Reviews (page 9 of 10)
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
Vocal style is not for me.
wow so much better than i remembered
sounds familiar
I can't believe I lived through this.
Violet is kinda fun but I didn't care for all the other tracks. Courtney's screaming gets annoying pretty quickly.
It wouldn't be so bad if Courtney was on key from time to time
In a parallel universe, Kurt doesnt exist, and nobody care about Hole.
I really don't think Hole deserves to have 2 albums on this list, the 2 chosen for this list are very samey. However, I like the attitude of Courtney Love on these albums, the guitar sounds, the early grunge spirit.
Tried to listen to it a few times but found it far too aggressive for me. Felt anxious.
Unlike 'Celebrity Skin', this Hole album has BITE. It's quite Nirvana adjacent, which isn't really my thing, but the energy and commitment won me over to an extent. Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: Doll Parts Date listened: 07/04/23
Before today, I'd heard of Hole, but never listened to any of her back catalog. All I was familiar with were the hits. The lead singer of Hole is Courtney Love (Kurt Cobain's wife). So, naturally, Hole is a grunge band. I believe Kurt helped Courtney hone her voice, and you can certainly hear his influence on a couple of songs included on this album. This was a great album, and Courtney's voice instills a sense of anger, frustration, and desperation upon the listener. This album touches on topics such as body image, abuse, and mysogeny. For some reason, most of the songs on this album mention milk for one reason or another. It's enough to make a lactose intolerant lad like me shit myself simply by listening. Overall, a highly influential album, especially to female rock bands of the 00's. Courtney bulldozed down a lot of walls in her career, and paved the way for women in rock. Favorite songs: Plump, Doll Parts, Jennifer's Body, Gutless, She Walks On Me, Asking For It, Rock Star, Violet Least favorite songs: "Softer, Softest", Credit in the Straight World, I Think That I Would Die 4/5
This is a great album overshadowed by all the drama of Love's life. She is a talented musician with a clear voice in a crowded grunge landscape.
massa rock alternativo, mujer canta
I’ve heard the singles, but never actually listened to entire Hole album, and I’m pleasantly surprised! Just the right amount of angsty rock with a hint of punk. I think a random listener would think it all sounds the same, but the more you listen, the better the songs become, and it gets even better if you actually read the lyrics and piece it all together. Some songs gave be big Nirvana vibes, but not sure if that’s just because I’m subconsciously making the Kurt and Courtney connection, or if it’s the sound of the times/scene they were in. Listen again: Yes Purchase for my collection: maybe Favourite Song: Credit in the Straight World Worst Song: Softer Softest
3 1/2
Ya know, this album was better than I remembered. Lots of angsty screaming but some good songs in there too.
On my second ever listen to "Live Through This", I was reading up about Hole and the life of frontwoman Courtney Love. The articles very quickly spiralled into a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories implicating her in the death of husband Kurt Cobain, whose suicide came days before "Live Through This" was released. The toxicity towards her seems to be perpetuated either by Nirvana fans, sexist critics, or both, with some of her inflammatory statements and behaviour over the years simply fanning the flames. It's a pity that this ugly and tragic context has eclipsed Hole's work, because "Live Through This" is a decent album: perhaps the most consistent of its kind I've had on the list so far. Coming in 1994 at the tail-end of grunge's first wave, it was a conscious attempt by Love and the band to produce something more polished and melodic, separating it from many other grunge or riot grrrl albums and bringing it much closer in line with Nirvana's later work (cue the stream of theories around Cobain ghostwriting, because heaven forbid a woman could do this on her own). From the very first track, restrained and simmering resentments are packed tightly against explosions of fury and rage, taking Nirvana and Pixies' dynamics and amplifying them even further. "Violet" begins quietly and then bursts into flames, guitars kicking in and vocals screeching up an octave. Things progress in much the same way, with the occasional dip in energy ("Doll Parts") or power ("Credit in the Straight World", "Gutless"). Love's vocals- tight, gritty, intense- are a minor revelation, allowing the songs to soar rather than sink in the sludge. For a prime example, take the astounding closing track "Rock Star". It belongs in a hall of fame of vocal-cord wrecking performances, right alongside the likes of Lennon in "Twist and Shout". Thematically, the songs frequently return to the pressure on Love's shoulders: the expectations of her as a mother, a woman, a celebrity, the wife of the most famous rockstar in the world. "Jennifer's Body" tells a harrowing tale of a woman kidnapped and mutilated. "Miss World" shows the inner turmoil of a major starlet held on a pedestal. "Asking For It" addresses a horrifying incident of Love being sexually assaulted by fans during a stage-dive. Milk and blood flow through "Plump", "Softer Softest" and "I Think That I Would Die" like rival currencies. These are weighty topics which necessitate the volume of screaming, even though the songs sometimes grow a little too predictable to do them justice. While it's still too heavy for my tastes in general, with not enough stand-out melodies, I appreciate "Live Through This" is a strong album. Rating a high 3 purely for personal preference, though future listens may lift it slightly.
An album that when it was released was unfortunately overshadowed by the suicide of Courtney Love's famous husband. On this successful rock album you hear a woman who clearly struggles with life, with all the sad undertones of a tortured junkie. Live Through This is listening to anger and incomprehension. The music Hole produces reminds of the harder work of Nirvana and The Gun Club. A grunge classic
4.25
love angry women who go rahhhhhh nyowwrrrr pow pow pow
Just some great grunge. Courtney's personality gives this record some charisma, plus it actually has something to say. A great record.
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
Answered a question for me. Never knew Courtney Cox had an album. Not really a fan though.
Not my taste. Only a couple songs I enjoyed.
