Reviews (page 6 of 14)
Solid
I kinda didnt like it at first but there IS something special about the album and its really hard to rate. I like weird songs like confessions. 3.5/5
🗣️LET ME GO OOOO-ON This album is so good, you can tell they had a lot of fun making it. It’s so rhythmic and catchy Fav songs: Blister In the Sun, Gone Daddy Gone
I've never heard the album before but I do know one or two songs. _Blister in the Sun_ in particular was a staple in early 90s alternative club scene and so much so, I thought that it was a 90s song! It wasn't until much later that I found out it was a decade old and it's taken me until now to actually listen to a whole album. This sounds very much ahead of its time, sounding like a sort of proto-alternative and you can very much hear the influence on bands that would come a decade later and throughout the 90s, even into the 2000s with sounds like folk punk, alt rock, college rock and even grunge and pop punk. There's several great tracks on here including _Kiss Off_, _Add it Up _, and _Good Feeling_ but it's hard to look past what has becoe an anthem of sorts and is my fave track… Blister in the Sun
Out of time. A nugget of many carats.
This album takes me back to when I was 15 in 1991… I remember listening to it with my hoodlum friends; feeling like I was breaking some unwritten rule of what I was/was not allowed to listen to (which didn’t actually exist). I miss that time… I wish I could talk to 15 year old me. Anyway, it’s a great record… but “Blister In The Sun” is completely played out.
My mom recommended me this years ago. Became significantly less interested when i found out there are no women in the band it was pretty good. folk punk is a cool genre
i was prepared to dislike this one, but much to my surprise, i enjoyed it. this is probably more of a 3.5, but what the hell, i'll round up. i'm also shocked at how modern (well, relatively) this sounds. maybe this is just a really good remaster? but i would've guessed late 90s just based on the sound. wow.
cool album with some solid tracks. feels like a pretty unique sound for the time period, which i DEFINITELY thought was the early 90s until a few days ago. maybe it's ahead of its time, or it just doesn't sound like anything else going on in popular music. the closest genre i can think of would be folk punk. (checks wikipedia) ok yeah they are 100% folk punk lol. favorites: blister in the sun, kiss off, add it up, prove my love, gone daddy gone, good feeling
I had "Add it up" growing up which I believe is a best off. There are many songs from there on this. Great album.
Who doesn't love Blister In The Sun? Rest of the album was good, but not near as great as that opener.
Gen X Roll Call! Quiet rage, sarcastic self-deprecation, kind of inappropriate, and a bit off-key. Good stuff.
Love the Femmes.
Old school punk
I'm a big Pixies fan and never really listened to Violent Femmes. Have to say that this feels like something that I'd been missing out on. It's grunge, it's surf rock, it's folk. It's a solid 40ish minutes of great music. It's why I listen to this list and I'm really pleased about it.
Good album, had heard it a long time ago, always forget to put it on, lead track is a mainstay in just about every playlist on my Spotify TBF.
How did I miss this album. Didn't know there was a genre for acoustic folk-punk. I like it.
Turns out I have liked Violent Femmes for years, since 1997 probably as that is when Grosse Point Blank was released. I love that movie and I love “Blister in the Sun” which features in the soundtrack. Thing is, I never went beyond that, and I have to look the band’s name every time I hear the song. “Blister…” is the opener and the best song on here but it is a really good album. Acoustic punk, delivered in a busker fashion. There is a lot of space in the arrangements and the sound is really clear. You can hear the acoustic guitar (and yes there are some electrics on here too), the crack of the snare drum, the click of the individual strings on the upright bass (one on the great revelations), all topped by Gordon Gano’s fragile, quivering, shaky vocals. I really enjoyed this. Unusual stuff.
Not my cup of tea, again. Do people genuinely like this kind of music?
Just so much better than all of the similar stuff being put out in this era. Like, leagues apart.
Their debut album. Acoustic Punk !? Ha ! And a Xylophone. Blister In The Sun - Classic opening track. This sounds like an album from 1993 not 1983. Kind of ahead of it's time. Add It Up - liked this one. Very Punky. This album is a great expression of teenage angst and frustration. Very alternative given the 'synth pop' of the time. This.predates the slacker, Gen X, Grunge, Fuck You movement that was to come.
Blister in the sun is a perfect song. Some other good things on this one too
Good album, solid early 80’s music definitely in my wheelhouse.
Enjoyed revisiting an oldie but a goodie
-blister in the sun
Very nostalgic! Also a lot of noisy songs :)
I've always loved Violent Femmes
Fav songs: Add It Up; Gone Daddy Gone "Blister in the Sun" is fine but overplayed. I saw VF in concert in college. It was the mid '90s so they were already washed up. The angriest acoustic band ever. I hope they have found peace. And got laid.
Ahead of its time.
although different to what i listen to, it somehow feels very familiar. obviously there’s some songs of theirs i’ve heard from them, but even then i felt a familiar feeling.
Really enjoyed this one and will come back to it. Full of energetic quirky songs and great (acoustic?) bass sound.
In 1983, when my cousins from Wisconsin visited and let me have their dubbed tape of this record, it was like this strange funny angsty world opened up. Acoustic punk plus teenage romanticism and naivety caving in to sex and death and drugs and rage--but in a good way. Wore the tape out. Bought my own. And I still love the violin solo on Good Feeling.
I could easily see myself not liking the almost spoken style of the singer, but actually it gave it some kind of charm. Good baking soundtrack
Underrated album. Chock full of jams
Very forward-thinking and ahead of its time for sure. Honed the acoustic vibes that would go on to influence 90's and 00's indie rock. Best tracks: Please Do Not Go, Add it up (shout-out T.H.U.G 2 soundtrack), To The Kill
Super super fun. Feels ahead of its time kinda like something u could see at a house show in Boston lmao. Last song was beautiful
Weird voice and rag tag sound is how I just described them to Gideon and I like it a lot. Almost 5 but I gotta be pickier and there were some songs that were weaker.
Set up a generation for intro to alternative and indie music.
começou blister in the sun e fui acometido por súbita nostalgia (novamente) esse é bão
ou blister in the sun eh BOA DEMAIS gostei muito mais do resto do album do que das primeiras vezes que ouvi, inclusive. o início do folk punk que não eh mto pra mim mas eh apreciável!!
I absolutely love the "heaviness" they create without loud drums/cymbals or heavy guitars, it's really clever and sounds sooo cool. My closest album to a 5 so far but not quite every song was super.
i don't remember caring about this much when it came out, but why do I know all the lyrics to all the songs by heart? Most perplexing.
