an excellent and timeless record to me. Really hits. The fact the record is imbued with tragedy, the deaths of Kurt and Kristen occuring so closely to it's release is undoubtedly part of why it stuck with me as an impressionable teenager, but does not explain why that stick has never wore off well into adulthood. The fact this album has come up in the week we just got the prognosis of my partner's cancer and the full scope of the battle ahead brought into stark relief, is well.... fuck....timely. This album is pure catharsis. It's vital. It's necessary. No punches pulled, and yet all wrapped up in melody. The harshness is still there in the lyrics, but musically it pulls back from Pretty on the Inside's onslaught. I like that too but this balance makes for a perfect record. I don't really miss God, but I sure miss Santa Claus.
I had just started getting into grunge when Cobain died. Shortly after, when I was 13 this album came out. Despite the fact that it was produced and announced before his passing, Love got so much heat for releasing it. It's a fantastic grunge album that had so much influence on me as a teenager girl.
This record really holds up.
Fantastic album, punches you in the face, comforts you, then punches you again. Rocks really hard. Courtney Love's voice is so present, great lyrics, very enjoyable. Will listen again.
Goddamn Courtney Love is a great punk rock singer. Her dynamic range is insane. The way she instantly switches from "normal" singing to throat-shredding howl never fails to thrill. I don't think I ever listened to this entire album before. Too bad for me because this album is killer. Yeah, it's definitely front-loaded, but none of the latter tracks are bad and that last track is fantastic. Plus, the album has nice variety. I'm going on the record: This is my favorite grunge album. And it's not even close. Those grunge dude bore me with their grunting wallowing in self-pity. Courtney is righteously pissed and I'm so there for it. Also, "Violet" is one of the greatest opening tracks ever.
One of my favorites too bad Courtney love sucks
I like this album, thinking maybe 4 or 5 Star rating.
Good. Some pretty poppy sounding post-grunge that is enjoyable.
Peak grunge. Excellent
One of the best albums of the 90s in my opinion. I feel like Hole's music gets overshadowed by people's judgements of Courtney - I didn't read the comments before rating in case I had to wade through a sea of sexist trash.
My favourite Hole album, grunge rock at its finest!!
Really a great album. Had never listened to it much growing up and now regretting that I hadn't. 4.5/5
Good strong album
raw, real, pure. stan hole hate love.
One of the top 90s records
Love it!
I did not have high hopes for this album after listening to Celebrity Skin, but I actually really enjoyed this album. It's more of the sound I was hoping for. I loved Courtney Love's vocals in this album. The lyrics and themes were pretty depressing, but that's part of what I liked about it. While it wasn't my favourite song, I loved the way that Rock Star started and ended, and it was a great way to finish the album. My favourite songs were I Think That I Would Die, Jennifer's Body, and Doll Parts.
This album continues to be a "go to" for me. There isn't a track on here that I skip, and it was an album of a place and a time that was perfect for me. This was my introduction to Hole as a teen.
It seems to get overlooked because of the circus surrounding her but Courtney Love wrote some amazing music. This and Celebrity Skin are head and shoulders above anything, except Nirvana, that came out of the grunge boys club of the same era. Courtney's voice both literally and lyrically is the most perfectly punk of the era.
I always forget how much I love this album but once I put it on it all comes back to me.
10/10.
I have a very well loved copy of this on CD; happy to dust it off and give it a spin today.
Fucking banger. I've loved this album since I was about 12 though...
Pretty damn solid grunge album. I admit I slept on it 😔
I purchased this album back in the 90s, although I really didn't care for it much...I think I was trying to be cool or impress someone or something. Now and then over the years, I have revisited it, even as recently as last year, I think. I never enjoyed the album all that much...but today, I did. Maybe it is a result of this project exposing me to such a variety of new sounds that something familiar has an attraction or maybe I am more openminded or something... Whatever the case, this album really rocked for me today!
I had forgotten how great an album this is. Love’s vocals are so strong, the music is dirty and raw, but often has a pop structure. This is a record to listen to from top to bottom. And it sent me off to listen to Celebrity Skin again with renewed interest, but that’s for another time…
Hell yeah! That angry female grunge/punk rock always gets me. It's a surprise to me how I've missed out on Hole, though, thinking about it, I realize I am familiar with the song 'Celebrity Skin,' but that's been the extent of my exposure. A strong start, with 'Violet' setting high expectations for the album. Love goes from the softer notes to the complete ear-ringing shouting so well.