A surprisingly strong consistent album. Doesn't reach the heights or dramatic depths of Nevermind but they are some great songs here and Love's delivery is suitably angry to give them import. I'm impressed. 4 stars
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.
buraco mesmo
The female grunge rocks.
Great
Courtney Love (Kurt Cobain backups). Controversial. It’s okay grunge
Já, já, þetta er allt í lagi. Ég er ekki fan en þetta er klárlega besta plata Hole.
I feel bad giving this a three, because my partner quite likes this album, but this just felt like generic grunge. There were some moments here that stood out a bit better, but I forgot it as soon as it left my ears, and had to remind myself what songs sounded like pretty often. Nothing here is bad at all, just kind of boring.
Seemed fine I guess.
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!
better than I thought it would be
Fajne
Nope
Alright. But probably will never listen to it again
not really bothered about this
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
Not bad. Some recognizable songs that I didn't know the titles for.
Favorites: -Miss world -Asking for it -Jennifer's body -Credit in the straight world -Softer, softest -Rock Star
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.
catchy angsty teen grunge
I love carpet. I love desk. I love lamp. I love Hole.
As a teen, I assumed that Kurt wrote most of these songs. I think I had been programmed to dislike Love just like we had all been programmed to hate Ono. But the reality is that all people are complicated and have problems. Listening to this record now as a 40 something, I am saddened by it. It's good. Really good. I should have given it more attention at the time. The post punk on here is great. And the grunge undercurrent is undeniable. It's great. And I will now go listen to the rest of Hole's very small catalog.
Got the decibels, but doesn’t deliver on the brilliance department.
Hljótt svo hátt. Gól.
Actually and surprisingly really enjoyed this, some cracking tunes
I can think of a thousand albums to recommend hearing, and Hole wouldn't be TWO of them! I'm only 100 albums in and this really makes me doubt the credibility of this list. But whatever, neither album are that bad. Just not too memorable.
Unusual that I actually prefer the album tracks to the singles. Miss World and Doll Parts don't do anything for me, but Plump, Jennifer's Body, and She Walks on Me are all standouts. Though this is a good album, I'm not sure why Hole is on this list twice when this is the better of their two entries.
This album kicked butt. Great sound from start to finish
Loved! I really like the vocalist and the late 90s Alternative rock / punk rock / grunge sound.
Angsty femme rock. Just okay IMO 3.5
Listened twice. Enjoyed it. I prefer punk to grunge in general including in riot grrrl so I enjoyed the more punk leaning passages more.
Meh
Isn't this the Hole album that's rumored to have been written by Kurt Cobain? It sure seems like it. Great album
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.
Wow I’m pleasantly surprised. I don’t remember liking this so much when it was out in the 90s.
I’m not really a grunge fan, but this is ok
Hole
My favorite Hole album - powerful riffs with great hooks, personal lyrics covering a variety of topics from post-partum depression to being a woman in a male dominated society, and catchy melodies. Definitely follows the early 90s "grunge" pattern but it works amazingly well with Love's vocal ranges. The raw power of her singing in "Violet" gets me every time.
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.
This is THE Hole album. Such deep and genuine emotion here. There is a tragic ache that runs through it, but a righteous feeling of triumph as well. The songs are all anthems and make me want to sing along.
I haven't heard much of Hole and didn't realize it was Courtney Love either. She somehow gets a really bad rep for some reason. Regardles, this album (coming after the death of Kurt Cobain) definitely has an edge and is on a mission. I dig it.
Standouts: Miss World, Softer Softest, I Think That I Would Die Others: Violet, Asking For It, Plump, Doll Parts 3.5
In 1994, I was in a very heightened phase of album-buying. I would hear one song and if I loved it I would go out to buy the album. This was the case with ‘Live Through This’. I heard ‘Doll Parts’ and immediately fell in love with it. I am very well aware that Courtney Love does not have a huge range. I also know that usually I hate shouty singing. But for whatever reason this touched a part of me and I am happily shouting along with most of it. There are a couple of songs in the middle that don’t quite make the grade. But most of it is clever and fervent and passionate, and I can still sing along to almost everything. I also once stayed in the same hotel where Courtney Love and Steve Coogan had their fling so every time I hear her sing it makes me chortle. Back of the net!!!
I never listened to this album until now. I vehemently avoid any Courtney Love music primarily based on media influence of the time. I really liked this album and want to give it another listen when time permits. I do like the musicians she surrounded herself with through the years but never gave her the time of day. I'm sorry I missed this one from back in the day but I was also at the beginning of my relationship with my wife at this time so my music listening opportunities were influenced by different motivations.
There are one or two songs on this record that I don’t care for, but that is more than made up for by how much I love all of the other songs! One of my favorite lyrics ‘Like a liar at a witch trial, you look good for your age’ - Plump
I feel the need to preempt this review with a note that I'm not a Courtney Love hater. I'd consider myself ambivalent. But as I know she's got her detractors and this is not a positive review, I thought it worth spelling that out. My dislike of this album comes down to one thing: as a vocalist, Courtney Love is a one-trick pony and that wears thin real quick. If there were some variation on the theme of overwrought, out-of-tune, predictable verse melody to shouty shouty amped-up chorus, maybe it would work. But there isn't. So it doesn't. It all leads up to this feeling more like a concept of a band that was willed into existence than an organic collection of players that produced this flavor of music. In the end, that doesn't even matter. It's boring when it's supposed to be arresting. Or something. It ain't. I disagree with this album's inclusion on the list of must-listens. Two stars because Love is better than most at shouting.
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.