Me gusta mucho el estilo de esta banda, como para escuchar mientras haces el desayuno un domingo donde ya no tenes parciales, tenes a tu gente cerca y feliz, tus mishis se están estirando con las patitas para adelante esperando que le rellenes el tarro de comida.
Me gusto bastante, seguimos con la onda ochentera
Para escuchar jugando al Tony Hawk teniendo 8 años Asi que lo voy a escuchar jugando al remaster del Tony Hawk Me gutó
Violent Femmes's singer has that midwestern vocal fry that I've come to love in Modern Baseball's Jake Ewald and the group have the sonic stylings of Iceage (this album gave me Plowing Into The Field of Love vibes). This is clearly the precursor to shit that I REALLY love. 4/5
A solid record. Simple, but fun and often wacky or silly which I always appreciate. 7/10
A good album. Have been aware of a few of the tracks for years but never listened to the entire album. Blister in the sun is still awesome though.
A lot of similar feelings right now
I need to spend more time with this album but it’s definitely my wheelhouse
Great album. Feels like they could have been a big influence on the Pixies, and if so thank you for your service. I feel like Violent Femmes are a band that I forget about, but I’m always pleasantly surprised by their deeper catalog when I give them a spin. Maybe a slight victim of overplaying on their bigger hits, although the hits are still great. Really just a fun album all the way through. 9/10
Solid album really portrays that teenage angst well
I... like it? The music and singing are "not good", but that only makes it better
30/06/2025 I didn't know what to make of this album when it came up, it was alright.
Incredible album!
Very decent. Low-fi. Reminds me a bit of Pavement. Would listen again.
such a great album. I didn’t know a lot of the songs, but they were all awesome. When you start your first album with “blister in the sun”, you know you’ve got a great album.
Legend
Really fun and angsty, loved the vocals in particular. It’s in the most part pretty straightforward with its lyrics but that’s also why I like it. But imagine my surprise when I found out that there’s no femmes in the band violent femmes
Enjoyed this. Never heard of this band, but the first song was familiar. Different and definitely something that deserves to be on the list.
How have I never listened to these guys more. This is pure genius
It has that cliche rock N roll nostalgia feel while also having that folk tinge to it that makes it feel unique.
Kicking off with Blister in the Sun! Wow!
Good one
Really interesting lyrics and message. pretty funny. really good music
Great album! Very good songs and it was all pretty much what you would want to hear From the violent femmes!
Ahh! So violent my ears are bleeeding. 😐 Rhcp but they’re not as excited or maybe more excited
A laugh riot. Some of these lyrics are flying a little too close to the sun (this is going on your permanent record, dont be distressed, im impressed!), the angst can be overwhelming and I really should hate the nasally whine of the singer's voice, but these things totally work together when arranged just so. In that way it reminds me of The Flaming Lips. Good stuff.
Yesterday I bemoaned Chvrch=@#s inability to put out anything of substance using all the gear money can buy. Today Violent Femmes turn up to prove my point, gutting every bit of heartache and emotion, every ounce of rock’n’roll, punk, rockabilly, surf, blues, country and folk rock spirit out of what sounds like a load of broken jug band instruments recorded on a potato. This unassuming album doesn’t look like much at first, but it will take you on a massive journey.
Post punk via Lou Reed
I hope every young music fan still has a Violent Femmes phase. And grows right out of it.
3.5 round up
Classic, good mood, i like it
I wasn’t familiar with any songs except Blister in the Sun but really enjoyed the album, adding 8 of the 12 tracks to my favorites playlist. 4.5 rounded down.
Topp!
Way better than I was expecting. 4 stars, but could go higher on relistens.
Great album! Blister in the Sun was well known, but everything else sounded fresh to me. Excited to listen again. 8/10
This album is super cool and unique. Enjoyed t more than I expected
That was great fun. Bolster in the sun is a great opening and then I was in for the ride. I'm sure I'm not alone in finding out that Gone Daddy Gone is not a Gnarls Barkleytrack!
Simple guitars and vocals plus some really interesting bass riffs make for a fun listen!
As one of my wife's college friends said about the Femmes, "I can respect their lack of talent." On paper, they don't line up with what I should like particularly. And I sure didn't like them much in jr. high/high school. But they've grown on me, for whatever reason. And there are some standouts that I always enjoy on this album. So they get 4*. I can't explain it, but that's the way it is with me.
Good fun. Think every indie rock band in the world has gone through a couple of copies of this one. Drags a bit towards the end, but still really worthwhile angst and xylophone!
I already like this band, but the tracks I didn't know were consistently good. A solid listen if you can take that much horny shoegazing.
Wasn’t expecting much considering the first song is one of my least favourite songs in the world, but I was quite impressed nonetheless with the quality of the rest of the album.
Was really suprised at the amount of songs I knew and liked were on this album
Really vibe with this. It sounded like the band was having a lot of fun with this album. I am probably gonna pick this up in vinyl because I enjoyed it so much. I want this type of energy and enjoyment for any songs that big Marlin makes
this album was fun, loved Blister in the Sun was singing it in the car w my dad haha Not much else to say honestly but I’d give it 4 stars
Absolutely loved this album. I love the frenetic jittery energy. The weird riffs and of tempo singing is really fun to me. It leans more on its energy and lyrics than worrying about singing on key or in time. I think I'll like this album even more with repeated listens. Highlights: Blister In The Sun Confessions Good Felling Gimmie The Car
Very surprised with how much I liked this one. Off the bat I knew that song but didn’t know where it was from. Crazy to think it’s almost half a century old. Some of the other songs on the album were eh but I liked the overall vibe. Specific rating - 4.0 Fav song- blister in the sun Least fav- gimme the car
When I first listened I found the singing really annoying on the first three songs and then from Add It Up onwards was having a lovely time- and then I listened again and the vocals on the first three weren't any different to the rest of it (expect the "bye bye bye"s on Please Do Not Go- still too whiny). Really liked almost all of it in the end (second listen). Favourite: Prove My Love or Ugly Least: Gimme The Car
Don't know how I missed this at the time. Blister In The Sun and Add It Up are the highlights, but enjoyed the whole album. Love the prominent bass, and the general DIY feel of it.
This was a real surprise. Didn't know any of the songs except Blister in the Sun. I feel like this is a band that lots of other more current bands would site as an influence (Cake, etc)
I think it’s very iconic this came out in the 80s. No one sounded like that!!! Good for them.
Альбом понравился. Фолк/панк/пост панк про подростков.
Бодренько, мне вполне норм, на 4+
++: Blister in the Sun, Please Do Not Go, Add It Up, Confessions, Prove My Love, Promise, Gone Daddy Gone +: Kiss Off, Good Feeling +-: To the Kill 8,5/10
I don't know how I hadn't listened to this before. Velvet underground meets punk. Fun!
