Reviews (page 3 of 14)
Perfection
Classic. It's a wonderful trip down memory lane. I've been listening to this album since I was in 7th grade and I love it. I never realized how much it was probably an influence on Stephen Malkmus until this listen.
This is about as perfect a debut album as you can get. Something totally fresh and different at the time, and every single song hits. It's just packed with bangers. This album has had incredible lasting power over the 40+ years since it's been released. It was huge for me in high school, and I saw the band perform it live for it's 30th anniversary. An easy 5 stars.
Timeless. I had to double check the date on this because it could've easily been made in recent years. The music sounds so modern. Great record
Loved it. Punk/Folk combo worked well together. Really enjoyed the bass, it was fun and just kept me in a good mood
Listened to this in high school, listening again now in 2025. Still a great album.
Gg
Doesn't sound like anyone else, incredible
I’ve heard bits of Blister in the Sun hundreds of times. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard the whole song and I definitely haven’t heard the whole album, but holy shit it just keeps getting better and better! Favourite song(s): Please Do Not Go, Confessions
I loved this album. I have never heard of this band before, but I am glad I listened to it now. I get bored with 1980s music, so this was a nice change. Violent Femmes is very good.
4.5 - Great
Excellent album! The first track is remarkable
I did not use a private spotify session for this one. For whatever reason, I didn't think much of the Violent Femmes throughout the 80's and 90's. Sometime in the early 2000's, a then girlfriend left this CD in my car and I started listening to this album a lot and came to the conclusion that this album was just good fun, sometimes frantic, rock. I really like the Femmes now, listen to them regularly, even seen them in concert. Back to this album, it rocks. Where that CD is now, I can only guess because its gone, daddy, gone.
Banger city
Love this! Must have been an influence on pixies and white stripes
Loved it
I don't care what year it is, and how many other albums there are in the world. This album will always be ranked in the top 5! Does Gordon Gano often sound like Elmer Fudd? Sure. Is every song still a masterpiece? Absofuckinglutely!❤
Great album form the 80's. Takes ma back to my university days.
Didn't even have to listen to this as it's already one of my favourite albums of all time!
Releasing this album in 1983 is pretty amazing, getting the exact vibe of 90s grunge punk while flash dance was on the charts. I like the bass playing on this album. A perfect proto-pixies album.
Shazam
This album is incredibly charming. The bass player is absolutely fucking nuts on every track. I don't really have much else to say except it was super catchy and a fun listen
Fun album!
You cannot mess with Violent Femmes. One of the purest college music albums ever recorded. Alongside the instantly recognizable album cover, this album is an instant earworm anywhere you start the music. I forget what 8 was for.
Great album. The emotion on some of these, Add It Up in particular, is astounding. There are a lot of elements that make this stand out as well, like the xylophone on Gone Daddy Gone or the general bounce of the bass. Gordon doesn’t have the most conventional lead singer voice either, which is something that I had to get past many years ago, but it’s definitely worth it. I’ve never listened to this album in it’s entirety, and was caught off guard by the harmony on Prove My Love.
Good as hell folk punk. So many great tracks on here from start to finish.
One of those records that absolutely grips your attention because it was so different even from what was on college radio. Acoustic (mostly) folk punk? Who saw Blister In the Sun and Add It Up becoming the classics they are now? Some of us maybe… Highlight: Prove My Love combines elements of Beatles and Ramones to create something new but recognizable. Low lights: the spoken bit on Please Do Not Go sounds like a terrible Adam Sandler character impression. Which is impossible as it pre-dates Adam Sandler. So it’s possibly worse because it may have influenced Adam Sandler to develop that character voice.
It has one or two weak songs, but most of this album has songs I sing along to whenever i hear them. Blister, Kiss off, Add it up, and Gone Daddy are all mixtape or playlist staples. I'm not even sure how many times I've listened to this over the years.
This is such a fun album. Been listening to this a lot since high school, and always glad to give it another spin
These guys were so far ahead of their time that if I hadn’t known better I’d have thought this came out in the 90s.
Album 711 of 1001 Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes (1983) Rating : 4.5 / 5 Great album. Sorry that I didn't find it back in 1983. Love the acoustic punk. Blister in the Sun opens the album and it stays solid throughout. Highly recommend.
Classic! Saw these guys at Woodbury Forrest High School in like 96!
all time classic
Insanely good. I liked this record a lot as a teenager and I was getting really into Velvet Underground/Lou Reed around the same time, now I can hear the connection so clearly. I hear Bob Dylan style vocals too, man I wish I actually liked Bob Dylan I've forced myself to like him for the longest time because I just honestly like his vocal style a lot but anyway whatever pull it had on the sound here it works. Just one of those bands that every other punk or indie rocker teenager becomes momentarily obsessed with at some point in their journey and for good reason, perfect record.
I guess when you love an album as much as I loved this one when I was 17, that love stays with you for life. Because this album hasn’t lost a step after 30 years in terms of my estimation. Easy five stars. Rarely can music just instantly put me in a good mood the way the Violent Femmes can. Not only does this album not have a bad track on it, I’m not entirely sure it has a less than perfect moment for all of its 36 minutes. A masterpiece.
Excellent debut album! Violent Femmes encapsulated anxiety and awkwardness and turn it into an album that a lot of people can relate to.
Much better than what I recalled. Impressive.
One of my all time favourites :)
Such a vibe
Excellent, what a treat to revisit this album.
Here's an album I've known since I was 14, and was inarguably one of the gateway albums to my love of punk. Blister In The Sun, Kiss Off, and Add It Up remain timeless classics. How these songs still sound so aggressive, played on acoustic bass, a cocktail drum kit, and a guitar with virtually no fuzz is still a mystery to me. Proof positive that early punk was an attitude more so than a sound.
5/5 Classic
I love this album but I never listen to it for some reason
One of my faves
Perfect, beginning to end. I've listened to this album more times than I can count.
Raw and punk, but melodic and irrepressibly catchy. Only problem is I can't listen to it at work because I'll invariably end up singing aloud.