This was such a pivotal album for women in their 20s during the 90s. We didn't have much (any?) female led grunge/rock/punk music on the radio. So when you're hanging late night with your girlfriend and Doll Parts comes on and you both want the most cake, you really feel seen. And the music hits hard...in a very good way. I know some people have issues with Courtney Love and I won't pretend to know much about her. But being a widow and a mother and a rocker at 29 still produces a lot of feelings and feelings are what I want out of my music. I really do love this album but it's not a 4. (Sometimes I hate the rankings in this project. I know I'm not consistent.)
This is a 2 all day long, same as Celebrity Skin. Like that album there's a few decent standouts but it's really nothing special
Not my thing, but glad to have tried. Blend of indie scream/yell, with some decent melody. Not an easy listen to get through, but I could get there for the artistry of it. Missed the Nirvana sound class - will come back after a study
People give Courtney Love a hard time, but I've got to say, Hole made a brilliant album here. It's a standout work from an era where a lot of the music just blurs into a sludgy, unmemorable mess. I was really surprised at this album and am sorry I never took the time to listen to it until now. Hole perfectly conveys the mood and sensibility of the time in which this was made. Every song is catchy, well crafted and moves beautifully into the next, which makes for a really engaging listen. Love's energy is also simply incandescent. She simultaneously conveys a grit, raw vulnerability, brokenness and rage that must have been so compelling for young women to hear. That is no small feat in a genre dominated by men. Not to mention, these songs really rock. Fave Songs: Doll Parts; Jennifer's Body; Violet; Softer, Softest; Asking for It; Plump
Enjoyable 90's alt rock.
Big fan of grunge but Fuck Courtney Love. 2 thumbs down 👎. Hilariously it rolled into Nirvana after the album finished.🔪🔪🔪🔪Could of done without this one!!
tranqui pero no escucharía de nuevo creo. 6,5/10
I like this - good bit of nostalgia
Tøff damerock!
A female led grunge rock album from the 90s. Didn’t realize Courtney Love was the lead singer of this band. It makes sense given the style and also that she killed her husband!! Jokes aside this is a decent album but it doesn’t hit as well as some other grunge albums. 5.8/10
Pretty good, but nothing standing out.
Pas mon truc le punk rock Qualité ignoble même si c’est sûrement voulu Drogue
The bookend tracks of 'Violet' and 'Rock Star' show the immense capacity that Hole had to absolutely rock! The album is powerful, dynamic, and genuine. That combination made it a standout from the crowded 90's grunge era and I'd go so far as to say that it was a better album than Nirvana's 'In Utero'.
Did you know Courtney Love’s boyfriend has a band ? Yeah she wrote all of his songs though
Non il mio genere, alcune canzoni troppo hard rock Canzoni preferite 1. Violet 2. Doll Parts 3. Credit in The Straight World
Unpleasant vocals. Finally female though. Can't digest anything. Highlights: -
I assume you're voting this in this list? very very moderate album, not in my top 10.000
Competent, by the numbers. You know, like Uptown jazz.
Violet is her best song and she's retiring it. What's left?
Fist time listening to this Hole album. Who doesn't love 90's grunge?
One of my favorites too bad Courtney love sucks
It's OK! Not my jam. Has some decent stuff but as an album not my favourite. Giving 2
bien aimé le genre punk rock hard. Et courtney love, bien que j'ai pas vraiment aimé l'autre album de Hole, est particulièrement bonne sur cet album 4.
Amazingly good.
I’ve always disregarded this album for fairly superficial reasons, and really based on one song—Doll Parts. First, Courtney Love is just not a great singer technically. Listening to the album now, I can see how her voice works better in more aggressive, punk-leaning songs. But totally exposed on “Doll Parts” I always found her voice annoying. Second, the rhythm of the guitar and vocal on Doll Parts are so simplistic and awkward, it always sounded to me like something a band of junior high kids would turn out. And to be honest the lyrics are just dumb. I was surprised by the more sophisticated music on the rest of the album. I didn’t hate it to be honest. But I think the flaws of Doll Parts are there in the rest of the record too, and they’re enough to make this something I probably won’t listen to again. This melodic, softer version of Hole needs a stronger vocalist than Courtney Love to pull it off. And I think some of the songs are mixed to give more space to her vocals in a way that makes them feel a bit neutered. I’m probably too old now to be hearing the rest of these lyrics for the first time, but a lot of them are pretty dumb.
Not bad
I was today years old when I learnt Courtney Love was the singer of Hole. Slaps.
I want to hate it. Sounds exactly like what a 90s girl grunge band would sound like. Not bad
Raw and Iconic
Interesting
I was not expecting to like this much, as I was pretty nonplussed with "Celebrity Skin" earlier on this list, but this album is sweet. It rocks and doesn't feel like as much of a produced and manufactured thing as "Celebrity Skin." Courtney Love's vocals are killer.
Credibly rough and tough, but feels filled with directionless, no-longer-applicable rage and not much hookiness (not to mention tunefulness or melody or virtuosity) to keep us interested. One posits that "Rock Star" would've been a better song had she leaned into the "Olympia-uh-uh-uh" motif rather than regurgitating another screamalong of which the album already has a preponderance. The next record was better. More fodder for the theory that that history will not be kind to the '90s as a musical decade.
I like this album, thinking maybe 4 or 5 Star rating.
A fun grunge punk album, I can see where the Distillers took their sound though.
This is terrible.
Great 90's vibe to this album. Super aggressive vocals, yet with cool harmonies and melodies. I recognized a handful of the tunes from the radio. I miss the angry angsty woman tunes of the 90's.
Good. Some pretty poppy sounding post-grunge that is enjoyable.