Loved it, great to listen to
yay. a gift for my last day of school blister in the sun- 8 kiss off- 5 please do not go- 8 add it up- 6 or 7 confessions- 8 prove my love- 7 promise- 5 to the kill- 5 gone daddy gone- 6 good feeling- 5
Unique, ahead of its time, sad, funny. This album is so many things. I love it
Fun record. Different for its time. While they have some hardcore fans I'll likely not return to the album.
Very interesting album. Kind of off-kilter but it works. Same goes for the singing. Not technically great but suits the music. Favorites: Blister in the Sun, Confessions, Gone Daddy Gone, To the Kill
Was pretty fun. I've heard too many cover bands cover "Blister in the sun", and would gladly never hear the song again. But the rest of the album was interesting.
Love the sound and energy but the constant “no one loves me wahhhhh” whininess gets on my nerves
Good voice, great opener
I got really into this a few years back, but I find it a bit more grating these days. The overplaying of the first 15 seconds of blister at sports games does not help. But a lot off the back end of the album that people mostly don't listen to is quite good. And there's some pretty innovative stuff here. To The Kill, Gone Daddy Gone, I think they'll round it up to 4 stars.
Not all punk goes hard.
fun and jammy. what’s not to like
Solid, esp the first track
A few good bangers on here, added to the regular rotation
I thought it was cool when I first heard this album 30 odd years ago, and I think it's cool now.
Dug this album. Great mix of pleasing, acoustic melody and funky, off-beat shenanigans.
So many catchy songs on this album. A bit on the bizarre side but it worked.
It shouldn’t work this well but it does. Brilliant.
A very nice surprise. Creative and engaging and sounds very fresh even 40 years later. Love the combination of acoustic sound with aggressiveness. I will be putting this into my permanent rotation.
What a hell of a debut album. Usually I don't love the spoken, barely considered singing, style lyrics but it really works for the Violent Femmes. Their style is so unique and so catchy you just can't stop listening. The bass in "Please Don't Go," and the rest of the album, is fantastic. The whole album is full of cool ups and downs in tempo and in emotions. Highlights are "Blister In The Sun" - of course legendary - "Add It Up," "Prove My Love," and "Gone Daddy Gone" - that xylophone solo is peak I'll admit I've never listened to this album and I feel like I should have, like, 20 years ago. I'm sad that it took me this long. It's got so much feeling and character and just good tunes. I think this is very close to being a perfect album. The back half of the album lags a little and the vocals don't really change up enough and that makes a couple songs feel kind of flat (like "Promise" and "To The Kill"). On my first listen though I'd put it at 4.5 stars but I think this is an album I truly will listen to again and will probably be a favorite after a few listens.
I thought these songs were from the early aughts ahaha
rawh
I found this pretty enjoyable and a bit annoying at the same time - which is honestly kind of my thing 😅 Extra star because the bass player lives in Hobart
Reminded me that I like dancing to this style!
4 stars. Only because I hate Blisters in the Sun.
Vilken positiv överraskning. Från första låten, i princip rakt igenom (någon dipp). Det känns som en "modern" skiva, iaf inte ett 80-tals sound. Sen hade jag ingen aning om att Gnarls Barkley gjort en cover to Gone daddy gone, väldigt skoj att göra originalet. Som de inte ändrat på särskilt mycket.
Det är inte alltid fantastiskt rent musikaliskt, exempelvis sången lämnar en del att önska, men det är ändå fartfyllt, kul och bra energi genom hela plattan, så blir en fyra åt det svagare hållet.
I like that this has a sound that isn't stuck in 1983. It has a freshness that isn't caught just in that decade. If I can offer a negative, it sounds a bit samey in the middle, before there are some tonal/tempo changes around "Gone Daddy Gone" (killer xylophone solo!) and the slower-paced "Good Feeling." This is an album that I always should have listened to, and now I'm glad I did.
Rawly spirited Busker like revolution For stripped down alt rock
Angsty and horny teenager vibe. Sounds like pavement but somehow ten years earlier.
Really solid album. Has a few filler tracks, but it makes for a solid listen.
"Violent Femmes" is the debut album by American folk-punk band the Violent Femmes. Folk punk, post punk and alternative rock are the Wiki-listed genres. Those are about right. Most songs were written when songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist Gordon Gano was in high school. Other bandmembers included Victor DeLorenzo (drums, backing vocals) and Brian Ritchie (bass, xylophone and backing vocals). The album is the most commercially successful album in the Violent Femmes' history having sold 3 million albums up to 2016. A guitar riff, two beats on the drums, the acoustic bass comes in and we're off with "Blister in the Sun." Antsy, anxious vocals. A frantic rhythm section. A soft-loud-soft dynamic. Gano said this was about drugs not masturbation...Hmmmm. Great song. Well, in song #2, "Kiss Off," Gano is popping pills for for life situations he encounters. Snotty vocals. That acoustic bass again. Here's your exhibit A for folk punk. Gano starts "Add It Up" singing a capella and repeating "Day After Day." The band enters with a pounding rhythm section. Teenage frustration. At this point, classic lyrics as Gano counts one to eight and gets more frustrated with each number. In case you thought the Femmes couldn't rock out, Gano gives a great electric guitar riff in "Promise." Their most rockin' song and she's definitely unhappy. "Gone Daddy Gone" proves that a xylophone can be used to primarily drive the melody in a rock song. Not one but two xylophone solos. Another thumping rhythm. A haunting vocal chorus. Going to college in the middle to late 1980's in the US, this album was pretty hard to avoid. Teenage angst with sexual frustration, drugs and girls. Snotty, whiny at times vocals with catchy choruses and melodies. There's an anxious urgency to this album that's hard to ignore and I'm not sure the band met it again. I've always like this album quite a bit and enjoyed it again today.
Rock duro y con temazos potentes. De las damas violentas conocía solamente Color Me Once, que me parece un temazo, pero este disco está lleno de canciones mucho más hard y que casi todas me gustaron mucho. Gran disco, escucharé más de ellos.
proto NMH
Strong opening with "Blister in the Sun" which instantly flashes me back to being 15 years old, despite the fact that I was born in the 90s. I'm looking forward to listening to the whole thing, because I actually own this album on vinyl and am embarrassed to admit I haven't listened to the whole thing yet. I have too many other good vinyls to listen to which catch my attention before this one did, unfortunately. Okay, the first few songs have held up to that standard....and "Add It Up" is my favorite Violent Femmes song. It's fun punk rock with a lot of personality. It's got the electricity of a young band early in their career getting pumped that they might be able to make their own record. Now that I say that, I should look up if this the first album or not...but either way it's got that energy. "Confessions" is a little sad for my taste, on this particular album. "Prove My Love" is so good. So good. It's funny after listening to Buddy Holly a few days ago, the secondary backup singers reminded me a lot of the Crickets. Fun. "Promise" is also great. I sort of felt like it was a follow up song to "Prove My Love." Okay I got distracted during the rest of the record. But I enjoyed it, it's fun and would definitely listen again. I need to pull out that vinyl!
