Reviews (page 11 of 14)
Not mindblowing, but enjoyable after getting over the vocals being a bit grating.
So many hits! I'm tired of Blister in the Sun, but can still dig the majority of these.
Off to a good start with blister in the sun but overall I found the vocal style kind of jarring. I liked some of the bits that were a bit spoken word adjacent though. Some of the lyrics were a bit dodgy as well. Favourite song: Blister in the sun
некоторые забавные, но в среднем слишком крик вс музыка и некоторые слишком хорни 80е
Lemme hear that glock solo
A bit samey
Everybody in the world knows "Blister in the Sun" and apparently it is about drugs. Kiss Off, Please Do Not Go, Prove My Love, I liked the prominent bass on To the Kill and Good Feeling are all really good songs. The lead singer's voice can get a bit grating at times, which did in some way hamper my ability to enjoy the songs. This album was pretty much what I expected and could have come straight from the 90's. It's really ahead of its time and for that reason I think it has a place in the book. Not sure I would revisit.
its great just not my fav
Raw indie sound. Some songs are too alternative.
If you’d asked me to guess the year and genre of this album from the title, then acoustic folk punk from 1983 is probably the last thing I’d have gone for. This turns out to actually be a lot of fun, written by an 18 year old high school student called Gordon Gano, mixing punky Lou Reed style vocals with bouncy acoustic guitars and lively drums. The highlight is the first track Blister in the Sun which I recognised from the Xbox Rock Band soundtrack.
2024-09-02...
Was aware of Blister in the sun but little else. Sounds pretty dated but no doubt influential, can’t see myself revisiting it
Great album with lovely punk ditties.
Kind of underwhelming but then I've always felt this way about the singles from the album. I like them if they come on, yet rarely seek them out.
More punk than I expected, but probably my favorite version of the genre.
I liked a lot of the instrumental parts, but the vocals were hit-or-miss at best, and I really disliked the lyrics
Good
Noh muutamat lyriikat lauseskellessa mukana jee jee
This was better than I thought it was going to be. Of course I knew Blister, and I'd played a small handful of their other songs in the past, but I'd never listened to a full album before, nor was I aware just how acoustic punk The Violent Femmes are. I'm generally not a fan of punk, but my ears took genuine notice of this album thanks to its unplugged instrumentation. I wouldn't say I loved it, but it certainly inspired me to explore more of their discography.
3 stars
Some classic hits on this record. This is a very fun, retro, funky, punky record. Mastering and production is very thin sounding, but it’s easy on the ears. This is an album that makes me feel cooler by listening to it.
An acoustic punk romp with busy bass lines, rich harmonies, and vocals that dance on the edge of grating charm.
Some good sounds on here, some fun moments, good energy - also some terrible vocals here and there.
Pretty solid overall, honestly didn't realize they were this old
oke album
Energetic
I expected more from this, but the last couple of songs were cool.
Not my kind of music, but I must say the b-side of the record saves it for me. The last songs are great and more creative.
Definition of a 3/5 album-good but nothing special. I think that really explains this album, with a good theme throughout and a couple of great tracks, but on the whole just good. I’d I could give half stars I’d maybe give it 3 1/2, so 7/10, but I wouldn’t give it an 8
Blister in the sun is just one of the best... 1983 as well! Feels as though there's an intimacy to it. Have realised that I can use this as a 3 year diary too - 14th July. On the tune - like you're in the room with them, they all know they've got something properly good. Pre-nirvana/ NMH evident, hope that makes sense. Today on holiday we finally went to that other beautiful beach - ligares I think it's called. Tanning well. Miss my friends, I finally think I'm at a point where I have very good friends - never got that close with anyone at school and foundation nothing felt too lasting. Obviously year and a bit I didn't really consider love for friends during Clara but now I miss people more than I thought I could. Liked the idea for art I had about accompanying strange sounds with mundane objects. Just need to make something really, takes no time at all. Proper bass (I think - loosely strung). Doesn't feel expectant but has a continuity that borrows from bluesy folky country storytelling (Please do not go) - almost Ska-y. Still thinking about getting mugged, that really stupid feeling that I should've risked it and done something but I know that I did the right thing. I need to continue to see it as a testament to my calmness and ability to relativise - nothing is more important than my life, absolutely nothing. Great punky vocals on the album, add it up... I'd love to paint my bedroom yellow, maybe I use large canvas and pin it up in LA. That scene from TopBoy was beautiful - colour obviously effects the way we perceive experience heavily. Nick Cave-yness to the vocals. Definitely contemporary relevance now on ‘Confessions’ - think it’s just good, proper punky rock. I think it’s very interesting but also normal that certain events will revolve around my mind as seminal moments in my sequence - not necessarily things I very much enjoyed or hated but rather points that harbour a lot of regret - I think I need to see my achievements and myself as a way to scale down these orbits. A lot more minutemen-y than I thought (To the Kill). This song is really good. Finally an album with more variance… Album started brilliant, got alright and now upward again (Gone Daddy Gone) - has that 50s/60s catchy chorus with that messy post-Stoogeness. So Stooges, the vocals really hit. Also the Velvets legacy shines through here (Good Feeling). Think it would be very harsh to say pastiche… think it decidely marks a bridgeway for bands like Wilco, NMH, Weezer even. Can’t wait to listen to a Blondie album - (Ugly is great). Will say that this is the most thought about rating - think a 3.6 is very fair - great tunes and variety but didn’t blow me away.