Classic grunge/90’s tunes
Mmmm milk……. Actually very quality, it’s right up there with the other big heavy grungy albums of the 90s
This whole album would go hard in a Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater entry
Not much to say but very enjoyable grunge stuff! always fun to hear something from 20+ years ago have such a clear influence / similar sound to bands from today. Best tracks: Jennifer’s body, credit in the straight world, violet
Its kind of meh, its not bad just not my cup of tea simply
I'd rather slit my wrists, or at least listen to The Slits. Still, it''s better than Nirvana.
Her voice is beautifull and the music is complex but satisfying as a whole. For me it’s a little too aggressive as i’m usually not a fan of the hard nature of drum sounds.
Powerful
Good stuff. Not too memorable, but I think I probably should have listened to it when it came out and I was considerably younger.
Not a fan
Peak grunge. Excellent
Very good, nice and angsty
This hits hard and sounds good
HL: “Violet”, “She Walks on Me”, “Asking For It” Quite liked it despite the grunge. November 25, 2022
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.
Amazing feminist strength for the years she did this. The album is a ton of anger. She was born 30 years too early. She would have been a great « me too » defender.
I'm not a big Courtney Love fan based on interviews and her general attitude in public statements/things I've seen over the years but this is a pretty decent 90s pop-grunge album. I still don't think this would ever be something I started adding into my regular rotation but this was a good excuse to give the album a full listen through. Standout Tracks: Violet, Doll Parts, Softer Softest
I didn’t know Courtneylove was a singer, not sure really where she came in the picture
I thought this was a great punk album all throughout. Great vocals. 7/10.
It's no Sleater-Kinney or Bikini Kill, but I can dig it.
This is awful.
Opzich wel aardig
This is one of those albums that works for me all the way across the board. Crazy to think that this came out 4 days after Cobin killed himself. I remember kind of reeling from that - one of those deeply Gen X 90s moments. I bought this the day it was released and wore it out. There's nothing here that doesn't work for me. And Rock Star is an incredible closer.
This isn't going to get a high rating - there simply isn't enough memorable music on Live Through This for it to scrape the firmament. What saves this from being too beige is Courtney Love. She's a limited singer, but an excellent frontwoman - she can be vampish, disaffected or anguished as the song demands. And that, when coupled with some crunchy guitars, was hardly likely to fail, right?
Did you know Courtney Love wanted to be the singer of Faith No More at one point in the 80s? There's video of a rehearsal on YouTube. It's not what you'd expect on any level, and definitely worked out best for all parties that the experiment never went that far. I owned this album (and the one before it), liked this album, saw them in concert on this tour, and then just kind of quickly moved on from this band. I'm guessing I felt they got a little too polished during the "Celebrity Skin" era, but now I'm wondering if I should give that a 2nd chance. I still like how imperfect all of this album is, but I can appreciate their pop sensibilities now more than I did at the time. Maybe I'd like a song like "Malibu" in 2022. Anywho, "Asking for It" was a really nice rediscovery for me on this listen. That's a cool tune and a good mix of the acoustic and electric sides of this band that works better for me than, say, "Doll Parts" or even "Rock Star." Also, did you notice that "Miss World" is I think quite literally the same three chords for the entire duration of the song? Verse and chorus, just one is distorted. Cool. I saw Hole on this tour and got a t-shirt, too! Mine was not soft; it was the faux gas station attendant looking thing with the band patch where a nametag/corporate logo would be. That really, really confused the hell out of some rednecks when I wore it to school. (Which makes me think of the dude who once asked me if I was into stock car racing because of my "Jesus Built my Hot Rod" Ministry t-shirt, haha.) I think that concert was the first time in my life I had registered the sight an adult who was completely off the rails. Courtney looked baaaaad. Rambling during song breaks. I think she climbed an amp and I was convinced for a second she was going to fall and die. It was pretty raw. But here we are and it's 2022, she's still alive and I haven't showered yet today.
Honestly, its a banger
Una explosión de energía, no siempre llevada a buen puerto. Para intentarlo
Again, not too good, not too Bad. One day or another it May end up in my rotation, but not regularly
I don’t think grunge is for me, the instrumentals are fine but I don’t like the vocal performances
Great album when it came out and it still holds up today.
Still haven't forgiven her for Kurt's death.
Courtney Love.... angry. troubled. sad. crazy. angst. This album was all of those things in a package that worked better than it should have. A good mix of punk and grunge... what a time.
I love this album.
Tricky, tricky. I personally want to rate this one higher – because the music is very much to my tastes – but I can't deny that the style, especially of the vocals, could perhaps sound annoyingly pained, stretched, and battering. I would therefore call this one a 4 for me, a 3 otherwise.
I don’t really get the grunge genre. So often it’s the same tune of whirring guitars and intentionally sloppy vocals. Nirvana had some melody and venom in their music but that’s really not the case here. 4/10
Actually this is really very good. Great screaming anger and frustration. Lyrics that would simply never come from a male singer. Rocking distorted riffs full of emotion and release. True Rock and roll.
Not really my kind of music to listen to in my free time, but i can vibe with it. I felt like the album got a bit repetitive after a while but was a fun listening session.
My favourite Hole album, grunge rock at its finest!!
Best album... still a murder.
Really a great album. Had never listened to it much growing up and now regretting that I hadn't. 4.5/5
not bad
Suurin osa kappaleista oli ihan ok, mutta tää oli ehkä vähän just sellasta musiikkia mitä en niin hyvin ymmärrä. Voi tietty johtua myös siitä etten tiennyt kaikkia sanoja mitä joissakin kappaleissa oli. Tai sitten siitä miten ja missä yhteydessä niitä sanoja käytetään. Suosikkeja voisi olla: Violet, Miss World.