Deserves to be up there as a classic album IMO. 8/10
What a great name for a band. Never heard of these though I think I've passively heard "Blister in the Sun" before. Pleasantly surprised.
Is 'Blister in the Sun' the earliest released song to sound like it was released in the 90's?
Tried to download this off Limewire back in the day. Frustratingly only managed about five or six songs. Good to finally catch up with the whole thing. Blister in the Sun is the sound of summers I wish I had as a teenager.
You can really hear how Violent Femmes helped lay the groundwork for the ‘90s alternative sound; raw, stripped-down, and full of attitude. Beyond its influence, the album itself is packed with great tracks, balancing angst and playfulness in a way that still holds up. A classic that deserves its reputation.
This one was interesting. The sound ended up feeling very contemporary rather than from the 80s, reminding me of some folk bands from the 2010s like AJJ or the Taxpayers. Previously i'd only known Blister in the sun but im glad i listened to this album and particularly enjoyed Kiss Off, Gone Daddy Gone, Good Feeling and Promise.
7.5/10 I have mixed feelings about this album but enjoyed the full listen way more than I expected to from previous songs I'd heard - even outside of 'Good Feeling' which remains a fantastic song, even better in the setting of the album. Will give this a few more listens to pick out some other high points, although the overall effect still leaves me ambivalent due to the emo/alternative/green-day inspiring vocals in places grating on me. Listens: 1
Lives up to the hype. Proto grunge punk dudes making their garage the coolest place on the block.
- "Blister In The Sun" is from 1983!? It was on alt-rock radio in the 00s and I assumed it was only a few years old! - Raw, cutting, and beautifully simplistic in its instrumentation while being joyously complex in the arrangements. The bass and the drums do wonders here. - The first half is stronger (adore "Kiss Off"), but I gotta give credit for always trying new ideas. The xylophone in "Gone Daddy Gone" is pretty gimmicky, though.
I find I am naturally drawn to stuff that sounds like it's been thrown together in a shed. Especially if the people sound like they have enthusiasm for what they're doing. This has this in spades. Obviously I knew 'Blistered in the sun' but there are loads of tracks here that deserve way more playtime than they get. It's not all killer, but there is more than enought there for me to come back to and give the time it deserves.
This album was great. I enjoyed every song and obviously blister in the sun is iconic. It’s not quite a 5/5 but it’s a solid 4.5
This is the kind of quirky and eccentric rock that on the surface, should not work, but somehow does so exceedingly well. "Blister in the Sun" is timeless, and the whole album is a fun romp - albeit a bit exhausting when listened to all at once, at least for me.
Awesome
Reminded me of being fifteen and going to the shows my friends would play at the roller rink and I really just thought I was so cool for being there.
This is apparently “folk punk” which I think just means “acoustic punk”. I liked this album a lot on the first listen, and less on the second when I noticed the “filler” songs more. But, yeah, pretty good. 3.5 stars.
Enjoyed. Instinct tells me this would be a crack gig
This album undoubtedly features some amazing songs and a highly creative sound. However, two tracks—Please Do Not Go and Confessions—significantly detract from the album. Not only are they bad, really bad, but their placement disrupts the album’s flow. As a result, I rarely revisit the album itself, opting instead for the Add It Up compilation
Excellent. Loved it
Ahead of the curve of what was a glorious alt/indie rock movement this is a great album. Mixing the organic acoustic sounds of folk rock with punk bile, a creepy lou Reed update vocals that encompasses the male teen angst experience, all mixed up in their own way to be 1 of the stars of the underground indie scene of the early 80s. Raw and basic musically, but don't sell that short theres more emotional intelligence and melody here than the look at me im so musically proficient brigade and their ego masterbation sound, give me this anyday, any year, it all ends up producing a timeless record. 4.5 Star.
A staple of the genre - their latter work is pretty solid as well.
only ever heard Blister In The Sun prior to now Blister In The Sun - 4/5 Kiss Off - 4/5 Please Do Not Go - 3/5 Add It Up - 4/5 Confessions - 3/5 Prove My Love - 4/5 Promise - 4/5 To The Kill - 2/5 Gone Daddy Gone - 4/5 Good Feeling - 3/5 Overall score: 3.5/5 (rounding up) i enjoyed this more than i thought i would, very much ahead of its time. shocked to learn this album was released in the early 80s and not the 90s!
Solid album. I knew blister in the sun but nothing else. I quite enjoyed this listen.
An 80s classic...Bumped back up to 4 stars on subsequent re-listens.
Liked
Super unique execution of what could otherwise be pretty straight forward songs. Purposefully and delightfully sloppy and quirky. Love it.