Wieder mal eine Gruppe von der ich noch nie gehört habe. Deswegen mag ich 1001albumsgenerator! Sehr gutes Gitarrenspiel.
this is hands down one of the best albums about being horny
Jim Carrey voice: I like it a lot!
Fun, perfect, just a fantastic LP all around
Ce son de punk acoustique est vraiment cool et assez unique. La progression de “Kiss Off”, le refrain de “Please do not go”. En fait leurs secondes voix donnent systématiquement envie de les hurler. Très attachant, même si des fois approximatif (du punk, quoi…), avec un léger ventre mou au milieu. Je fais une exception en prenant en compte “Ugly”, pas sorti sur l’album d’origine mais en single. Grosse énergie, pas loin des Undertones.
Grew up listening to this album...its brilliant. Boogie boogie indie rock.
Fantastic album. Great acoustic bass lines.
Monumental in my musical exploration. Thank you David Berger.
Sick
An all time classic
Genialt sutrete
Este álbum probablemente presente uno de los mejores acompañamientos que una persona puede pedir mientras transita su adolescencia. Y aunque quizá repite ciertos recursos musicales, cada canción es una obra maestra.
Has aged so insanely well for an 80s album.
No band has ever done more with less. A masterclass in spinning desperation and angst into gold, and most of it written before Gordon Gano could even legally drink. Honestly, it might be the best album ever written by a teenager.
Do you like American music? I like all kinds of music. But I like American music best.
Way ahead of its time, what a fun album. I love the xylophone on „Gone Daddy Gone” and Brian Ritchie’s acoustic bass. Favs: Blister In The Sun, Add It Up, To The Kill, Gone Daddy Gone
Every song was amazing. I loved every second of this album and will absolutely be coming back.
Fuck, this is one of the coolest albums we’ve had
Honestly, of you played this for me with no context I would have guessed this was much more recent than 1983 (positive). I like it, the sound is like early pop-punk. It's got energy, but it's tempered by the slower tracks. Some of the lyrics are absolutely deranged and at one point I was like "oh God, imagine if the incels discovered this!" But I still had fun and enjoyed the vibes.
Sounds like Lindsay Knapp’s basement back in high school while we worked on school projects together.
I really liked it. Makes me want to learn some of these songs on guitar.
When I first heard this album in the early 90s I could not believe that this album came out in the early 80s. It's a popular album but I don't know that it truly get the accolades it deserves for what it brought to the table for music. I'm sure you could name any number of albums that came out in the 80s and say that was a better album than the Violent Femmes debut but that said better album sounds like the time it came out. This eponymous album is mfing timeless.
Solid part of 90s grunge
Love this shit. Fav song was add it up.
This album had a huge influence on me in 8th grade, the year after it came out. The music, the lyrics, all of it. Hard to find a better debut album.
I still throw this one on from time to time and it instantly connects me to my awkward and angsty high school self. It’s a sing (or shout) a long classic filled with undeniable hooks and nervous energy.
I listened to this a lot in Middle School. I adored the goofy irreverence mixed with earnest emotionality, which perfectly sums up adolescence for a lot of us. I was surprised when I learned the year this album came out because it seemed so 90s to me at the time. It felt like it was recorded off the cuff and like it could veer off the rails any second, and the vocal delivery was so wordy and talky that I knew Gordon Gano must be a Gemini. This remains an odd little gem.
The soundtrack to my 14yo soul. I was listening to second- and third-wave punk, starting to dip my toe into the earliest of earlies, NY Dolls and the Stooges and the Sex Pistols. Chad Wiggins, three years older than me and a skinheaded black-booted tattooed (big deal in Vta for a 17yo then!) god who listened to KMFDM and NIN all this wild shit I still don’t understand, told me, “You like those guys, check the Femmes out.” I did and was like Chad wtf. And he said, “Listen to it again.” I did and was still like Chad I like it but I’m not sure I’m getting it? He said, “Go tell your punk buddies you’re listening to the Femmes.” I did and they were all lol faggot. Chad said, “Why do you think they’re like that?” “I don’t know. It’s pretty punk—it just doesn’t sound like normal punk.” “It just doesn’t sound like normal,” Chad said. “Don’t you think it’s weird that these guys who call themselves punk are scared of something that sounds different?” I literally wore out the cassette. I’m so glad this band exists and that Chad told me it was okay to love them.
Not easy to sound so effortless. Love this band.
yes
9/10… folk punk
Wonderful
I love it, it is so groovy, and I have so many memories of dancing Blister in The Sun. :)
Amazing songs. Great album.
I haven’t listened to this album in probably 30 years and I was surprised how good it was. Maybe because I wrote the Femmes off as haphazard. This isn’t strictly fair- this album is all very on-purpose. The lyrics are deft in a way I never previously gave credit for. And don’t get me wrong, I loved this album and listened to it a bunch back in the day. I just didn’t take it as seriously as maybe I should have.
fantastic.
What a great album. Blister in the Sun is obviously amazing, but so many of these tracks had me singing along and dancing. Absolutely loved it.
Classic album! You get the "good feeling" that this is what happens when you spend too much time busking on the streets of Milwaukee! (This is a total guess, but without looking it up, I think the Femmes did get their start by busking.) Love this high energy folk-punk weirdness. Every song is good here. Liked Songs Added: Blister In The Sun Please Do Not Go Add It Up Prove My Love Gone Daddy Gone Good Feeling Gimme The Car
Adolescent Angst: the Band
This album means a lot to me
This was more entertaining than I’d thought! Great songs and tunes on this one. Some songs sound like straight from the 50s with punky lyrics and some other do have that 90s feeling (even though this album is older)
Surprisingly great. Acoustic pop punk that must've sounded way before it's time, as it has aged really well.
What a debut album. I hadn’t really given this album a listen before and was so surprised, in a good way.
So peculiar for an album with standard instruments
Excellent album and a fun listen. Oddly enough this band comes off as a folk-punk, acoustic power trio of teenage angst, and they pull it off in style. I was sixteen when this album was released, and it fit my worldview at that time perfectly. It is still a lot of fun to jam out this one even now.