Everything sounded like the one hit I already knew.
Good, but repetitive. Consistently fast tempos, a small range of keys and chords, and a heavy reliance on the punk-rock genre in every track are the main factors contributing to this repetition. The songs Kiss Off, Promise, Confessions, and To The Kill are slightly below the rest of the tracks (and the only ones I actively disliked), lacking any significant hook that can drown out the poor singing. Yep, the vocals here are pretty bad - particularly when the guy tries to reach the top of his range. I've said this frequently about punk music on this list, which is that it's (typically) not very good on account of the instruments not being played well. The vocals are the most common offender here since they're the easiest to sound terrible with. That being said, some of the hooks/ideas here are strong enough to overcome these obstacles. Blister In The Sun has a fun, syncopated, memorable line in the acoustic guitar, easily bringing it to the forefront of not only the album, but the Violent Femmes' discography. Add It Up, Gone Daddy Gone (man, that xylophone!), and Good Feeling are also fun listens. 3/5 Key tracks: Add It Up, Good Feeling, Gone Daddy Gone, Blister In The Sun
6.5/10
Oh my god this is where blister in the sun comes from. They used to play this a lot in the clubs a decade ago. It's the best song off the record tho.
Fedt, men i små doser. Bliver hurtigt lidt intenst, og til tider næsten anstrengende at lytte til.
I don't think this will ever really become my favourite kind of sound, but I don't hate it. I didn't know that there was such a thing as "Folk punk" before this album and it kinda tickles my brain in the right way a bit with the acoustic bass and the sudden inclusion of not one, but TWO xylophone solos on 'Gone Daddy Gone'. Standouts: Gone Daddy Gone Good Feeling Add It Up "Punk needs more xylophone"/5 (3/5)
Some great songs, but the rest of the album is pretty blah. All sounds the same.
Okay. Not bad. This is a decent little album right here. It's alright. It feels quite classic with a hint of modern indie in there. This thing wears its influences on its sleeve. I detected a very strong influence from both the Velvet Underground and the Rolling Stones. The song "Gone Daddy Gone" felt especially similar to the Stones. I can also see how this would influence later groups like the Strokes, but that could just be the influences for this album speaking. The sound of the album is quite solid. Both the singing and instrumental work feel somewhat varied throughout the album, yet consistent in tone. The same can't quite be said about the writing, which does feel a bit repetitive, though not too repetitive. Still, it is noticeable. The writing, however, is pretty good. Overall, this isn't my favorite album, but it's far from my least favorite. I can totally see how some would love it and others would hate it. 3/5.
Not entirely my thing, but I see the vision
Blister In The Sun Kiss Off
decent
I've always had a soft spot for Violent Femmes for some reason. They bring the right mix of garage, folk and rock while keeping the mood light. Their debut album stays right in their wheelhouse with a handful of jaunty tunes that scratch a certain itch. Nothing is amazing but it gets the job done especially at a 35 minute listen time. While I dig VF I fully understand if it wasn't someone cup of tea. 3.1 stars
Eh
Slow rock with acoustic guitar, piano and speak like vocals. Basic lyrics. Not interesting.
not for me but appreciated
They call it alternative, and I can agree with that. It's sometimes catchy, and I am pretty sure my local pub plays this in their playlists.
Pretty jammy album considering how simple it is! And there's some classic stuff on here, too. Runs a little long for what it is, but pretty enjoyable.
Good and fun
They have a very specific and very likeable style, and they absolutely beat you over the head with it until you get bored. I enjoyed (nearly) all of the songs, but got tired and bored by the time I reached the end. I can't help but compare it to the last album I listened to as part of the project, Since I Left You by The Avalanches. Very different music suffering from the exact same problem. 2.5 stars. Rounding up because the individual songs are good, they were just doomed to live in a boring album composition.
Fresco y crudo, me cabe
Not my type of music my type of music
Good album. Famous for “Blister”, but the other songs are interesting as well. Can see how it would have influenced a lot of music in the 90’s. 3.5/5 Probably will listen again
Solid! probably nothing I’ll revisit too often but I had a great time listening
Lead singer has a Mick Jagger feel to his delivery. Love the unplugged bass throughout. Blister In the Sun Add It Up Confessions Gone Daddy Gone (featuring xylophone)
I think I’m familiar with the greatest hits offerings that the album didn’t really wow me.
This rocks!!
This was more enjoyable than I was expecting it to be. Straddling the line somewhere between folk, alternative, and punk. Solid entry (albeit a little strange depending on the track), but I feel that The Violent Femmes are an acquired taste and I don't think it can be elevated past a 3/5 for me.
Interesting. Best track is Blister In The Sun 3/5
I think the violent femmes are my James addiction, Jordan
Catchy poppy punk
Starts in a folky stile and ends up verry punky. I think this early work represents discussions of the musical direction.