Kuuntelin levyn pari kertaa kokonaisena läpi, ja paria kappaletta enemmän vielä yksittäin. Mitä enemmän kuuntelin, sitä enemmän tykkäsin tästä, vaikka ensireaktio ei herättänyt kauheesti ajatuksia hyvässä tai pahassa. Suosikit: Violet, Jennifer’s Body
Emo girl is mad her boyfriend killed himself without her.
Favs: - Credit In The Straight World
👑 Favs: - Violet - Plump
Good strong album
Definitely not my favorite Hole album. I'd take Celebrity Skin over Live Through This every time.
I've never listened to this whole album, I've heard a few of the song before, doll parts in particular. It sounded like Nirvana, if sung by a woman. It actually wasn't bad, I was surprised.
raw, real, pure. stan hole hate love.
I dunno about Courtney and Kurt but Hole definitely made better music than Nirvana
Very compelling
Really enjoyed this. I'd say I would have loved this as an angsty teen...good fun and some good lyrics etc.
Good standard rock and roll
One of the top 90s records
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
A nice grunge sound on some tracks - maybe riot grrl too? 3 stars.
I like a bit of grunge, and this didn't disappoint. Love really screams her ...hole... out? Really distinctive 90s sound. For 38 minutes it dragged a bit though. 3/5.
Garbage fire of a human being, pretty decent album.
Me gustó bastante... muy cerca de Nirvana
Okay. Can see where she either influenced or was influenced by Kurt. Noisy, power chordey, lyrics are kinda stupid but the album zips by nicely I have a friend who really enjoys Courtney and this album reminds me of her. Hole gets a bonus star for that
Idk if I was just frustrated with homework today while listening to this but wasn't doing much for me, although I would give it a second chance. 2nd listen: It was the homework lol this was fun. Don't feel the need to return to it though
Love it!
Had heard a couple but never the album... Solid al the way thru
Very 90s grundgy album. I can see why Kurt and Courtney got along (kinda). I don't think this album is entirely important to the world of music, however, and feels somewhat generic. Best Songs: Doll Parts, Violet, Jennifer's Body, Rock Star, Worst Songs: I Think That I Would Die, Plump
Good listen. I can't say I loved it but it's well crafted and I enjoyed my stay. First Listen?: Y Fav. Tracks: Violet, Jennifer's Body Rating: 3/5
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.
low 3, second half carried the album or it just all grew on me
Courtney Love is the real thing. Highlights: Doll Parts, Rock Star
Genuinely enjoyed it, Courtney’s voice is perfect for the songs (not saying she’s a brilliant singer but it works here) and it has consistently good tunes throughout. 4 star album for me.
Enjoyable listen
Shithole
Courteney Love and her band just took over the scene and made her space among the very manly world of grunge music. We can only thank her for that.
64/100: Another album I’ve never heard of before. Now usually I’m a big fan of grunge, but this album neared too close to the precipice of scream-o for my liking. At times it felt like screaming just for the sake of screaming and playing loud just because you can. If every note is loud, nothing is powerful. With that being said, there were times on a few songs when Hole quiets everything down only to return to screaming again shortly afterwards. These moments, although everything was probably at a normal volume, felt extra beautiful relative to everything else, which I thought was pretty cool. All in all, not one of my favorite grunge albums and probably won’t seek it out for a re-listen.
Good album. Never really bothered to listen to many female led metal bands but this was a very enjoyable album. Very short. I liked ‘Jennifer’s Body’ but none were unfortunately added to my playlist. Overall good album
Schreeuwerig
Love it, girl punk forever
Great album front to back, standouts for me were Violet, Miss World, Jenny's Body.
This is the kind of grunge-infused, angsty rock music that could only have come out in the 90s. This comes especially as no surprise as the singer is Curt Cobains wife. But apart from this, the album is not only uninteresting, but tedious and exhausting. Every song sounds like every one else. 2/5
So torn in this. While I really dislike Love and her style, this has Cobain's fingerprints al over it.
Not to my taste so a harsh 2
Good. Although I preferred Celebrity Skin.
Nope, did not like at all
Angry girl punk music lol! I listened to this in the morning when I started work - interesting way to start the day. But the whole album is only 38 min so listened to the entire thaang (that's how albums were in the 90s!). Haven't listened to Courtney Love much so this was a good exposure to her. I wouldn't choose this type of music to work to, but it would be perfect for tasks like cleaning the apartment or packing for a trip - something that would normally be tiring but this music would keep me awake. I actually liked a lot of the music that followed this album (in Spotify, which selected music similar to Hole) - No Doubt, Garbage, Nirvana...
Angry girl music from the height of 90’s grunge. Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain from Nirvana are the basically the poster children of that era. Never was a fan of Courtney Love and Hole. I do think I like it more now than I did back then though.
Its nice, but to me personlly its nothing that changed music or even influenced others, its just there and decent
it’s okay
Leuk maar het is ook niet meer dan dat
Album was meh maar daamn de backstory
Hell yeah what a powerhouse. Loved the DIY sound.
Has that you will ache like I ache song but the rest of the album was pretty meh. Lots of better grunge out there.
Nothing exceptional, but ok solid indie/garage rock
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.
Not my taste at all
The reason a lot of people love this (it sounds like Nirvana) is the reason I can't get into it. That, and the way she pronounces it "fem-o-nist." Best track: Doll Parts
Achei legalzinho, não sou muito fã da dona Courtney. Porém adoro a música Rockstar que fecha o álbum.
Alternative rock, 1994. A decent grunge record with a few really well done hits, e.g. "Doll Parts". Probably not one of the best albums of the genre or of the period, but still a solid record to enjoy from the beginning until the end.