Mega pozytywne zaskoczenie. Ta płyta jest jak lato. Idealna kwintesencja bycia młodym, szalonym, odważnym. Niektóre kawałki są sporo słabsze, ale te które działają sprawiają że czujesz się jak w serialu dla młodzieży. 7.5/10
3 days in a row of classic albums. I love it! This Violent Femmes album is a good mixture of alternative folk music, with some post-punk influences, with awesome lyrics. Yes, you should listen to it before you die. Also listen to these songs before you die: Blister In The Sun, Add It Up, Kiss Off, Gone Daddy Gone. 4/5
Il y a des disques qui vous tombent dessus sans prévenir, comme une averse en plein mois d’août ou une révélation mystique au rayon surgelés du supermarché. Le premier album éponyme des Violent Femmes, c’est exactement ça. Une claque, un ovni musical qui, en 1983, a débarqué dans un paysage sonore dominé par les synthétiseurs rutilants de Duran Duran, les clips pharaoniques de Michael Jackson et la pop colorée de Culture Club. Autant dire qu’à côté, ces trois types du Wisconsin avec leur instrumentation à la con ressemblaient à des amish égarés à une convention de tuning. Ce qui est génial avec cet album, c'est ce mélange des genres totalement improbable et pourtant si évident. C'est du punk, mais joué avec une contrebasse acoustique, une guitare sèche et une batterie minimaliste qui se résume souvent à une caisse claire martyrisée par des balais. C'est du folk, mais avec l'énergie rageuse et l'urgence du punk. C'est du rockabilly déglingué qui aurait forniqué avec le fantôme de Woody Guthrie. C'est tout ça à la fois et c'est surtout un son unique, reconnaissable entre mille. Là où les punks hurlaient "No Future" en se tailladant les veines, les Violent Femmes, eux, chantaient la frustration sexuelle crasse, l'aliénation adolescente dans ce qu'elle a de plus pathétique et de plus authentique. Les paroles de Gano sont des petits chefs-d'oeuvre de névrose ordinaire. "Kiss Off" et son décompte nihiliste, "Add It Up" et son cri du coeur hormonal ("Why can't I get just one fuck?"), "Prove My Love"... C'est le journal intime d'un puceau magnifique et d'un poète maudit de supérette. Il n'y a pas de pose là-dedans, c'est brut, c'est honnête, et c'est pour ça que ça parle encore à des générations de gamins qui se sentent à côté de la plaque. Cet album est un classique qui n'a pas pris une ride et c’est même son plus grand tour de force. Prenez n'importe quel disque de 1983 avec des tonnes de synthés et de boîtes à rythmes Simmons, et ça sonne daté, c'est un bibelot sonore. Prenez ce premier Violent Femmes, et il pourrait avoir été enregistré la semaine dernière dans un garage à Rennes ou à Seattle. Pourquoi ? Parce que l'instrumentation est intemporelle et que l'angoisse adolescente, elle, ne se démode jamais. Le son est sec, sans artifice, sans la réverbération dégueulasse qui a souillé une bonne partie de la production des années 80. C'est direct, dans ta gueule, comme une bonne bière fraîche et amère. L'histoire de cet album est d'ailleurs aussi atypique que sa musique. Il a été enregistré pour une bouchée de pain et a mis près de dix ans à devenir disque de platine, sans jamais vraiment entrer dans les classements officiels. C'est le triomphe du bouche-à-oreille, l'album culte par excellence, celui que les grands frères passent aux plus jeunes comme un secret, une initiation. Alors, en le réécoutant pour ce projet "1001 Albums", je me dit que mon 4/5 est parfaitement justifié. Ce n'est peut-être pas l'album le plus complexe ou le plus révolutionnaire sur le plan technique, mais son impact, sa sincérité et sa longévité en font une pièce maîtresse. C'est un disque qui ne ment pas. Il pue la frustration, la maladresse et le désir. Il a l'odeur des chambres d'ados, des fêtes ratées et des espoirs déçus. C'est un disque nécessaire, un compagnon de route pour tous les coeurs malmenés.
folk punk before folk punk was folk punk and i love folk punk
I remember listening to this a few years back and wasn’t that impressed, but I think it’s pretty ace now. If they played the same songs through distorted guitars they’d sound more like a Fugazi or Drive Like Jehu type band, so I guess I’d out them as folky punk. Or something. Really like it though, I can now understand why so many bands put them down as an influence. I read a while back that the singer gets sick of Modern Lovers comparisons, but it’s hard to disagree. All to their credit though, very good
Blister in the sun is everywhere, heard it yesterday. Quite enjoyed this, felt very b-52s influenced (one was particularly rock lobstery) without going too far in that direction. I think this sort of folky kitsch indie sound is pretty ahead of its time, which speaks to why blister is still heavily played. I would listen again but I'm not super keen, so 3.5.
I hear Blister in the Sun a few times a day. Otherwise, no preconceived ideas. I hadn't bought into it at all at the start, but the second half of the album is nice. Confessions, To The Kill, and Gone Daddy Gone are thrilling. If this is what folk punk is, I like it. Quick and nimble vocals, instrumentation rudimentary but fits the vibe, sounds like it was recorded way later than 1983 (other than Blister in the Sun, firmly rooted to the 80s).
4.4
I knew Blister in the Sun, but because for me that song walks the very fine line that separates amazing from annoying, I never tried listening to anything else by the Violent Femmes. Turns out they can walk that line for an entire album - I really enjoyed this.
to znałam wcześniej!!!
Blister in the Sun will always be an obnoxious song. I gave this album a listen anyway and loved it! Blister in the Sun is still no good though.
Ninth grade talent show. Some buddies wanted to do a lip synched performance of Violent Femmes "Blister In The Sun". Naturally, the administration required a lyric sheet to see what's what. Don't think they got past "I'm so strung out/I'm high as a kite". Punk rock sensibilities swiftly stifled.
This was really great - I enjoyed most tracks on in!
There was some good stuff here. Didn’t change my world. I was happy to have this though after this weeks poor showing of albums. Getting a 4 as this is above average on the listening scale. I am interested but in hearing more from them.
Blister in the sun was a banger I knew beforehand, loved this album. Maybe I'd rather not have a slow jam to finish the project, but thats just me nitpicking. Sounds way better than other albums I have heard of the same years and it has no annoying reverb drums that were the bane of the 80's
Violent Femmes is an album that feels raw, unfiltered, and strangely charming in its own way. It’s rough around the edges, full of angsty energy, and packed with infectious melodies that stick with you. The blend of folk, punk, and new wave makes for a unique listening experience, and while it’s not perfect, there’s something undeniably enjoyable about how loose and spontaneous it feels. The best thing about this album is how immediate and stripped-down it is. It doesn’t rely on flashy production or overcomplicated arrangements—just acoustic guitars, a punchy rhythm section, and Gordon Gano’s unmistakable voice. It has this unpolished, almost demo-like quality that actually works in its favour, giving it a rawness that makes the songs hit harder. The harmonies are another highlight. They sound very pleasing and work really well, especially on tracks like “Blister in the Sun” and “Please Do Not Go.” They add just enough depth to balance out Gano’s nasal, almost bratty vocal style, which might not be for everyone but suits the album’s youthful energy. The acoustic bass work from Brian Ritchie is also worth mentioning. It gives the album a unique rhythm that’s both bouncy and aggressive, driving the songs forward in a way that makes even the slower moments feel lively. The stripped-back arrangements make every instrument stand out, and that clarity makes for a fun, engaging listen. The album’s energy is infectious, but its rawness sometimes backfires. Some tracks feel overly rough and could’ve used more polish. and while the loose, jam-like feel adds charm, it occasionally lacks direction. Gano’s vocals are an acquired taste. while I don’t love or hate them, they sometimes verge on whiny, making certain tracks a bit grating. Violent Femmes is a raw, fun, and undeniably unique album. The harmonies work really well, adding warmth to the otherwise rough and sometimes chaotic performances. The songwriting is sharp, the energy is infectious, and when it works, it really works. That said, it’s not a flawless record. The roughness, while charming, sometimes feels undercooked. Gano’s vocals can be polarising, and the production, while fitting for the style, could’ve used a bit more depth. Still, it’s an album with a strong identity. A solid 4.2/5.