The upbeat songs are really good, but all the slower songs just don't hit, uneven
Jonathan Richman's angsty quirky spawn. I like their homespun sound and I think there was a xylophone in there at some point. And, as with Jonathan R., I enjoyed a song or two and then felt happy to move on (though I did listen to the whole thing).
It's a fun listen. Enjoy.
Didn’t expect folk rock. Reminds me of AJJ.
Interesting, but half of the songs I'm not really into.
Alternately entertaining and tedious. Could have used more distortion!
Sounded samey, listened on shuffle by accident and cba going back in on it.
These guys must’ve gone against all of the trends of 80s production. I would’ve guessed 90s. It was an interesting sound but I didn’t like all of the songs.
A few great tunes, not much of a vocalist. Some great lyrics. saw them live, it was fun, they still tour, as Chryssie Hynde said, you only need one big album to have a career.
Favourite song - add it up
It’s ok
I wanted to like this album. The instrumentation is great. The band is clearly talented. It's the lead singer that ruins everything. I get that the vibe is punk and "who gives a shit," but that doesn't necessarily mean it's good for the ears. Even their hit, "Blister in the Sun" is worse than covers I already have on my phone.
3.45
Sometimes reminded me of The Beatles, sometimes of Nirvana. Fun, but lacked a little cohesiveness. First listen was the most fun, rather than the reverse as with the other albums.
There songs sound quite similar to each other, gone daddy gone is my favourite.
You know, folk punk works way better than I would have imagined. There is still lots of room for improvement here, the vocals are really whiny, and there are very few layers musically. But I can absolutely here what they were going for here and there is a lot of potential.
Can definitely see its influence. Need some more listens
Solid album!
It was okay, nothing to go crazy about though. Simpsons: No
Quite liked it but not enough for a 4.
Prima. Paar uitschieters maar niet heel bijzonder
nice
Bass guitar goes craz vocals are funny ‘Please Do Not Go’ more funky vocals *Add It Up starts off hardddd + guitar solo dayummm Confessions is giving wild west emo the beatssss goodness end is obnoxious lol i dont think i like the bg vocals in these gimme the car is smth 5/10
Quite good folk punk album. 3/5
would give a 3.5 if possible, would probably have enjoyed more when i was like 17 but still an enjoyable album. reminds me of crywank a bit but more polished. would listen again.
This felt like a great 80s-styled 50s throwback. Much along the lines of many of the 80s throwbacks today. Nothing special, but definitely good.
I have heard Blister in the sun before
very fun. really good. folk-punk rocks!!
Opening tune is from my favourite ever film, but it's not actually that amazing. Rest of the album is similar - sounds weirdly jaunty but also fucking furious, if a glockenspiel solo can sound angry. Better than 95% of us alt rock from the same period - looking at you B52s, you shitwads
Not a bass drum in sight
Pretty good
That was a better listen than I expected. They've got some good moves and the bass was fun on the second half of Add it Up. I could see this being a fun listen but it wasn't the easiest day for me to give it a deep shot.
Heard of this artist, never realized they were the one's who sing Blister in the sun. Pretty good. I actually do dig this stuff
It was fine. Not really that special imo. Recommended song after the album was Damaged Goods by Gang of Four, which is definitely more interesting.
This album exists completely out of time to me. Released in 1983, it sounds more 90’s than most 90’s albums, but also retains an acoustic vibe that says it could’ve been made at any time during the past 40 years. Blister In The Sun shows up often in pop culture. I recall it being a favorite song to soundtrack angsty 90’s television to. All in all a good, but not really great record.
Evidently this is a genesis of the indie rock sound. To me, it sounds like the noise of Sonic Youth brought to the hooks of Bob Mould. It’s wide ranging sounds and snippet like approach certainly inspired quite a few after.
whiny. one hit wonder
The songs I knew before hold up really well. The rest I’m not as crazy about. .
Indie, folk, blues, acoustic, slow/mid/fast, male, atmosphere, very simple but great, blister start was my ringtone once (need to redo this), makes me want to dance immediately, has great drive for an acoustic band, but still limited in sound and style. solid
Raw and making me horny at work. Great stuff.
Two good songs.
interesting sound, i like the acoustic bass. most of it not my style, i liked Please Do Not Go
Chaotic. Most songs very different from blister in the sun
it was decent, few good songs few not the best
Edgy, angular punk with slight notes of blues and stream of consciousness lyrics. There was a sus chord guitar solo tremolo thing that captivated me on one of the songs but I don't remember which one. (Confessions I think?) That was probably my favourite. Gordon Gano sounds like he just woke up which is funny. You know what I'm gonna say. I still prefer Talking Heads, which I can see elements of the punk scene/stream of consciousness in but more polished and melodic. This band is meat pies and Talking Heads are nachos.