Growing up in the 90's we somehow thought that only Catholic school kids listed to Hole. Kids are fucking weird. I have mixed feelings about Courtney Love. Media at the time, especially after Kurt's death, wanted to paint her as a black widow - exploiting him for her own means until he couldn't take any more. Then I read "Dirty Blonde" and I gained a ton of respect for her. But, so many of these songs sound like Nirvana rejects that I'm back to not knowing what to believe. If I turn off the thoughts and just listen...I love this album. It's weird. Every other woman in rock/alternative gets my immediate love and respect. Why should Hole be any different?
gonna sound weird but courtney love makes hole sound shit. i know they basically wouldn't have existed without her and she's a big reason why they were popular but her singing is really really really really shit. the music behind her is pretty good and would probably be decent live, but you'd have to put up with her drunk woo girl screaming. and the standout funniest thing about Love is that Alan Partridge Boinked her. A-HA!
Courtney Love you beautiful grunge monkey. Youre like Princess Diana after the crash, but before the death. Unbelievably sexy. You make me want to feel a good pair of tits.
It's neither as good as Scott says, or, as bad as Bort says. She did bang Alan Partridge in her hole though, so that's worth an extra mark.
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.
Rock’s role as an outlet for personal rage is one’s first thought after hearing this. It’s a slippery slope: while adding passion and energy when well handled, rage (authentic or fabricated) can be off-putting to people who don’t share another’s anger, sympathize with its alleged/perceived causes, are allergic to posing or excessive self-seriousness, or might be looking for other musical qualities and evocations. It may also cause one to ask “hey rock star -- whatcha so mad about?” (Perhaps CL’s fury was from not having an iPhone or Instagram just yet.) Hole harness and balance the power pretty well here (“Doll Parts” is good and not overdone somehow) and there are some striking hooks and more tuneful textures. Unfortunately, they are too quickly buried into the default banging. And the shrill crescendos and scream-outs come in nearly every song, often on top of pretty cliched axe-crunching, the combo of which comes off now as both dull and dated. Did Courtney Love maybe want to be a rock star or – perish the thought – celebrity a bit too much than is seemly? One suspects that might be the case. (Ironically, [maybe I mean paradoxically] “Rock Star” is a simulacrum of this record’s strengths and weaknesses – a cool hook [“I went to school/In Olympia-uh-uh-uh’] sacrificed to the habitual banging and screaming.) At any rate, “Celebrity Skin” is a better record. Hole may have been one of the best bands of the ‘90’s but in going back over that era in this exercise one begins to think it’s a bit of a tall pygmy award. Plus, they’re an easy (and fully legitimate) target for the anti-rockist crowd.
Very good album
This album was great and got me into mre riot girl esc music. 8/10
Almost a pity that Courtney came up thru the grunge era. Would have been interested in hearing her with 80s girl band stuff
the best part about this album project is to listen to albums by musicians you wrote off. for this purpose, i do my best to enter into albums as a blank slate. i, like many others, didn't give courtney love (and her band as a result) a chance before. but this album! it's gritty and dark. the lyrics and themes are heavy, and the feminine focus wasn't terribly popular in 1994. "asking for it" in particular grabbed my attention; its subject matter is relevant today and has been for decades. i commend hole for releasing a song like that in 1994 when it was rather edgy to do so. a reviewer at allmusic mentioned the phrase "raw pain" to describe this album, and i cannot imagine anything better to describe this album.
This band had historically been pretty heavily punk up until this point, but were outspoken about not wanting to do the same exact thing twice. The band found themselves gravitating toward the slightly more polished and structured sounds of alternative rock and grunge, despite protest from purist fans. This album was a result of those efforts, with the band finding some kind of balance between those punk roots and something a little bit more melodic, an outstanding offering that brought Courtney Love's charged feminist topics and harsh vocals to clash with more rhythm driven instrumentals. Love wanted to show a softer side of herself here, and she found a way to do it that worked for the band and their music. This album would inevitably lead to Hole not only becoming a figurehead of the woman-fronted grunge/alt-rock movement, but showing that they had the grit and attitude to exist among the best alt-rock grunge bands of the time. Love's vocals drip with fury and vigor and show so much range on this album, from raw screams to quiet growls. The clever lyrics mixed with that delivery and incredibly catchy melodies just send this album over the edge into greatness. I already loved Hole, and readdressing this album in its entirety only further cemented that. Really glad to see this excellent, often under-rated band on this project.
good just not for me
Yay, go Courtney
Alt rock
I always forget how much I love this album but once I put it on it all comes back to me.
Rockin
Really great, love the female lead, decent music
Pretty uninteresting 90's rock music.
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...
Never dove into Courtney Love's stuff but was this was some pretty good 90's grunge, though nothing mind-blowing to me.
I’m sorry, I just can’t get into Courtney Love at all. I don’t really vibe with her music or attitude… and I feel the same way about Kurt. These are formative records that I have little use for. D
This is fine. Not really my favourite of the 90s alt rock stuff but I would listen to this if it came on. 3/5
Pretty damn solid grunge album. I admit I slept on it 😔
Can never go wrong with some 90s Alt rock. Doll house is a classic
Full disclosure, I am NOT a fan of Courtney Love! She's a horrible actress, but can act within her range and her singing range is very limited. She doesn't seem like a very nice person and it was unfortunate that she met Kurt (for Kurt's sake). With that being said, Live Through This is a great album! I don't care much for other Hole records, but this one hits the spot. It downright rocks, the songs are crunchy, the music is grungy-melodic, the guitars are loud and I can even tolerate Courtney's screams. I will listen to this often and play this loud!