When i first heard this as a teenager I hated every song past the third one but now i am an adult and think this is fun and i like having fun to music and drinking my vitamins with beef juice mixed in a modelo <3
Best thing to come out of Milwaukee since string cheese... It was only 6 years but, hey, that's still a pretty good run.
8/10 Was pretty worried that there would be a significant drop in quality after the hit single but was pleased instead with a really good Proto-Indie Rock album that served to inspire quite a lot of important bands. It is really strange to seen an album this early be such a hit with the mainstream, especially since the record is loaded with bizarre musical styles, pretty explicit song topics, and a really awkward and anxious spirit to the whole thing, but it manages to be entertaining track after track even if not every one is a “Blister in the Sun”. My first exposure to this band is not this song but the cover of “Gone Daddy Gone” by Gnarls Barkley on Tony Hawk’s Project 8 when I was a babo and the awful music video made for it, I wish it wasn’t
reminds me of the front bottoms! quite fond of the playlist maybe not so much the messages of the songs but the vibes and beats
Quirky as hell, but not a single boring moment. As Rich aptly said, "slimy yet satisfying".
Really delightful. Look at those bass lines go!! Favourite Track: Please Do Not Go Least Fav Track: Add It Up
6/9/91 Buckeye Lake Music Center Psychedelics for the win
New wave surfer punk! Violent Femmes were ahead of their time. I accidentally walked up to them playing a street concert in the early 2000’s. They played this album front to back. It was even better live.
It is a super interesting project, I really enjoyed the first couple of songs.
This took me back to my youth, though I did not listen to them at the time. Delighted to have discovered them now!
Neurotic acoustic rock that sounds pretty unique. Some might hang this up on the "folk punk" genre, but I would encourage those already familiar with the genre to associate it with the likes of Pat the Bunny projects or Days n Daze. In my opinion, Violent Femmes are in a league of their own for their excellent songwriting and refined tone. Much of their self-titled debut sounds proud and purposeful, with the closing song Good Feeling reeling in all the angst for something much more tender. Add It Up is still the clear centerpiece of this album, but every song surrounding it excellent too.
Absolutely rockin bass lines.
Dang these dudes write catchy songs
Violent Femmes debut is a classic. This one hits hard for a disaffected lovelorn young person, which I was when I first heard it. "Blister in the Sun," "Kiss Off," "Add it Up," are practically perfection and pull you right in. For me today they sounded like an acoustic, American Buzzcocks.
banger alt rock, probably kicked off emo music in the 2000s
If you gave an angsty teen boy an acoustic guitar and just started recording.
Felt like a teenager again which is weird because I'm already a teenager
Great first song. Some other good stuff too.
Funny, jangly tales of horny, frustrated youth.
9. Violent Femmes (1983)/ Violent Femmes C 7.5/10: the first album so far to fully embody Gen-X irony, for better or for worse. The album is always working to further blur the line between earnestness and satire, giving Violent Femmes plausible deniability for either take. Sometimes the sarcastic whining tone feels more reflexive than intentional, making parts of the album feel flat. Other times it works well. 'Confessions' is a multifaceted portrait of adolescence and loneliness in a fast paced world with some fun, theatrical moments. We can't get a read on what the Femmes are thinking, but when the band leans into drama and being really dynamic, their personality and originality shine through. One strong characteristic of their sound is how textured it is. Buzzed frets, brush noises, wrong notes and breaths build up the hype energy and give the songs dimension. Add to all that some really fun instrumentation (new fav genre: xylophone punk) and you have an album I quite enjoy.
Day368 - how awesome is kiss off? this album was on heavy rotation when it came out and it was fun to hear it again
Heard “Blisters in the Sun” for years on commercials and at baseball games. Great to know where it’s from. Nice mix of punk, rock and folk.
A true classic
A totally idiosyncratic sound and a truly top-down great collection of songs. Always think this came out in like the mid-90s and have to remind myself this was only 7 years after the Ramones.
I was familiar with Blister in the Sun (which is a strong opening). Although this sort of post-punk garage rock sound isnt typically my favorite, I enjoyed this album a lot. The songs are simple and somewhat cacaphonous, but nonetheless catchy and effective at conveying the tone and emotion behind them. Lots of angst and frustration in the lyrics. Overall- probably a 3.5/5, but the album had enough hits and strong moments to bump it up to a 4
Love the three-piece sound! Bass is awesome, love the stripped back drums, and the guitar feels stripped back too but still noisy at times?? Awesome. Definitely want to revisit
✔️
very good
This band is essentially acoustic punk with folk elements. Simple songs with a sense of humor that still manage to be catchy if you don't mind the singer's voice. Honestly the backing vocalist has a better voice than the lead singer, but I like both. Definitely a great band and great album, but it can get a little repetitive and some songs are definitely worse than others. Standouts to me are Gone Daddy Gone, To The Kill, Kiss Off, and Add It Up.
It's potatoes. A ton of different versions of a kinda similar emotion. Very evocative. Such a vibe. Also it's riotgrrl prove me wrong.
Gutes Album der 80er mit spannenden Songs. Die ein wenig Ska und Wave Elemente vorweisen. „Blister In The Sun“ & „Kiss Off“ sind gute Beispiele dieses Stills.
The middle section was kind of rough, but I really liked how it closed out. "Good Feeling" is a new favorite of mine. Can't give it a 5, but I will happily recommend it to others. Fav song: Good Feeling
Released in 1983, Violent Femmes is a landmark in the punk rock scene, standing out for its innovative and raw approach that captured the essence of youth and urban angst in an intense and authentic way. The band managed to blend elements of folk, rock and punk, creating a fresh and unique sound that still resonates strongly today. The provocative and often confessional lyrics, combined with the minimalist production, show how Violent Femmes were ahead of their time, influencing a generation of musicians and challenging the norms of traditional punk rock with their melodic sensitivity and introspective lyrics. This album is not only a seminal work, but also a testament to the creativity and boldness that characterized the alternative scene of the 1980s.
big midwest vibes! blister in the sun!
Blister in the sun is one of my favs but never listened to much else. Bass player was grooving most of this album
Ahead of their time. Like the sound.
Only knew Blisters in Sun previously which is stone cold classic. On first listen I found the rest of the album a bit meh- but its a real grower and by third listen I was onboard. Its not great to work to - but great in the car.
This album was very mature for it's time. I never expected this to be from the early 80s. The mix of angstyness and acoustic punk made for a very unique sounding album that was reminiscent of The Modern Lovers. Favorite tracks: Kiss Off and Gone Daddy Gone
Great album with all the main songs
I said it before, post punk kept Music alive during the dreadful 80's.
1983? Ahead of its time!! Add it up!! Pixies, you’re welcome!
Super cool! Kind of punkish acoustic rock with great songs.