Album Already Known: N # Songs Already Known: 2 - Blister in the Sun, Gone Daddy Gone # Songs Saved: 1 - Ugly Notes: - Nothing that special about this album to me, it was just a bit boring to me - I do like Confessions, but not enough to save even - Ugly saved for a running song
alright music, good start, but samey and second half lacks ounch
Obviously one track on here that gets far more play time than the others, but it doesn't feel like a one hit wonder album. It has a modern sound and I wouldn't have expected it be from the 80s.
very violent
Love the lyrics of “Good Feeling” in particular. I don’t love the lead vocalist’s sound, but the experimental sounds are cool. None of the songs from the album screamed re-listen for me, but I’m glad I did listen to it once.
It was fine.
Haven't listened to Violent Femmes much at all. I recognize blister in the sun. interesting end with Gimme the Car lol. Overall interesting album and wasn't bad to listen to.
Hmm I feel like I've heard of them but not sure I know any songs. Whoops definitely know the first song, never would've been able to tell you who sang that though. This will be good for trivia a random night in the future. Honestly some good sound punk for me. Some real good basslines all over the place. The xylophones in Gone Daddy Gone/ I Just Want to Make Love to You are sick. Also have heard Good Feeling in How I Met Your Mother (Lily and Marshall's song). Pretty chill. Not the best punk I've heard but far from the worst.
Easy to listen to, one song stood out being Confessions
Used to listen to them all the time. Re-listened this morning and wondered why
Decent enough, but probably just for nostalgia reasons. Don’t think this will find its way into the regular rotation for me
En ese punto entre el punk y el grunge. Un par de canciones muy pegadizas y en general disfrutable. 3/5.
Hood 90s rap but not albumlistening
Blister in the Sun - Strong drumming, fast tempo; agitated, breathy opener to album. Kiss Off - Beatles-esque backing vocals, loose bass line, good build up to climax. Please Do Not Go - chorus shares similarities with 'Tide is High', more minimalist and slower song, mixing slightly muddy in right channel. Add It Up - not the greatest vocals on their own, work better alongside instruments, faster tempo, potentially inspired by americana/surf rock, vocals have droning quality, another strong bassline. Confessions - Melody sounds 10 years ahead of its time, sadder, downbeat, feels ominous in a similar way to 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)', good use of panning. Prove My Love - Excellent bass playing again, drumming mixed into background but can still be felt, guitar mixed into foreground, catchy chorus. Promise - singer adds pauses and hesitations to lyrics, adds to feel of song; guitar and bass seem to playing together more here, best drumming of the album here. To The Kill - Much deeper bass line, could imagine this as a Velvet Underground song, guitar and bass feel like they're fighting eachother for attention. Gone Daddy Gone - Xylophone was surprising, guitar and bass seem to be following same rhythm, with xylophone playing lead, better vocal performance. Good Feeling - Feels more reflective, sombre, reminiscent of 'Sunday Morning', only use of piano on album, string arrangement supports feelings, more restrained vocals, slow fade out allows for reflection.
Hannah VanAkkeren - if an album is a person...
Some good songs. I’ve never listened to a whole Femmes album before. That guys voice kind o grinder on me after a while.
Like some
Oh the Violent Femmes and their iconic 80s songs! I didn’t realize how many of their most popular songs were on the same album.
I liked a couple of the hits on this album.
Sounds particularly like kids sitting at the campfire playing acoustic guitars and drums. There are some interesting clips. But in summary I didn’t like it very much
Interesting mix... liked a few songs...good instrumentals overall.
Ho-hum. Monotonous sound.
3.75 I think if I could stomach the singing I would really love this album. I think there could’ve been a bit more variety between songs, but the album felt cohesive and a lot of it was catchy, and I was surprised by how many songs I recognized. Still, I’m a stubborn old maid and shudder at the singing and can’t get over it, even though I think it works for the songs and makes for a very distinct sound. Maybe I should blame the radio for overplaying “Blister in the Sun” when I was a kid.
Perfectly underproduced. I stand by my decision to like this album, but I can’t listen to it more than once every 5-6 years.
BL: heard of these guys because I had a friend back when I was 16 who was really into them. He was an arsehole but I have to say he had pretty impeccable music taste and got me into a lot of the stuff I’m into now. So I’ll give it a listen for sure AL: I have to say this was a very mixed bag for me. There were some songs I did like but I found a lot of the folk-punk stuff to be incredibly annoying. If I was shown this at 16 I probably would’ve adored it but I think my music taste has matured beyond some of this now. That being said I did like some of it, some of it specifically hasn’t aged well (the lyrics on “gimmie the car” especially). But it was no where near as unenjoyable as other albums on this list. For the time I also have to appreciate this would’ve been pretty mind blowing. So I’d say it’s justified being on the list FT: “Please Do Not Go”, “Prove my Love”, “Good Feeling” 3/5
Lot of repetition. Not necessarily in a bad way but definitely not my favorite - never really would have pegged them for a folk punk, not that I knew that was a genre. Blister in the Sun and Gone Daddy Gone both are enjoyable but not something on a regular repeat listen.
I dig it.
Solid album. Singers voice weighs on you after awhile.
I enjoyed more of the album than I thought I would.