Grunge
I should like this more considering all the garage-rock bands I like (Mike Kroll, Childbirth, Maude Gun). Saying that I DID really like how catchy some of this was. I listened to it more in a row than the others. I know that I would rate this higher if it came later.
Not my bag
I didn’t view the daily album until 9:30pm, and as soon as I saw this, I was scared I was going to have to run out and get a case of beer and a pack of Export A Lights. 😆
Fun.
Alive, honest, loud, desperate, angry. Surprised I recognized two or three of the songs on this album.
Really solid album. Hole and Courtenay Love in general has always had to fight through the shadow of Kurt Cobain. Living or dead, the comparisons and criticisms were always present. If people could see past that (which they should, since their only real connection is their relationship) they’d find a deep and talented artist.
Nice rock.
I didn’t get to spend the time with this album that it deserved. I mostly heard “harsh,” which isn’t my favorite, but I know that this harshness was used to proper effect. I just wasn’t able to get to that connection.
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 was busy during grunge and wasn't paying much attention. But when I think of grunge, I think only of the dudes and shame on me for that. This album is superb!
I’m very familiar with this album cover, having routinely see it on T-shirts, but I have never listened to this. A bit strange since I was into 90’s growl rock back in the day. Somehow I never worked a Hole album into the rotation. What I’ve been missing out on is some awesome 90s feminist rock. The omission is glaring. The songs snarl with enough hooks to keep me interested. And as I dig into the lyrics there is a lot to work through. This is a great album. I have listened to a lot of music that seems to have influenced and been influenced by this. I’ve had a Hole in my 90s music puzzle that is finally filled.
I need to get over my irrational dislike of Courtney Love as this is a good record.
Solid album, but too much similarity through tracks
I like the whole Grunge scene and this is what you get here and nothing else. It's like a female Nirvana- pretty wasted and shouty so if it's your bag then you'll be happy. Otherwise you'll find it difficult to sit through.
(My 200th album!) It's OK. Nothing special but enjoyable enough. Kind of strikes me as worse Nirvana, which makes sense since this is Courtney Love - the wife of Kurt Cobain. She probably didn't murder him, but I've seen her making crop circles and building pyramids in my backyard so there might be some supernatural properties to her. I'll let the FBI handle that one. Maybe she also got Tupac and Elvis.
Love this album, nostalgic listen
Not bad, some good tunes, but not great. Would listen again.
Das steckt viel Curt Kobainsche Akkordschieberei drin. Ich nahm an, dass mir diese Platte überhaupt nicht gefallen würde, aber weit gefehlt. So mittlere drei Sterne.
Ok
CD
Looking at the ratings of others I see so many people either love it or hate it (5's and 1's). Personally, I can't say it is either for me. I guess Courtney Love just had a bad rep and I never gave her music a chance, but then again, I have never heard any of these songs - even accidentally on the radio. That being said, listening to this, now nearly 30 years after its release, I think it isn't too bad. I'd definitely listen to it again in the future. For a rating, it is just a 2.5 of 5
Totally embarrassing from start to finish!
Courtney Love.... The Yoko of grunge! My First time of listening and this is a softer, more Nirvana-ish Hole than I remember. So the disputed ghost writing by a certain KC is certainly a possibility in my eyes. (and Ears). I liked "Miss World" "Softer, Softest" "Jennifer's Body" "Gutless" & "Rock Star" eviscerating stuff from the band on women's rights, anti-violence against women and stereotyping... I am unsure if this rates in my top 1001 but has a great deal of credit in my opinion.
How are there two Hole albums on this list? This album isn't bad, but it also doesn't feel good enough to be on this list. There definitely seems to be a popularity bias with the material selected from the 90s. I haven't seen any Butthole Surfers albums on here, nor, for that matter, any Stooges albums. Hole is simply not as important in musical history as either of those bands (I would put the Stooges as one of the most important bands of the 20th century). This album is fine. The lyrics feel a bit juvenile. The music is good overall. It's just not clear why this particular album was important enough to put on this list when so many other influential bands seem to be entirely left off. I can't imagine that this album would be here if Courtney Love was not married to Kurt Cobain. Weirdly, I've gotten more Hole albums on this list than Nirvana albums. It just seems like a popularity contest more than an critical examination of the most influential and technically-advanced albums. 3/5
Some decent songs, still has a little bit of rawness and edge which was lost on Celebrity skin. Though I probably never listen to this again it's always fun to take a trip back to the early 90's.
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…
This held up much better then Celebrity Skin. I guess I prefer songs ghost written by Cobain. Violet still kicks pretty hard.
This is the Hole album that I really like. Less poppy, more crunchy, grungy sounding. Very Nirvana-ish with it's start/stop songwritting and quiet/loud parts. And I love Nirvana, so it's not a stretch to like this one a lot, too.
The Hole album isn't anything special, obviously full of angst, decent gym listening but not memorable.
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.
Brilliant ablum with in some ways the worst timing of any release in the history of music. I feel sorry for how much that Courtney Love was hound after Kurt's death and I watched her unravel on stage not quiet a year later. Took me ages to listen to this again but when I did it eclipse most other late grunge releases.
Good sound, but not my type.
Not my thing
Not something I'd seek out to listen to again, but they do their genre well
Classic 90s grunge sound. Wasn't my favorite but still an enjoyable listen.
There was too much repetition within each song and I didn’t enjoy the vocals much.
I appreciate her punk attitude, but while this wasn't completely unlistenable, I didn't enjoy it much. This is some weird mix of late 90s punk and Seattle grunge, but without the interesting musicality.