When I went to university this album was standard issue, just about everyone had it. Blister in the Sun, Kiss Off, Add It Up, Gone Daddy Gone are all songs I've listened to probably more than 100 times. The sound is stripped down, acoustic punk. Some would have called it "college radio" at the time. Great music and quite unique.
Awesome album. Really hits the self-loathing alternate dude vibe well. This album feels a bit like if Patti Smith was a weird dude in his twenties. An alt classic.
Solid 90s vibes from the 80s. I think Mike had this CD because I recognized many of the songs. Would listen again.
I like this. Feels ahead of it's time for 1982. Would listen again
Extremely rad, very sick, I bet if I were a bass player I would be going 5.
Awkward rock for awkward listeners. There’s a nerdy weirdo confidence behind these songs that reminds me of Weezer’s debut album.
Hat mir erstaunlich gut gefallen. Ziehen ihr eigenes - in vielerlei Hinsicht schräges - Ding durch das ganze Album durch. Wirkt sehr authentisch.
Are they good instrumentalists? No. Can Gordon sing? Not really. Does that hurt this album at all? I don't think so. So many great tunes on this album. We were talking the other day in my friend group about our favourite opening tracks, and I amended my answer to include Blister in the Sun, because I forgot it was the opener. I'm listening to a few of the tracks again, Kiss Off, Add it Up, Gone Daddy Gone. It isn't a perfect album, some of their songs drag a little bit, but overall I loved it.
The sound of this record is very raw, which definitely works in this case. The bass player has some licks that I can't believe are done on an acoustic bass, that shit is not easy. The guitars have their moments too and they're very short and sweet. Definitely kept me interested throughout the record. I loved the sound of this record, even if they're songs I'll likely not return to. I really enjoyed my time with it, and I still think it deserves a 4/5
A mix of loads of things, feels like a pre-cursor to the pixies, and ultimately the 90s grunge stuff. Weirdly, the bass is often quite high in the mix, which I actually really like, as most of the basslines are really good. Favorite songs: Add it up, Gone Daddy Gone. overall around 7/10
some pretty great atl rock and still feels modern to this day.
Απιστευτη ενεργεια, απιστευτα ενδιαφερον αλμπουμ. Σιγουρα θα το ξανακουσω αρκετες φορες. Punk μουσικη με κιθαρα και γενικα χαρακτηριστικα μπροστα απτην εποχη τους. Αλμπουμ που θυμιζει πολυ την εφηβεια και την νεανικη ηλικια. Υπηρχε λογος που ηταν το αγαπημενο του πατερα μ Rating: A
Great album, but it did feel a lil 🍇y
This was a real mindblower for me - acoustic but sounded dirtier than anything else I was listening to. Love it.
Fav: Add It Up Least Fav: To The Kill Got jumpscared expecting an all-woman punk album only to discover that this is an all-man folk punk album
Love this album. It always makes me think of Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke in “Reality Bites”. It sounds deceptively simple, loose, lo fi and rudimentary yet listening to it now the musicianship and arrangements are pretty sophisticated. It feels like it belongs to a tradition of American outsider Music that I love, like the missing link between Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers and Pavement. Great stuff.
Disco de culto, muy influyente en el indie/alternativo cuando áun no existía ni ese concepto. No ha dejado nunca de ser reconocido, llegando a vender a lo largo de estos años más de 3 millones de ejemplares. ‘Murmur’ de R.E.M. y ‘Confusion is Sex’ de Sonic Youth son de este mismo 83. También High Land, Hard Rain de un jovencito Roddy Frame con sus Aztec Camera. Let it be de los Replacements aún tardaría un año en llegar, Beat Happening algo más. A las únicas composiciones (y forma de cantar) de un adolescente Gordon Cano se les unen un no menos sorpredente bajo acústico de mariachi, y un batería de pie tocando con una simple caja, haciendo ritmos a caballo entre rockabilly, calipso y skiffle anfetamínico. Con razón fueron rechazados por la mayoría de discográficas. Blister in the Sun es su tema estrella, el más conocido de la banda. Kiss off sigue brillando como entonces, a buen seguro que los Pixies tomaron nota de esta manera de hacer música. También Pavement y otros menos ortodoxos como Guide by voices o Clap your hands and say yeah. Prove my love suena radiante, como unos Sebadoh de buen humor. Gone daddy gone fue incluido en el debut de Gnarles Barkley (fue el single que sucedió nada más y nada menos que a Crazy). Un disco adelantado a su tiempo, que hoy en día no ha perdido su vigencia. La portada es otra maravilla. Otros discos de 1983: Los comentados debuts de REM, Aztec Camera, así como los de Madonna, The The, Minor Threat y The Waterboys. Excelentes obras de THE CHAMELEONS - Script of the bridge, Eurythmics- Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN & DOUBLE TROUBLE - Texas flood, Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones, U2 - War , Talking Heads - Speaking In Tongues, New Order - Power, Corruption & Lies, ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN - Porcupine, David Bowie - Let's Dance, Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual, Metallica - Kill 'Em All, e incluso Mike Oldfield- Crises, UB40- Labour of Love, Huey Lewis and The News- Sports, ZZ Top- Eliminator o The Police - Synchronicity...
Favorite Track: Blister in the Sun
True story, I was in the 8th grade or so and I forgot I was supposed to attend a friends birthday party. Mom my rushed me to “Records on Wheels” where I frantically looked for something to get my friend. I had no idea what he liked musically. My eyes settled on the Violent Femmes based solely on the name. My luck lies in the fact that I saw “Add It Up” first and he really like Blister in the Sun. A win-Win situation. Some songs on this album re not good but then you have Blister in the Sun and Add it Up which basically cancel out 2 poor songs each with how good they are. The poor songs sound like the were demos and were never worked on again. Like the idea of the song was done but the lyrics were just ramblings that weren’t meant or stay. Then you have Blister in the Sun, Kiss Off and Gone Daddy Gone which sound the same with different lyrics and add it up and Prove My Love borrowing from each other musically. Even with those comparisons, the songs are effective in their own ways that you give these guys a hall pass for repeating the same sound numerous times. You really want to fail this album but as each song goes on, it goes from boring to good. They have earned my respect. I enjoyed this. Choice cut: Add it Up
this was a good one. I enjoyed every song. 9/10
Violent Femmes shows you how to do stripped back music that still carries an edge and remains interesting and cool. The first half of the album is stacked with big songs most people will know but not know it was VF who did them (myself included) and, although the second half isn't as good, it's a high bar to reach so the whole record still stands up to scrutiny. The bass is outstanding, it gives every song personality and momentum and irreverence, the storytelling is quirky and fun, and there's even a xylophone solo thrown in for good measure on Gone Daddy Gone. Confessions was my favourite song followed by Ugly, it gets a strong 4/5, falls short of a 5 just because I don't think I'd go back to it regularly and it does lack something that would make it properly compelling and truly memorable, but it's really really good.