I knew Blister in the Sun from somewhere and I really liked Gone Daddy Gone, but I’m not sure how I feel about this album. Sometimes I really liked the funky rhythms and acoustic guitars, sometimes the lyrics confused me. Like Confessions, decent song but the lyrics were weird. Overall decent.
A couple/few indie bangers, but lots of angsty Hwhite pre-internet teenager music. Hwhite, with a big H.
Un son rock tout à fait écoutable mais qui ne m'intéresse pas plus que ça.
So this is the artist that does "Blister in the Sun", of course! The vocals are grating, but the bass line in some of these songs is great. Lyrics are...strange. Some of these key changes and general tunes are bizarre, as well. Not my cup of tea in general. Memorable songs: Blister in the Sun, Confessions, Ugly
Pretty fun to listen and mellow. But maybe not for me
Ehhh not bad
Quelques bons morceaux !
Brings back memories of the early 80s when anyone thought that they could be in a band, although musically this is quite good, it's just the vocals that let it down - a bit Jonathan Richman meets Jilted John.
Liked the percussion and more acoustic guitar sound, majority of album was solid
Pretty good, didn't love it but it did remind me of a stripped-down down more chaotic version of Cage the Elephant's album Thank You Happy Birthday or kind of like the Black Keys. The sound was really interesting but I did not love the lead dude's voice (still better than Bob Dylan).
after about 3 songs, they kinda all sounded same
There's some good songs on here, but also several that I just wanted to skip. 3/5
Obnoxious, but in a fun honest poppy way. These songs are way older than I thought.
Just a lot of fun.
1. BLISTER IN THE SUN—I know this one :) Not my favorite song, but can't argue it's not catchy. I can hear more of the acoustic fiddling in the back now that I'm listening properly. 2. KISS OFF—Acoustic bass???? Reminds me of some of the stuff Juniper-Rosie has done 3. PLEASE DO NOT GO—love that walking bass :) 4. ADD IT UP—Like the end part where it goes into Add it up! Add it up! Add it up! Love the bass work. (That's a running theme for this album.) 5. CONFESSIONS—I like this one off the bat. Okay, it's starting to go at the "I'm going to hang hang hang it apaaaart" 6. PROVE MY LOVE—Vibey 7. PROMISE—I spaced out of this one, oops! 8. TO THE KILL—BASS BASS BASS!!!!! I like this one, I think. Love the slight crunch on the bass sound. 9. GONE DADDY GONE—Tuned out of this twice... 10. GOOD FEELING—Strings!!!!!!! 11. UGLY (1983 ROUGH TRADE UK SINGLE)—I see why this was a single. 12. GIMME THE CAR (1983 ROUGH TRADE UK SINGLE)—Edgy, sleazy, creepy, angsty teen vibe. Like the phases this goes through.
Best Songs: Prove My Love Listen Again: Probably
banco igual un poco pq es el tema de marshall y lily 7/10
Det er fed! Imponerende meget punk energi fra en akustisk plade!
Fed nok! Kan meget godt lide stilen og det minder mig helt vildt meget om "Ice Age", eller.. hvis vi tager kronologien in mente, så minder Ice Age om Violent Femmes. 3.4
Love. One of those bands where I always liked the songs I heard, but never got around to listening to a whole album. Should have listened to the whole thing so long ago.
Good plucky bass lines Reminiscent of Pixies Vocals not as annoying as I expected Xylophone part goes hard
fav song: blister in the sun
There’s a ramshackle charm here that really makes each song a pleasure to listen to. Sounds surprisingly modern considering it’s 40 years old.
Unique late nineties acoustic pop rock. Worth a listen for the stripped down production!
Not as good as I was expecting
Reminded me of Brett
Kinda punk rock, not my favorite
Good! Better when they stick to straight ahead rock-gets a little wobbly when they try other approaches
Sounds like a precursor to punk or maybe grunge. Favorite track was gone daddy gone
Sure I like Blister in the Sun
Didn’t realise blister in the sun was from the early 80s - mad. But a cool punky/indie vibe. I’m a fan
meh
Never heard the whole album - better than expected.
Découverte assez sympa
Love this album. Good times as a junior in high school listening to this one. I love how they incorporate elements of punk and folk into a collection of songs about life, love and sex. Some songs are funny, others are sad, others are creepy. Its raw and sometimes over the top, but it works.
sing along to the first track and then meh. it's alright but just not my thing. Gimme the car (bonus track) is a bit... erm... dificult to listen to.
Okay, not a big fan.
Not a great album to start with, was quite piercing and slow. Confessions and Please Do Not Go were enjoyable, the rest I could easily never listen to again
#52. I'm trying to think of something to say about this one, but I'm coming up with nothing. It was an album. I listened to it. It was OK. 3/5: acceptable. Song added to playlist: Blister In The Sun I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
is pretty good, i didn't realize these were the guys that did those songs so it was sort of connecting the dots. nothing special tho
I enjoyed this album for the most part. It was a little too long for me but I enjoyed most of the tracks on here. First track was my favorite on this album
this album is very middle school boy core, a lot of ADHD vibes from this.
You have to like it. Some happy songs, some sad songs and an interesting voice.