Someone called it Acoustic Punk and that's likely exactly the reason why I love this. With lyrics that are teenage frustration personified
Outstanding.
This album is absolutely timeless, as I never would have placed it in 1983. Punk, raw, alternative, and could have been released a decade or two later and fit right in. Blister In The Sun is classic, but I liked much of this album, including Gone Daddy Gone, Kiss Off, and Good Feeling. A coming of age album that is incredibly genuine.
Knew more of these songs than I expected. Loved it
Amazing, funny, and catchy indie rock that's reminiscent of 21 Pilots
What an album ❤️
My kids are going to think I'm so cool
I LOVE THIS ALBUM!!!! There no other album that sounds like, which is crazy because it is basically only vocals, hi hat, snare, acoustic guitar and bass. What is also insane is that this came in 1983. It sounds 10 years ahead of time. This album is so much fun, all the songs are so much fun to sing along too and have really great melodies and some witty lyrics. Their bass player is on another and is really what sells this album for me. The 4 track run at the start of this album is perfect and one of the strongest openings of all time. I love the harmonies in Please Do Not Go, the bridge of Kiss Off, and the main melody of Add It Up is so good. I really should try to listen to their other albums. High 5.
fantastic album. it's one I've been meaning to listen to for a long time after a lot of recommendations but I'm surprised at just how much I ended up liking it. bassist is great and the overall lyrics and vibes of every single track is on point. love it
5 stars, obviously.
good album he sasys swear words though thats bad
There's only one way this is going to go - 5 stars, despite staggering amounts of teenage angst :)
heel nice, lekker schreeuwen met soepele gitaartjes.
I’ve heard of the Violent Femmes before, specifically the song “Blister in the Sun” which I consider a bop. That song happens to be the first song of their self-titled debut right here. Much like the aforementioned song, this album is filled to the brim with folk-punk tunes, where the acoustic guitars are rollicking and playful alongside well-accented percussion from Victor DeLorenzo. Gordon Gano wrote in such a manner that this album maintains a high energy throughout its runtime. The only song I didn't immediately gel with was "To the Kill", though with a second listen I came to realize that the tonal dissonance throughout song is still mildly cohesive in its structure and actually pairs well with the perverse lyrics of the narrator thinking about killing. There’s a such a twisted fun nature throughout this album, and I have no doubt in giving this one high remarks. Check it out.
Everybody needs some accoustic punk!
I cannot believe it was published in 1983, so fresh. Could be yesterday
How does such an voice match so well with the music? It's dirty, greasy, & raw. Love it.
Taking too long again, Bill!
9/10
Strong week so far. Another epically important album. Bonus points for Milwaukee’s greatest alternative-folk-nerd band.
i've already listened to this album and i absolutely adore every second of it
It was fun! Felt like a pump up album for a young bachelor going to hit up the big city
Great
This is a fantastic album. Many of the songs I had heard and are great songs that got a lot of play. A few I had heard and forgotten but are very good too. The rest are also good songs. But I never listened to a whole album. It still sounds fresh in all its simplicity. It creates a sound that is unique, direct, and conveys the emotion of adolescence. A lot of it sounds heavily influenced by Lou Reed (the impact of whom I never fully appreciated until doing many of the albums from this generator). I also hear Bowie in some songs. I've always loved the use of the xylophone on Gone Daddy Gone; there's even a xylophone solo! The bass work that runs through the album is fantastic. I read some reviews online and several mention that it is an acoustic Punk album. It never struck me as acoustic but its true. How unique is that?!
own
Acoustic punk masterpiece. This is an album that I grew up listening to basically on repeat. Every song is a banger. It’s structured so incredibly well in the sense of how you listen to it. This is easily is my top five favorite albums of all time. It’s a rollercoaster of stress, hate, late, envy and melancholy wrapped into what I think to be a almost perfect experience. 10/10
It will always amaze me that this is from the early ‘80s.
Amazing album. I got to see it performed live from beginning to end last year.
very hard to write ab cuz the charms are so obvious, ig ill just say that this Kinda makes up for the whole metallica s&m thing...from washed out alt rock uncles to jittery lecherous teenagers channeling their experiences into punky folky songs that have the distance to achieve disarming humor but the intimacy to still feel like ur seeing something very special that ur lucky to witness. more then anything, one of the most immediately catchy albums ive heard in a good while. at some point ill accept that this rly is just My Genre
Great discovery! As I usually say: Punk fears nothing! Punk is not afraid of being pop, much less making songs without guitars or with almost no distortion. On the contrary, Punk is purely attitude! And this album has that. I would like to highlight the bassist's work on this album. It's been so long since I've been so excited about the sound of an instrument. Speaking of excitement, I must have listened to this album about 4 times in a row today. I really liked it a lot and it was definitely one of the best discoveries this year! 5 stars!
A guy I knew in high school gave me a copy of this on a blank tape. It was 97 or 98 and I had no idea who the Violent Femmes were. He offered it with no context or explanation that I can recall. One listen and I was sold. I assumed they were a 90's band cause it sounded relevant to that time - weird and quirky and alternative and all that. It wasn't until a couple years later when I actually went out and bought a copy that I learned that it was released in 82. The Violent Femmes were way ahead of the their time man. Probably a 4 or 4.5 for me cause a couple songs drag a bit, but nostalgia pushes this to a 5 today.
This was great. Lots of energy, lots of punky noises, but also somehow not as loud and abrasive as a lot of other punky stuff I like. I could listen to this over and over and not get bored.
Such a great album, and so far ahead of its time!