Funciona bem demais dos riffs ao vocal.
Truly great grunge punk, can't believe I've never listened to this before
heavy sound with female lead. Pretty good.
meh, no
Good album. In my nostalgia zone so it gains a star
Sans surprise, ces talentueuses grognasses nous proposent une routine matinale beauté totalement à côté de la plaque. À titre d'exemple, un temps monstrueux est pris pour le séchage des cheveux et le lissage (alors que tout le monde sait que seulement quinze minutes suffisent amplement) tandis que le maquillage est bâclé (fond de teint trop foncé, trait d'eyeliner trop épais, etc...) À revoir.
Ce groupe de jeunes folasses dévergondées m'a pris la tête comme rarement. Les multitudes de discussions à propos de la dernière paire de talons ou encore des différentes techniques de maquillage n'a rien à faire sur un album des 1001. Je ne parlerai même pas des multitudes références au girl power et à la fin du patriarcat. A jeter.
Only heard a few Hole songs before (mainly off Celebrity Skin) but this reinforces my view of them: strong vocals, good grunge-pop sound, consistently solid songs but not many worldies. The first and last tracks were my favourites. 3/3.5
Thin and straggly power barfs of raw catharsis. Spilled bleach, sour milk and home truths all over the bathroom sink. Plus galvanic riffs, scratchy melodies, and one of the sweetest voices to ever scream "fuck you" in your face.
Hole gets angrier here, and it suits the music. They operate very much within a lane, and it's not one that particularly inspires me. But besides that caveat it's very good.
Gutes grungy Album. Kann man mal hören.
Courtney Love is a genuine rock star. Intense, angry, articulate, unpredictable, controversial, ambitious, unfiltered, strong, damaged, impulsive, charismatic. She has copped a lot of flack over the years, some self-inflicted damage, but a lot of grief for being crime of being a woman. This album is Hole (and Courtney) at the height of their/her powers. The songs are really strong, partially written int eh studio, but also having been partially worked on over the previous two years. There is some understandable Nirvana influence, but these are definitely Courtney's songs. It has the loud/soft thing (which was a step forward in musical development for Hole), a lot of punk rock screaming (and what a scream it is!), but the sheen of being well recorded and edited. I think there was a some selective editing on the vocals, the guitars and drums sound huge, and a some subtle keyboard sweetening in the background. Interestingly, the producers said they didn't double her vocals much to not cut the immediacy. I suspect she never sings a song the same way twice, so doubling is not really a viable option, but she certainly gives each vocal take her all. I'm glad they left in a lot of "mistakes" (vocal cracking, dubious intonation and wayward pitching are common), because the performances are raw and real. Just the right amount of polish, I think. Nobody would ever give this kind of budget to an honestly dangerous punk band anymore, so we may never hear an album like this again. It stands up as a powerful album, even 30 years later.
Good album. Punky, raw, but with a nice sense of melody that keeps things fresh and interesting and listenable. Very consistent from song to song. Much stronger than I expected. 4 stars
Holy Grunge. Good stuff. This list always manages to give you an album you don't expect from an artist with a more popular work.
I want to like this more than I did on first listen. A little harsh sounding at times. Might be I've that grows on me
A rough diamond, pressure-formed by pain.
As much as I hate Courtney Love, this album isn't that bad.
This is a good album, but hard to put aside the personal opinions of Love
It's ok. I feel like the songs themselves just generally aren't that great. I honestly think that Courtney Love (despite her polarizing personality) could be a better front person with better material. Maybe one of the other albums would be more appealing to me? Could've been a 3 maybe but gonna vote 2 because she is what she is.
Pretty good stuff.
Hole continued to evolve with each album. Before, they were hardcore punk. After, they took on a clean alt rock sound. Here they are their grungiest. Lots of similarities with Nirvana, substantiating rumors of Cobain's contribution to this album's songwriting. Indeed, this album sounds more like a Pixies album than In Utero, despite Cobain recruiting Surfer Rosa's Steve Allbini. Just like In Utero, Live Through This manages to combine unique melodies with a rough, genuine attitude. Courtney Love's vocal delivery carries the energy and emotion of the show, but Pfaff's basslines shock us with their range of sound. There are accessible pop songs like "Miss World," "Softer Softest," and "Doll Parts" to appeal to most audiences. The first side is much more polished and coherent, whereas the second side takes more risks, kicking off with the abrasive hardcore "Credit in the Straight World." I get Soundgarden-vibes from the bass in "I Think That I Would Die." Pretty consistent through this, and even the weaker tracks were enjoyable due to the diversity. Favorites: Violet, Asking for It, Doll Parts, I Think That I Would Die, Rock Star
A female version of Nirvana - but I don't like their music either. Too shouty, no idea what most of the lyrics are about, but I'm not really interested anyway.
“Courtney Love- yeah she sucks, but that album is good”- record store guy who I bought this Hole CD from I couldn’t agree more
Man, what a voice lead singer has... Reminded me of Nirvana, which makes sense looking at relation between Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain. Released a week after Cobain's suicide. Harsh. I really enjoyed this record. Felt grungy, dirty, pure. Highlights: Jennifer's Body, Rock Star
Szczerze? Nie byłem w stanie przesłuchać albumu do końca, nie wiem czy miałem jakiś gorszy dzień czy coś, ale głos wokalistki byl na maksa wkurzający, a amuzyka zbyt agresywna.
Fajny, agresywny grunge. Nie znałem kompletnie, więc przyjemne zaskoczenie. Nic szczególnie nie odstawało, właśnie troszkę nazbyt monotonne. Ale całkowicie przyjemna i niezbyt długa płytka, zasługuje na to 4.