The only Violent Femmes song I've heard is "Blister in the Sun," which I really don't care for, so I had very low expectations for this album. I always hear people speak very positively about this album and the band, and after listening to this album, I definitely have a greater appreciation for the Violent Femmes' music. I don't think I've listened to much punk music from the eighties, but I enjoyed this stripped down sound. The guitar playing, bass playing, and drumming were all pretty simple, but they were all executed well. The lyrics were a tad... on the horny side, but they fit the vocals really well. There was almost a rockabilly or surf rock feel to a lot of the music on this album, especially on "Gone Daddy Gone," with its jangly xylophone sound. I won't be revisiting this album or the Violent Femmes any time soon, but I can appreciate this album's legacy.
Raw, jangly and good energy though kind of dark. I dig how the bass is forward in the mix. This isn't really my kind of thing but I liked it more than I thought I would and get the feeling that this would grow on me with a few more listens.
Add it up e confessions !!!
Not really my vibe but the voice wears surprisingly well, something Husker Du and Billy Bragg and others could learn from, and should have. This album is as old as me and has aged nearly as well. Blister in the Sun sounded fresh when I was fifteen and still makes me smile. Add it Up, et al. Hard not to like!
Kitschy and catchy. A little Velvet Underground, a little Flight of the Conchords. About 95% of the Violent Femmes music I’ve heard has been at weddings, dive bar jukeboxes and in the form of covers at dueling piano bars and mediocre suburban live music nights. Will not be a go-to for me but there’s definitely a time and a place for these tunes.
Not my taste, kind of repetitive
Blister In The Sun - 8/10 Kiss Off - 7/10 Please Do Not Go - 7.5/10 Add It Up - 7.5/10 Confessions - 8/10 Prove My Love - 8/10 Promise - 7/10 To the Kill - 8/10 Gone Daddy Gone - 7/10 Good Feeling - 7/10 TOTAL - 75/100
Was okay. Sounded nice. The lyrics seemed like whiny incel shit
Hier in het dorp zouden we dit 'arrig' noemen: raar. Een soort boerenkinkelcabaret met een flinke dosis meme-Beatles. Mick Jagger met z'n lolbroek aan. Soms wat Pixies zonder distortionpedaal. Doet denken aan Blink 182 - F-woord A Dog, maar dan een album lang. Met vlagen is het teringmuzikaal, regelmatig is het wat irritant. Het is nu vrijdag, ik heb een lichte kater en ik kan dit redelijk hebben. Op een maandag met een digitale stapel werk voor m'n neus zou dit me op de zenuwen werken denk ik. Vooral die xylofoonsolo.
First track was super popular; the rest had horrid singing and didn't really care for it, though I can hear how some '00s rock was rooted in this stuff. 6/10.
Wasn’t impressed the first time I listened but I liked it on this relisten. The acoustic guitar and bass tones are great and it’s a fun quick play through
Jangly proto alternative rock. I fucked with it, not my favorite though
The lyrics are good the melody and sound is a bit repetitive
Fun album, questionable morality in todays terms :-)
Indie ? weird folk? eran los 80 y estos iban en dirección contraria. Creo que son mejores por las mentes que abrieron que por su música en sí mismo. Blister in the Sun es una declaración de principios brutal.
Not a huge fan. “Folk Punk” didn’t age well, in my opinion. Maybe I’m just not the target audience… but I like folk and I love punk…
I liked Blister in the Sun but by the end of the album, it was starting to grate and I'm OK not hearing it again.
Muzikaal folk/country-rock, vaak de zang iets te vervelend aanwezig, maar sterk begin (blisters in the sun) en einde van het album (vanaf gone daddy gone). Gone daddy gone +++
The album grew on me, liked the music, vocalist took some getting used too
Raro, copado, creativo
Never actively listened to or known the band but blistered in the sun and gone daddy gone absolute classics. Can appreciate the rest but not for me
Definitly has some fun parts. Gone Daddy Gone is a cool throwback to the Gnarls Barkley cover.
It's a bit B tier but you can't deny is likeable enough. There is just better bands out there in this genre
Favorite track was Gone Daddy Gone
Good
Not in the mood for this rn, will try when my nerves are better
A better one, atleast for British standards I guess
Didn't love it, didn't hate it. I can understand why people get excited about the album but I found it pretty meh. Also, Gary's voice is annoying, though as a teen I didn't mind it.
Ok rock, soft punk rock, it is not a french group :). 2,75
meh
downloaded 2,4,6,7,10. not music i’d maybe return to heavily but enjoyed the angst most definitely
Fun one. This was a blast from the past.
Dad used to play "Blister In The Sun" and "Gone Daddy Gone", had no idea these were from here until I listened to this. Didn't really care for the rest of the songs, though. I like the guitar.
3. dude's voice gets old fast
Interesting to hear songs that weren't Blister in the Sun. It's one of those angsty ones I might choose to go back to in the future but nothing I would say is noteworthy enough for me
Good first track. Must admit I switched off while it was on in the background, but my ears priced up when Ugly came on and it was worth a second listen. Overall, a solid 5/10.