Love this album. Without this album what would we do for the soundtracks of films that star John Cusack? Seriously though, this album was a revelation. A doorway into a secret world of all age shows done by DIY bands all over the U.S. and U.K. An indie album that showed that all of the preconceptions could be thwarted. An acoustic punk album that pointed the direction of indie rock for the next three decades. An album whose song arrangements rocked layered with truly sincere, heart wrenching, and funny lyrics that didn't require a British accent, sneer, or guitar distortion to make them seem heavy. Pocket tight rhythm section that could walk that fine line of rocking and allowing space for the wonderful melodies and harmonies of the acoustic punk to shine threw like beams of moonlight. Recorded during the summer of 1982 in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, the home of Dungeons & Dragons. You can just imagine the legendary adventuring hijinks these guys were getting up to in-between recording and playing out. Amazing that these tracks were largely written and performed by a bunch of eighteen year olds.
Excellent album
Poh, dit is wel echt peak 80s alternative rock. Quirky, speels en ongemakkelijk op een aanstekelijke manier, maar ook bij vlagen venijnig en rauw. Een template dat de jaren 90 uiteindelijk tot iconische kunst verhief. De melodieën blijven hangen als een earworm, maar het zijn vooral de momenten waar zanger Gordon Gano het meest wanhopig klinkt die de plaat de meeste shine geeft. Het voelt een beetje als de missing link tussen 70s indie acts als Modern Lovers en jaren 90 Modest Mousey bands. De drive en de energie op het album pakt je in, en je wordt hier constant aan herinnert door de explosieve opbouw in de individuele nummers. Perfecte lengte ook. En 'Add It Up' is hands down één van de betere alt rock songs ooit gemaakt. 9/10 Highlights: Blister In The Sun Add It Up Confessions Gone Daddy Gone
Godsamme wat klinkt Violent Femmes heerlijk wanhopig. Love it. Er is een mooi clubje obscure bands met wanhopige zangers, vaak ook met (slechts) één goed album. Violent Femmes is er daar 1 van (net als Neutral Milk Hotel). Ik hoor verder veel Punk, zeker in het legendarische Add It Up. Maar ook het geluid van the Pixies en the Replacements is niet ver weg. Maar wat waren de Femmes er vroeg bij. De weg vrij voor veel meer Alt-rock in de nineties. Nog één shoutout op deze verder toch steengoede plaat; acoustic punk. Toch wel een personal favourite van mij. De punk energie en wanhoop vastgelegd met een (toch wat meer verfijnde) akoestische gitaar. Violent Femmes toont zich er heer en meester in. 8,5/10 Highlights Blister in the Sun Please do not Go Add It Up Confessions
what always draws me to this album is the folk-punk sound they created. it's biting, it's aggressive, it's... soft? i love that about it. the lyrics and songs remind me a little bit of the modern lovers, another band i like a lot. the whole album is just really fun, and a great take on a genre that can be a bit hit or miss.
I LOVE this album, it's so perfect.
Long loved this one.
I really enjoyed this. From the first song (which is the only one I'd previously heard) the album is strong. The lead singers voice it very unique and gives the album a very angsty vibe - in a good way. 80s emo-folk-punk? A win.
Add it up, promise, and blister definitely the stand out tracks for me but the whole album is a joy from start to finish as it was when I first heard it in the early 90s
An album that’s been there in different ways my whole life “Blister in the Sun” was one of my favorite songs as a kid, it reminds me of driving to school with my dad in the mornings, always delighted when it happened to be played. In middle school, talking to my best friend about how good of a song “Blister in the Sun” was. In college, downloading tracks from this album to my first iPhone And finally in my 30s, regularly enjoying full album listens. It’s perfect. It’s short, folksy, punky. The hooks are incredible and the lyrics are so fun. Every song demands to be screamed along to. Cannot imagine wanting more from a rock album.
Nerdy and immature, perfect for this brand of folksy punkish rock. Of course we all know the one song on here but the rest are equally as nerdy and absurd, I loved it.
this has XYLOPHONE SOLOS like what more could you possibly want!!! kinda wild it came out in the early 80s when it sounds like it was made to be the soundtrack to literally every cool alternative 90s teen movie
First heard this in the early 90s as a tewen and the Femmes were actually my first live rock gig. This is a cracker album. Not one had song! Although Side A is markedly better than B to be fair... All the bangers come right at you straight away. 4.5 stars (slight bias for nostalgic rating)
In high school, my friends used to play this album obsessively. We learned how to play it front to back, because it’s all pretty easy to learn and sounds good on an acoustic guitar sitting on the ground between rows of lockers. At the time, I felt like I liked this album, but I never loved it. Not as much as my friends, at least. Now — and maybe it’s nostalgia talking — I feel like I’m rediscovery a gem I previously underrated. Obviously, the singles are amazing and timeless, and I always had a soft spot for deep cuts like “Kiss Off” and “Add It Up,” but now I think most of the deep cuts outshine the singles! It’s an album with a specific energy and feeling, but the band does a LOT within that sandbox. I’m a sucker for a punk band with a vision, and while I kind of hate the scene that Violent Femmes inspired, this album is truly timeless. It’s a short and fun vibe that I think almost anyone can enjoy. It’s a little crass and a little snarky, but that’s mainly what I look for in an album, anyway. Great reminder to spin it more frequently!
Just an all-time favorite, so much uncomfortable angst with such exciting instrumentation and volatile vocals! I love every track on this thing and have been hooked on it for ages, rarely finding anything that scratches the same itch (even within their own discography). Plus I always associate Add It Up with Tony Hawks Underground 2 which gives this bonus points!
A classic. Saw them in a ballroom with about 500 people circa 1986
Wow this album was ahead of its time. Yet somehow it's exactly what you would expect to follow the punk movement of 1977. This album is more refined and still more punk than most punk. Easily 5 stars.
Awesome!
This album is packed with pretty much every Violent Femmes hit. Kind of sad for them, but totally a lightning in a bottle, flash in a pan kind of thing. Catchy, silly, fun album. A 4.5+ for me and my tastes.
Absolutely timeless.
Love this. Hadn't listened to the full album in a long time, so I'm glad this came up.
I knew I liked the Violent Femmes but I absolutely adored this. Rare that I give a 5 on this project but this deserves it. 5/5
It's weird, it's artsy and it kicks ass. They do so much, with so little. I love it.
Thick with college memories, and it still clicks.