Another proof that a little bit of melody can turn the angsty punk into an alt-rock beast. Released a week after Cobain's death and carrying a considerable amount of suicide references, I'm not surprised that this album created a buzz during that time. But whatever happened between Love and Cobain, these few things are clear: Courtney Love is a kickass singer, and this album can definitely compete in her husband's musical field. One of the best punk albums I have ever heard. "Feminist" punk that actually works.
Lo amo.
Kijk daar werd ik nu weer eens echt blij van. Typisch zo'n album wat voor mij in de vergetelheid was geraakt. Daarbij ook nog eens een van de lievelingsalbums van mijn lieveling
100% jeugdsentiment, en een van de platen die mijn muziekale smaak voor een heel aardig deel beïnvloed heeft. En nog altijd vind ik het erg tof om te horen.
Great
The best of 90s punk angst
Good 90s punk
4.5 really like
Really liked it, especially Violet.
BUENISIMO uno de los mejores albums para chicas enojadas
The singles off this album still hold up as some of the best songs of the era.
UHH MITKÄ KITARAT?? guunasin laulu lowk hyvät energiat ja tuff, levy jäi ehk kaipaa jotai rauhallisempii biisei mis vähä vähemmä huutolauluu? varsinki biisien alut peak!
Lady rock with balls?
Great album!
The best thing about the record is that it understands contradiction. It wants beauty and despises what beauty demands. It wants love and distrusts dependence. It wants power but knows how often power arrives contaminated.
Raw, heavy and powerful from start to finish. Courtney Love makes this album a statement on how women can make great rock albums, a pioneer and unapologetically herself. Heavy guitars and vocals, it's so good.
i liked it
Punky, heavy grunge music. Didn't expect this. It's pretty cool. I can hear stuff that sounds like that Seattle grunge sound we know best from Nirvana. There's some loud quiet loud stuff here too like Nirvana and their heroes Pixies. I liked this much more than I thought I would. Didn't know Love could do that growly screamy thing.
I enjoyed this (my wife hated it)
Feral feminine fury 💪
Angry grunge. Almost like a woman-led Nirvana... wonder if there's any connection? :-)
Enjoyed the album for the most part I'd say, not much else to say
Absolute classic, love it so much
its a bit too good if you ask me...
honestly I get it. I dig the feminine rage. I won't listen to it all the time. but i could see myself returning to this when I'm in a mood. 4.5/5
Courtney Love’s voice is bloody amazing on this. A reminder that a good frontperson can be all you need.
Very familiar with Celebrity Skin but this was just as good and a bit more raw. Asking For It was a standout.
Menetteli, ehkä parempi kuin odotin. Toki hitit oli parhaat biisit levyltä. 3,75/5.
Wasn’t familiar with most of this album before listening, besides the first song. Liked the angry girl rock sound and the all the songs matched the vibe well.
I was a fan of grunge back in the day, but Hole/Courtney Love was not a band I took seriously. For no other reason than I just bought into the negative narrative about her. That being said, I never listened to this album until today. One of the hardest parts of this project is putting aside preconceived notions about artists and trying to listen without prejudice (thanks George Michael). Sometimes I think I'm better at it than others, but I really tried today. And I'm very glad that I did. I really liked this album a lot. It is definitely grunge, but also a bit more punk sounding at times. There is the quiet-loud-quiet part for sure, but not every song has that dynamic. And the band can rock out and Courtney can sing the hell out of a song. Standouts were Miss World, Asking For It, Softer Softest, I Think That I Would Die, and Rock Star. There were no songs I didn't like.
This is pretty good! The album opens on a great note with "Violet," and is pretty interesting throughout. Courtney Love's vocals are great and there's a number of stand-out tracks. Favorite track(s): "Violet," "Softer, Softest," "Rock Star"
Excellent.
Very good. One of the best grunge albums, which I feel gets overlooked for various non-music reasons.
love when you find an album that's like "oh this is gonna hit when i'm in xyz mood". can't wait to revisit this muchly when i'm angry
Nice alt-rock/grunge album! Fed energi og hooky rytmesektion. Albummet skriger 90'erne på den gode måde, og kan godt forstå at Courtney Love og Kurt Cobain fandt sammen. Standouts: Violet (more like violent); Asking For It (Nice dynamisk væksling); Softer, Softest (Interessant lyrik, fed. Nok det mest dæmpede nummer på albummet)