Great opener a indie disco classic which was the highlight for me
One hit wonder
declamatory — archaic — vulnerable PROVE MY LOVE ADD IT UP PROMISE UGLY GIMME THE CAR
Definitely influenced modern shoegazey folky music. Some raw instrumentals, interesting vocal decisions that make it feel risky but also a bit dated. Feels like teenage angst, a horse throat, walking with your hood up. Very horny, needs to touch grass. Stand outs: Blister in the Sun, Marimbas on Gone Daddy Gone, Good Feeling
I liked the top of the album and like the sound of it. His voice isn’t the best but the vibe is there
Blister in the sun is catchy but idk about the others yet. It's exactly what I thought it would be. I wouldnt listen by choice but it didnt suck either
Some jarring aesthetics in a fun package. I really liked the more upbeat and catchy songs, because they were the only ones that masked the aggressive singing and hollow sounding instruments
Decent sound but quite samey
off to a good start w Blister in the Sun. love the lead singer's voice on this track Sounds a lot like the nerdy-punk I liked in high school.. likely this was a big influence ok level of NSFW took a big leap in "Add it up" track 5 started to lose steam a bit.. sounds are blending Gone Daddy Gone picked back up.. had to look up who covered this and realized I probably know most of the lyrics from the Gnarls Barkley version
Che meraviglia. Come ho fatto a vivere senza questo album fino ad ora.
Great start, promising middle, grating finish.
Not my cup of tea but I'm glad I listened to it.
No sabía que Gone Daddy Gone venía en este disco. Y por supuesto que Blister in the Sun es un temazo. El resto no me atrapó.
Never heard this before and folk-punk sounded interesting. However, I soon realised that this was an American band and Americans really don't just get punk in the slightest for some reason. It didn't ruin the album for me, but for me "folk-punk" resolves to low-fi/ acoustic alt-rock. If I had to think of similar artists then I would probably look to the Pixies. I found this difficult to rate. Musically it wasn't anything special, but I did find the lyrics and performances amusing.
Appreciate its uniqueness but can’t say I really enjoyed any song
Ok but not my cup of tea
Not bad. Not great. Some decent tracks though
I got this album when I was about 11 and it was unlike anything I'd heard and I loved it. I haven't listened to it in probably 30 years and it doesn't really hold up, but my nostalgia says it gets a 3.
I sorta liked this. Vocals can be a little distracting but that’s ok.
Definitely a few good singles in here, but I feel like the back half of the album kinda all washed together unmemorably.
Picked up in the second half and of course the classic song at the start. Some catch choons.
This was interesting, I can't say I ever really heard acoustic folk punk before, but that's exactly what this Femmes record was. It's very rough, gritty, but tight in its presentation and really the entire album felt like chasing after a girl only for her to end up breaking your heart. It's certainty an album I can see a lot of younger people identifying with, as it's something just about everybody goes through at some point.
Cool
Lots of style and charm, some fun percussion and textured guitars, and seems like it would have been a fairly fresh sounds for the time of its release. Probably sits somewhere in the middle for me - wasn’t something I connected to heaps but still pretty decent. Fave track: Kiss Off
Groovy but not super favourite
disappointed by the absence of actual femmes in this group. false advertising. i liked add it up and kiss off, and of course blister in the sun but i think everyone on the planet likes that song i think that’s kind of their one hit wonder gone daddy gone was good too. i just think it’s so annoying when these groups do pretty solid records and then there’s a track or several that’s just like “oh and also ain’t nothin sexier than an underage girl (:” [im looking at *you* mick jagger] stunningly nineties sound for a record written in [checks notes] 83??????
Eventough I am not a big fan of the bluesy riffs, there is something here. Some striking lyrics and melodies. The energy is also great.
VIOLENTO DEMAIS
Quite modern yet also quite 60s. Liked the first song on the album most, but probably because I knew it.
Sometimes it was just noise, but I didnt hate it.
Yea, pretty nice
Felt kind of immature to me, I don't really know why it struck me that way but I just didn't love the vibe.
a perfectly fine album for british guy's 1001 albums he personally loves list. 3.5 Gimme the car(no give me the car)
🔥
It’s cool. The two hits are where it’s at. Some of experimental ‘noise’ and purposely wrong note sections get tiring pretty quick.
Kinda feels like these guys walked so the Pixies could run.
The little ugly duckling
Lots of recognizable songs here. I like many of them. This record is anxiety inducing in a big way and I can't pinpoint why. It's heavy sounding but acoustic and electric with little to no distortion? The constant strumming? I just don't know.
Chouette petit album punk rock acoustique, mais sans plus. Par contre le solo de xylophone claque sa mère
Enjoyed it
I feel like better musicians and vocalists could have taken these songs and made them better. Not bad at its core.
2.5
Recognized "Blister in the Sun". Kinda jangly rock, felt like a bit of punk influence
Not big on the lyrical style, some fun ones but not for me
Full disclosure, the Violent Femmes were SO OVERPLAYED on the radio when I was a teenager and young adult, I got incredibly sick of them and would never voluntarily listen to this album. It did not age well for me. But listening to this, I was reminded how new and fresh this sound was when the album first came out. These guys paved the way for indie rock, for sure. I still don't plan to listen to this again, like, ever if I can help it, but I will acknowledge the influence they had on music. 3.5/5 in acknowledgement of the impact, rounded down to 3 due to tiredness factor.