Pop folk punk perfection. One of the greatest albums ever made front to back, not a weak song on the entire album.
That Banjo-Kazooie ahh xylophone solo in Gone Daddy Gone
This would have to be one of my top 5 albums ever. I remember being introduced to this by a classmate at college(high school for the USA people) whose older brother had a copy. 5 stars
Legendary release
Love it or hate it. Get it or think it is garbage. If you were a teenage boy in 1983 you probably love this album as I do. I think it is a masterpiece piece but this pretty much defines my middle school and high school years.
Awesome album, very unique. Acoustic punk rock?
Timeless
Why can't every album be 30 minutes of nothing but bangers???
Every song is great.
This sounds ahead of it's time, it is fantastic
Such a solid album, with so many distinct songs. A fun album, and xylophone (marimba?). You cannot fuck with the Violent Femmes! Ok, that's not on this album, but it fits.
This may well be up in my top ten albums, certainly in part for sentimental reasons. It definitely plays a role in the soundtrack of my youth. In high school I was the antithesis of cool, but I had a friend who drove an old yellow Saab with a broken muffler, and as soon as you heard that motor in the neighborhood, you knew she was coming to gather you and a motley group of friends and drive around town listening to this cassette over and over again while making fun of all the other "cruisers" on "the strip." For this while I felt very cool. The album was also very popular at my college and I recall one classmate whose claim to fame was having attended the same high school in Milwaukee as the Violent Femmes. When "Blister in the Sun" played at a party everyone would go nuts. Still I only ever heard this album as something friends had, rather than anything in the media. I think it was in the movie "Reality Bites" when I first heard a Violent Femmes song outside of my circles. It's been fun to hear it become a classic over the years, and it still makes me feel cool.
My sister went to music camp one summer. When she left for camp her favorite album was the Xanadu soundtrack and when she came back it was Violent Femmes and she thought it made her better than the rest of us. I hated it so as not to give her the satisfaction. But now I think she had a point. The tunes and lyrics are catchy and the acoustic sound is unique and intriguing. There are a lot of songs I really like on this album. I think there is room in this world for this AND Xanadu. Sorry sister.
Classic
Mood: grimy Setting: cleaning the house I had obviously heard Blister In The Sun before. I expected the album to seriously drop off after starting with that. However, I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed almost all of the songs.
Blister in the Sun is a classic song and a strong kick off to the album. I love the punk rock sound here. It makes me think this was probably a major influencer for some of the big 90s punk bands like Green Day and Blink-182. There's a folk type of flavor to it that makes it sound unique. Solid album front to back.
I had heard of the Violent Femmes before but I'd never listened to them or even knew what genre they are. I've clearly been missing out, thought this was brilliant! The first track sounded familiar but the rest was completely knew to me and right up my street. Fav songs: Prove My Love, Blister in the Sun, Promise
It’s great!
Fantastic album, sounds like it could be modern really enjoyed it.
Such a classic album. It traces the path from Television to the Pixies, and so much else in between and beyond.
This is a catchy album that definitely feels like the early 60s. I wasn’t living then but judging by the music, it was a real wild time baby. It’s a good album for what it is, but it’s definitely a one pony. Well nostalgic and interesting. Get pretty old pretty quick. 2 1/2 out of five.
Violent Femmes are great. This album has a ton of their classics and is solid from start to finish. Love it.
When it arrived on scene I was in a musically different universe and could not care less about this weird acoustic punk stuff. Now, more than 40 years later I am soo sorry not having listened to this in my younger days. Great songwriting, raw energy and enthusiasm and an artistic decision on sound that cannot be called but brave, I cannot but admire what the then 18! years old Gano has pinned down. Absolutely enjoyable from start to finish.
I don't think anybody has ever captured the feeling of being a horny teenager better than this album. I can feel the loneliness, sexual frustration and jizz-covered napkins through my headphones. Hypnotizingly unhinged. From the "one day away from a mental breakdown"-type vocals on "Blister in the Sun", to the crazy xylophone solo on "Gone Daddy Gone", this album is a fucking trip man. Like the musical equivalent of being held at gunpoint by some freak with his dick hanging out. We all know the feeling. It's either this or Metallica's "Ride the Lightning" for my top 80s album. But honestly, I keep forgetting this one's from the 80s, because it sounds like something that would get released today and nobody would bat an eye at it.
Xylophone Solo
Where it all started for a lot of bands - Violent Femmes tapped into an immense source of energy, and the result is a timeless classic.
Quite a few of my favorite artists wouldn’t have existed without Violent Femmes and this album in particular. Also, it’s nice to be reminded once in a while that “Gone Daddy Gone” wasn’t written by Gnarls Barkley.
All the way fun!
Vivid memories of curling my hair getting ready for high school while blasting this brand new album. I’m sure my mom was horrified. Probably haven’t listened to this album it its entirety since then but amazingly it holds up. Every album should have a xylophone solo.
Goddamn this album is great. I've been a fan of Violent Femmes for a long time (Blister is one of my go to karaoke songs) but I haven't listened to this album straight through in years. Every song is so urgent, the acoustic bass sound is so unique, and I just love every song here - this was a great reminder today to go back into their catalogue and rediscover some deeper cuts.
This is so unique, there is really nothing else that sounds like Violent Femmes.
Part of my college sound track
Cult classic.
Great album. Listened to it before. Love it
Fantastic album, you can hear how it influenced others.
The three singles stand out but still an early America alternative classic.
Just pure joy.
Listening to this one was like a night on the town! We are jazzed up and ready to go wild and by the end of the night slurring your words and rambling about not living in Chicago.
Great band! Love Brian Ritchie's acoustic bass playing. Gone Daddy Gone rocks that xylophone. This has been a favorite album of mine since forever. Add it Up & Blister are alternative classics. Prove Your Love & To The Kill are also tops. Easy 5 for me.
I gave this a triple listen and the more I listened, the more I wanted to be its friend. Blister in the Sun is a classic, and I knew a couple others, but the rest was new and fun to discover. Perfect blend of weird and catchy. Cool bass playing too!
A CLASSIC. Soundtrack of high school and of many other better times of life.
This is my jam! The perfect amount of punk and rawness while still being east to listen to
Quintessential album of my youth that still holds up today.
Love Love Love this album. 5 Stars!! Favorite Track is Kiss Off.
Oh! It's the Blister on the Sun guys... Oh. I thought this album was from the 90s. Interesting... Oh shit! This slaps... What's wrong with me!? How did it take me this long to listen to this album!? If I had to pick one genre that I universally love it would probably be folk punk. There's something about the careless approach, angst, simple melodies, and lyricism that just does it for me pretty much every time. I appreciate music with production value, but I'll take a sloppy ass punk album just about every time. This album just works on every level for me. The band is tight but playing so loose at the same time. Those bass lines are so juicy. Gordon Gano is a lovely little freak and his voice is perfect for this music. Love the drums and the way the band passes lines between them (sometimes Gordon ripping solos, sometimes Brian overplaying songs in the best possible way, sometimes just letting Victor take the wheel in drum breaks). What works the best for me is how much variation there is between tracks. Blister in the Sun to Kiss Off to Please Do Not Go to Add It Up is a journey and that's just the first four tracks. I can appreciate why people don't dig on this kind of music, but man is it my favorite. 5/5 stars. No question.
This takes me back. I had this in heavy rotation during college years, but haven't listened to it in a long time. It holds up really well; still sounds quite fresh.
6 STARS
Lol. Both P n I have owned this album since its release. Listened to it too many times to count. Love it the same today as we did back in the day. There are way more accomplished writers whom have reviewed this wonderful album. Easy 5 stars.
High marks for establishing a sound that's both distinctive (in a good way) and influential to heavy hitters that followed.
Greatest acoustic bass in all of punk rock.
I was going to give this 4 stars until I gave it a relisten. Most of the time when you strip all the noise, fuzz and feedback away from punk you end up with something very close to pop. This is different. So, so different. A unique album that's atleast a decade ahead of it's time. 10/10 a worthy successor to the velvet underground.
First time I heard this album was in tenth grade in the late 80s. It was the last day of school so we had a party in class and the students got to bring in tapes to listen to. We got to the part in "Add It Up" where he says "Why can't I get just one FU-" and the teacher jumped up shut it off before our young ears could get corrupted. Anyway, I didn't understand why I found it so compelling then, and I don't understand it now, but it really is. 5 stars
Take this, mix it with The Feelies and you’ve got yourself some Weezer, who is shockingly not included in the 1001 albums, by the way. Anyway, not sure why that’s the first thing that occurred to me on this listen, but I think this band had an outsized impact. This album is great. I hear early punk, Everly Brothers, all kinds of stuff in really simple acoustic arrangements.
Great songs
Violent Femmes' self-titled album remains as captivating today as it was in 2001 when I first heard it. Gordon Gano's country drawl and the prominent acoustic bass, high in the mix, create a unique and exciting sound. From the infectious hooks of Blister in the Sun to the introspective lyrics of Add It Up, each track leaves a lasting impression. This debut album stands as a timeless classic in alternative rock, blending punk energy with folk sensibilities and lyrical depth. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 7 STAND OUT TRACK - Please Do Not Go
Sehr stark
Love the rawness of this album. There isn't a bad song on it! Unique and fun and edgy and lots of other good things, too. More, please!
My brother introduced me to this album when I was 13 or 14 years old. It's been a while since I've listened to the whole thing. It holds up!
One of the best debut albums ever. The first 4 songs establish VF as the 80s foremost purveyers of teen angst. The playing is virtuoso level esecially Brian Ritchie's bass playing which provides the main melodic line of almost every song, with the guitar mostly providing colour. And the minimalist drumming is just....perfect. The naked bass line that starts out Blister in the Sun, tells you immediately that this is not your typical 80s band. A nearly perfect album for its time and place that somehow still sounds fresh and innovative today. Probably the easiest 5 star pick for me of any album on this list.
A classic handed down through the generations. I don't need to listen to this record to rate it because it has indelibly imprinted itself upon me. Let me be clear. I am absolutely listening to this record today but the five star rating is a foregone conclusion.
This was great. Of course I'd heard Blister in the Sun, and always assumed it was from the 90s. But the rest of this album was new to me. I'm usually not a huge fan of the more acoustic genres of punk, but this really maintains the rough edges of harder genres. Some of the tracks reminded me of the Modern Lovers, so between that and the ones that sound much more recent, I think the Violent Femmes really managed to achieve a timeless sound here.
Ah tätä parempaa teiniangst-levyä tuskin tiedän. Akustinen soundi toimii mielettömän hyvin eikä osoita kulumisen merkkejä. Varma 5/5.
Wasn't expecting a full on acoustic punk rock album but i was pleasantly surprised
this will go down on your permanent record
Brings me back to freshman year of college!! A classic. I like it more the older I get.
I've always described my music taste as folk punk, not knowing it was actually a thing. I've liked blister when I heard it, but never took time to check out the entire album. I really enjoyed this one and it's clear how it influenced the artists I've loved.
"Blister In The Sun" and "Gone Daddy Gone" are damn near perfect songs, and the rest of the album is great too. "Kiss Off," "Please Don't Go," and "Good Feeling" are also standout tracks. There really isn't a low moment on this album. Probably one of the best albums of the 80s.
Fantástico. Blister In The Sun.
Such a unique sound that was so far ahead of its time. This feels like a 90s album, despite nearly being a 70s album. The sparse, mostly acoustic instrumentation allows for a more raw feeling, that plays into the album’s heavily emotional themes.
Gear: Letshuoer S12 PRO Artwork: 👧🪟📸 Mix: 🎚️💩🎯 Music: 📝🤪🪄 Rating: 💢💢💢💢💢/5
Will always love this album, it took me right back to childhood!
This album lives in a special place in my Gen X heart.
Amazing album, I didn't know acoustic instruments could go so hard if you made them. Definitely can hear the influence that this album could have had on punk bands that came after. Will definitely come back to it again.