Very good debut album. Im not the biggest fan of the Violent Femmes but I can understand why people in the alternative music scene love them.
Highlights: "Blister in the Sun," "Prove My Love," "Kiss Off," "To the Kill" Legitimately shocking that this came out in 1983, and that the vocal performances contain the entire bag of tricks seemingly directly copied by Frank Black, who would go on to be cited as one of the most influential artists of 90s rock. Still, Pixies did have their own contributions and ultimately made better songs and albums, in part because -- believe it or not -- their lyrics tended to be less scandalous. If you were put off by the lyrical content of Violent Femmes' hit single about pervert junkies, don't worry: almost the entire album spends its time dancing around the promotion of sexual assault! I mean, holy hell. Still, incredibly prescient and a clear link from Velvet Underground and Captain Beefheart to grunge and alt.
Definitely ahead of its time, pretty samey in the first half but nice changes in the second.
Very cool. I never gave them much thought past Blister in the sun.
Violent Femmes is the debut album by the American folk punk band Violent Femmes. Although never charting until 1991 when it was certified platinum, this album is certified platinum in the US, and is the band's best-selling record. This is an interesting early alternative rock album, as the band used minimalism to emphasize its acoustic bass riffing and a sense of urgency with their mixed-in punk rock style. This was a great cult classic album. It sounded underground while also being good enough to be on mainstream radio. I swear I've heard some of these songs before or at least the beats from them, but don't remember when. This is an awesome album for rock or punk fans, and a must-listen for anyone interested in music from the 80's.
Stand out track - blister in the sun
3.5/5 Best: Blister In the Sun Worst: To The Kill
Album was decent, but I had higher expectations coming in. Favorite track: Gone Daddy Gone
Blister in the sun is an iconic tune with a pavilion toe tapping quality. The album over all is fairly solid, I prefer the more upbeat songs. The album wouldn't be a regular repeat for me, but I appreciate it.
Very punky- can feel repetitive as an album but overall good and at time funny.
Such an odd listen. Definitely like it. They were a band more than Blister In The Sun for sure.
I can hear some indie roots from this album
Eh
Quite nice folk music
elsker første sangen, andre sangen er litt spess 3.6
Abbastanza carino, non credo che lo riascolterò
Enjoyed it
Folk. Punk. Somehow not a train wreck of a combination. It’s good, but not really my type.
Folk rock and punk fusion very nice
det här är ett sånt där album som lämnar en positiv känsla men som inte riktigt är tillräckligt bra för att nå upp till dom högre betygen.
It should be a 4 but I don’t see myself going back to this regularly. That makes 3.5 = 3
Of its time but a good listen and will give it another go.
Started off strong with blister in the sun. Great first song! Overall, it was fine.
I’ve heard this before. It’s aight, kinda fun. Blister in the son is pretty easy to play on guitar!!
Blister in The Sun, Add it up, Gone Daddy Gone all very good tracks. Group has fun bass - vocals are sometimes really cool and sometimes boring drivel.
3/5 or 7/10 Great listen first time through. Loved how they made acoustic music sound quite punk like. Vocals a bit prepubescent at times. Blister in the Sun = A masterpiece song
Good album
very repetitive and flat almost monotone melody. Not my vibe
i fine but i’ve heard it too much
Hated the first several songs. Second half had some cool sounds, especially on bass. Still don’t love the singers voice, but you know, les claypool was a not great either. Idk felt a little too chaotic in some parts but overall a great composition.
I've never really gotten the fuss about this album, apart from Blister in the Sun. I understand that it's an important early alternative album and would influence many bands in the years following. In retrospect though, it's a bit immature and boring in places.
This was not what I was expecting but it was good anyway, I don't know what I was expecting really
I only knew 'Blister in the Sun' before this, so I expected more of that - the rest of the album is more folk punk than I expected. An interesting listen, my top pick is 'Kiss Off' - I liked the bass work and energy.
really enjoy this, surprised at how solid and consistent this album is. kind of assumed this band was a one hit wonder. seems like prototypical 80s college playing hackey sack out on the quad rock.
I liked it. Didn’t particularly love it. Could possibly benefit from some more listens. I don’t know if I’ve ever listened to a fully acoustic punk band so the sound was very interesting to me.
I always kind of liked the Violent Femmes when listening to them at arms length - some memorable tunes, and lovely sound - but looking closely the songs are rather hollow. It's too snotty to be twee and it's too twee to be punk, and having their famous opener being pretty much an anthem for onanism, it gets old at one point or another.
Very plucking sound but good still.
Odd bird with good pipes
6/10 okay but not as good as I had hoped
5/10. "Oh wow, Blister in the Sun is such a great song, that must mean the album it's on is good too, right?"
Would make for a really tight 20ish minute album but ends up a little eclectic and annoying even over the original <40 minute length. Couple good songs. 6/10