Never heard of them before, but the sound is really good, great vibes
Good
This one is a classic. I think I know it from beginning to end.
Great album
I've listened to this one! As a teenager in the 1990's I remember thinking this was something new. Songs off of it were popping up in places like MTV and later on some video games. Tony Hawk I think? Definitely heard a song on the 120 Minutes Live compilation album. Maybe some were on some movies or shows? I was totally shocked to learn many years later that it was from 1983. It always kind of amazed me how there's no kick drum. My brain just kind of fills in the gaps and imagines that it's there. Or maybe it's more that it's that the rhythm section fills that space so well I don't even notice the lack of a bigger kit. Impressive! Amazing album. I haven't listened to this album in years, but this time around the fantastic performance on bass really stood out for me. The vocal sizzle and fry on some of the edgier parts really sounded fantastic too. That stood out for me more than I remember. The tonal character of the vocals are just right. Love it!
Kiss off
Blister in the Sun, Kiss Off , Gone Daddy Gone- what's not to love?
Interesting - will be listening more!
It's the Violent Femmes. One of my favorite bands going back a long time.
Eu amei de paixão! Já entrou pra minha top bandas ahahaha
A true classic. Great songs, great arrangements and production. Every songs a singalong.
I don't think any other album I've listened to hits me i my personal punk sensibilities like this one. It makes me want to simultaneously start a righteous riot and be a brat.
It’s got a great beat, and it’s easy to dance to! 🕺
Beyond merely good- this is proto......well proto Indie at the least. Refreshing and quirky and...well just interesting. 41 years old and still fresh as a daisy.
Another classic!
Every time I give Violent Femmes' debut a listen, it's hard not to sing along from front to back. Despite some uncomfortably angsty, sexual lyrics, I can't help but join in. It's just that good. Gano can be singing the most pathetic, dumb-ass-teenager-brained lyrics, but the performance is so fun that he makes it sound cool. The grooves are extremely funky and a joy to listen to. Always loved this album, and the follow up is pretty great too. *Heard before.
An album of hits. What else can you say?
This created a new genre. Nothing has touched it since.
1. Lyrics The lyrical content of "Violent Femmes" is both introspective and rebellious. Gordon Gano's poignant storytelling shines in tracks like "Blister in the Sun," offering a glimpse into teenage angst and desire. The simplicity of the lyrics adds authenticity, resonating with listeners on a personal level. The witty and confessional nature of the lyrics establishes a unique connection with the audience, making the album a lyrical triumph. 2. Music The music on the album is characterized by its stripped-down, acoustic punk-folk style. The use of acoustic guitars, upright bass, and minimal percussion creates a raw and unpolished sound that sets the band apart. Songs like "Kiss Off" showcase the band's ability to merge folk sensibilities with punk attitude. The eclectic mix of genres contributes to the album's timelessness, making it a standout in alternative music history. 3. Production "Violent Femmes" embraces a DIY ethos, evident in its production. The lo-fi quality adds authenticity, capturing the essence of the band's live performances. The album's spontaneity and imperfections contribute to its charm. However, some may find the lack of polished production a drawback, especially when compared to more refined contemporaries. 4. Themes The album explores themes of adolescence, love, and rebellion. "Add It Up" delves into the complexities of relationships, while "Gone Daddy Gone" offers a departure into darker, bluesy territories. The thematic diversity adds depth, allowing listeners to connect with different facets of the human experience. The album's ability to capture the essence of youth and defiance remains one of its enduring strengths. 5. Influence "Violent Femmes" has had a profound influence on alternative and indie rock. Its impact can be heard in the works of subsequent artists, with many citing the album as a source of inspiration. The album's influence extends beyond its genre, leaving an indelible mark on the broader musical landscape. Pros Authenticity: The raw and unfiltered nature of the album contributes to its timeless appeal. Innovative Sound: The fusion of folk, punk, and alternative elements showcases the band's innovative approach. Enduring Lyrics: The relatable and evocative lyrics continue to resonate with listeners. Cons Production Quality: The lo-fi production may be a deterrent for those accustomed to more polished soundscapes. Limited Sonic Variety: Some may find the consistent acoustic sound limiting in terms of sonic diversity. In conclusion, "Violent Femmes" remains a cornerstone of alternative music, celebrated for its authenticity, innovation, and lasting influence. While its production may be an acquired taste, the album's lyrical depth and musical prowess solidify its status as a classic.
Oh to be 15 again so I could hear this for the first time.
I know every word of this album. I've played it more times than I can count. A classic from my youth. ❤ 🔥
Fantástico. Blister In The Sun.
Wow, guitar and bass tones are dirty perfection. Will come back to this to reference. Such an awesome album
Ese momento que empieza la canción y te das cuenta de que obvio, la conocés... Una grata sorpresa :) Me encanta las vibras de "grabamos esto en el garage de uno de los de la banda". Las letras tienen honestidad y ganan puntos por demostrar esa genuidad adolescente que no se preocupa por la perfección ni por la grandeza, solo quiere subsistir. Me hubiese encantado este album de más chica. Es la frescura y la simpleza; canciones que en una vuelta ya cuentan sus secretos, pero todos entendemos la profundidad de esta generalidad.
Never gave this a front to back listen. Fantastic.
This is nice. Never listened, never knew how old this album was!
This album holds up so well and is always a fun listen.
Absolutely fucking loved it!!! I’m honestly to listen to this album. It’s got the crazy, the loud but also thé emotional aspects of what music can be.
Incel coded perhaps… but i *am* in my incel arc. Totally understand why someone would hate this. But the raw recording and singing style i think perfectly fits with the subject matter of the album. Its weird and zany and creepy at times but it just somehow does it for me, with some truly banging tracks.
This is great! I've heard a couple of songs before but not the whole album.
OK, damn, that's a STRONG open. 1983??? I could have sworn this was a late 90s belter. Kickass front to back. Very cool.
Love this album. Such a weird and fun band. Fantastic songs throughout with one or two mediocre. Repeats: blister in the sun, add it up, prove my love, gone daddy gone, Skips:to the kill
Esta muuuuy cagado este album. Muy bien hecho, eso si. Se nota que estos weyes querian hacer algo raro y chistoso, pero bien hecho y les salió. Letras muy cagadas y en general buenos elementos musicales: arreglos muy chingones, progresiones armónicas con sentido, elementos ritmicos muy catchy's, atonalidades que hacen raro el album (que de eso se trata) y todo muy bien hecho en general. Aparte se ve que estos weyes se la pasan de huevos haciendo su música y eso vale oro.
One of my favorites. Big angsty teen vibes
Such a cool album
This is dark... On the other hand, it is unbelievably catchy. Weird, but beautiful. I don't know. It is totally out there. I love it. 5/5
Its dancy, its prancy, its got a vibe. The singers voice is so fitting for this brand of goblin music. The band brings an unforgettable bop to the mix. Its juvenile, but timeless. 10/10
Fucking great
So good
Amazing, one of my favourite albums. Such a unique combining of punk and folk.
The best of the 80s.
Greqt
Punk album without the typical punk sound. Captures ‘80s teen angst as good as anything ever has. Gordon Gano is a weirdo but also a genius. Side 1 is all highlights. Side 2 almost as good. If you want to hear the evolution of punk and alternative in the ‘80s, this is it.
I just love it so much.
good album, all the songs sound the same though. not a bad thing
Always loved the album. Also have it on vinyl.
👍
Lowfi but fun album. I had not listen to this in over 30 years, it was great to reconnect with it
solid from start to finish—there’s not a bad song on the album. love
One of the best albums of all time.
Fantástico. Blister In The Sun.
The self-titled debut album "Violent Femmes" by Violent Femmes is an indie rock classic that has left a lasting mark on alternative music. Released in 1983, it's a raw and unfiltered expression of youthful angst and energy. Tracks like "Blister in the Sun" and "Add It Up" are iconic, known for their catchy hooks and clever, often introspective lyrics. The album's production is intentionally minimalistic, relying on acoustic guitar, bass, and snare drum, which enhances its DIY charm. It's a punk-folk fusion that's both accessible and rebellious. "Violent Femmes" remains a seminal album in the world of alternative and indie rock. Its honesty, quirkiness, and timeless sound continue to resonate with fans and inspire new generations of musicians.
Absolutely essential album for me. The Femmes opened the door to so many other bands in my youth.
Well, I am not at all displeased by either the inclusion of this wonderful album on the list, nor that I have been asked to listen to it again. Massively influential, massively good, this album makes me happy in a way few albums can. There is a hint of creepiness and desperation to this album that never quite makes itself unpleasant. This is probably helped by there being just so many good, brain-invading tunes. There is just so much to love about this. It's great, and easily gets top scores from me.
Classic fun record
The. Best.
Very collegiate and unpolished but not in a bad way. The xylophone solo on “Gone Daddy Gone” is sick and the production on the percussion is great overall. Honestly a really pleasant surprise.
Starts strong, remains strong throughout.
Blister in the Sun- 5/5 Kiss Off- 5/5 Please Do Not Go- 4.8/5 Add It Up- 5/5 Confessions- 4.9/5 Prove My Love- 5/5 Promise- 4.7/5 To the Kill- 4.9/5 Gone Daddy Gone- 5/5 Good Feeling- 4.6/5 Ugly [bonus track]- 4.8/5 Gimme the Car [bonus track]- 4.6/5 Total- 4.9/5
I’ve heard Blister in the Sun before, but not any of the others. I really dig the sound, it slots into the right kind of whiney for me to enjoy.
Punk and folk always seem like two genres that just won't blend, but on the back of this clearly they're meant to be. Has two of the best songs ever on it
I love this record. The male point of view on all aspects of love! Fun and twisted and sad and happy. Great!
One of the best debut albums of all time! Some classic tracks and so much relatable emotion. I've always loved this album.
One of the first CDs I ever owned. Funny enough I only listened to it all the way through a few times. I think this is because my music tastes weren’t quite mature enough for this as a child. However, blister in the sun is easily one of my favorite songs of all time. This album defined what it meant to make Cool Music. It is the hard to believe that this came out the 80s because the stuff could have been made yesterday and people would geek out over it. What a truly revolutionary album.
Top 5: Blister in the Sun, Kiss Off, Promise, Gone Daddy Gone and Good Feeling. Alpha.
🥊🧍♀️☠️ 👩🦼 5 out of 5 battered women
I haven't heard this in a long time. Still awesome.
Love this album. Kiss Off, Add It Up, Promise. Shocked that this came out in 1983. Pioneered an early 90s folk punk.
love love love this album
Packed full of excellent songs, dirty and raw and neurotic. It really feels like it fits right in the 90s alternative era - but it came out 10 years earlier. Truly before its time.
First of all, I thought Blister in the Sun was performed by a different band.. in the 60's... Second of all, I thought Violent Femmes were a different band altogether. It was like listening to a band from the 60's or 70's, but with early 80's raw punk attitude. Wikipedia says they're "folk punk", so yeah that checks out. Very interesting piece of music history here.
Original and just plain fun. It’s really held up well over time. It’s acoustic punk power pop!
This was awesome. I only knew the first track but I was hooked throughout the album. This acoustic punk sounds like music “anyone could make” but I mean that in the best possible way. The 50s influence was fun to hear as well.
Oozing with quality. Nothing has ever been so much more than the sum of its parts
This was an amazing album! I didn’t realize how many Violent Femmes songs I already loved. Great vocals and vibe to this record.
I hope you know this will go down on your permanent record.
80
What a fun album! Listening brought back several friend memories, so this was a joyous listen. I'm also impressed this was their debut album. Aside from the pop hit Blister in the Sun, Add It Up, Kiss Off, and Gone Daddy Gone are my favorites. Seeing them live three times has been a real treat. They've been performing for decades, and you can tell they still love what they do. 5 outta 5.
Add it up