Great Brit indie songs, not clean but rough
YES!!!!! I can’t remember what eight’s for ….
Guys will hear a record full of energetic and sloppily played acoustic punk songs full of frustration and just think "hell yeah"
Good 5
Highlights: Add It Up, Promise, Blister In The Sun, Gone Daddy Gone In a nutshell: is this cow punk? I think Confessions sounds half country, half acoustic punk. It’s not often that my attention is held with an album that recycles chords. Damn you Gordon and co (glares and waves fist in the air). Overall: 7/10
Insane debut for an 18 yo songwriter
I don't think I knew who the first song on this album was by before today so that's fun. Quite enjoyed, tho a bit screamy
This was a fun ride, some early 80s punk-rock with attitude. Hadn't heard of the band before, although I recognised Gone Daddy Gone as it was covered by Gnarls Barkley
I never knew this was from the early 80s. I could swear this was 90s Gen Xer music. I really enjoyed his. Blister in the Sun and Add It Up used to get heavy rotation on the radio in the 90s and I’ve always enjoyed them. The rest was new to me. Favorites: Blister in the Sun, Gone Daddy Gone Least Favorite: Good Feeling 4
Decent. Not as 80s as one expected, and more raw.
I knew ‘Blister in the Sun’ very well from the past, but unfortunately for me I hadn’t heard any others on the album! I really liked the stripped back sound, really a pioneer of the alternative grungy style that came later. 4.25/5
This definitely got better on repeat listens. Pretty scrappy but fun songs. Favourite tracks: Blister In The Sun, Kiss Off, Add It Up, Prove Me Love, Gone Daddy Gone.
This has been on my list to listen for a long time and I wish I had not snoozed on it. Really enjoyed it. 4.5
There was one song in here that I found really annoying but it was for a petty annoying sonic reason that just didn't agree with me, which happens. Fun. Short.
"the violent femmes are the band people pretend weezer is but in real life. so of course they were very important to me as a teenager" - unpublished joke review i wrote in January i should note three things that are true about the Violent Femmes (more considerably their heathenistic debut): 1. it is incredibly impressive Gordon Gano wrote all these songs when he was still in High School, 2. he could not have written them any other time, 3. the album is better for it. really, any complaints i have with the lyrics of this thing pertain exclusively to the incredibly cringy lyrics of the bonus tracks stapled to the end of every US CD. everything else is pretty tame, including "Add It Up". maybe you could make the link between Gano's sexual frustration and misogyny, but really, it doesn't seem like he's angry at anyone except himself. he knows that it could he could be much worse off than simply unloved. of course, it also goes without saying that even if the lyrics were "better" (an impossible concept to me), they'd still pale in comparison to the sound of the tracks. everyone who's ever walked into a Guitar Center and seen one of those big ass acoustic basses have sat down and played G———4———5—4———4———5—4———4———5—4———| 2x D—5———5—————5———5—————5———5—————5—| A—————————————————————————————————| E—————————————————————————————————| at least once. Violent Femmes strikes the right balance of something to play in your room alone while moping and for your family while driving on a nice summer's day. yes, even the tracks where he says fuck. the bonus tracks, however, are not car friendly. they're barely ear friendly. in my endless crusade against bonus tracks, "Ugly" and "Gimme The Car" (which is five FUCKING minutes, Gordon, cripes) are Evidence No. 1. just take the CD out of the player after "Good Feeling" -- it's better as a closer anyway.
Fun garage band rock. Enjoyable.
Really stripped down sound for a post punk album, gutsy. Vocals were bad but yet just the right tone for the material, overall I liked it.
Iconic but not a personal favourite
Why didn't anyone tell me the Violent Femme is 3-4 dudes? Misleading. Great album.
1. heard blister in the sun before, it’s a song i actually have in a playlist or two. it’s pretty good. 2. pretty good, i like how it gets more intense as it goes on. a song i’ll def add to playlists in the future. 3. album is coming off a lot more acoustic sounding that i thought, thought it’d be more rock but i like it. please do not go is alright. just sounds like teenagers whining honestly. 4. i really like add it up, the instruments, the voice, the lyrics, the story, i love it. 5. don’t like confessions. 6. i like prove my love 7. promise is more rock like, i like it. 8. felt like twink death and birth at the same time 9. surprisingly loved gone daddy gone 10. good feeling is my absolute favourite from this album. i’ve heard it before and have always loved it so much<3 11. ugly is kinda like more of the music i like from the 80s. 12. this song is okay, randomly i really like the middle of this song but the rest is alright.
Great, simple rock
Enjoyed this one a lot. I like the old school vibe it had.
Low 4 77/100 How was this released in 1983
Didn't love this one as much,
September 24, 2024 HL: "Blister in the Sun", "Please Do Not Go", "Confessions", "Gone Daddy Gone" Violent Femmes' debut is what I imagined the Pixies would sound like, before seriously listening to either band. I knew "Gone Daddy Gone" as a Gnarls Barkley song, back in 2007; this might be the first time I've listened to the original version. Strange! Overall, I enjoyed the mix of melodic, hooky folk mixed with darker, noisier moments. As the top review on this website implies, it's about 10 years ahead of its time.
What would Primus have sounded like if they had signed to K Records?
Wow, this album is amazing, especially for a debut album I'd heard a few of the tracks before, but not the whole thing. Earnest but silly in the most delightful way.
Punk emo sounding
“Why cant I get just one fuck”- there’s a lot of sexual frustration in this song
Pretty good.
Hey, I remember getting into Violent Femmes through The 100! And it was only *checks year* almost 10 years ago... oh... oh no...
WAIITTTT I ROCKED WITH IT ! definitely feel like i've heard blister in the sun in the pop culture zeitgeist before but yeah i'm into it
Distinctive sound
Forgot to rate this one like 2 weeks ago. From what I remember, I liked it a lot. Plucky bass, stripped down drums, grungy vocals
A 4.5 for sure!
love them, not my favorite album but defiantly a banger!
Decent album, especially for a debut. Prefer the instrument lines (that bass!) to the vocals (which sound a bit whiny). Lyrics are a bit samey (I feel lonely, why will no-one love me, ad infinitum).
All bangers.
I can excuse the bad voice since it compliments the punky elements nicely Standout: Blister In The Sun
This youthful combination of anger and humor could easily come off as embarrassing or kind of laughable once you’re no longer a teenager yourself, but here, it really works. Totally fun and with a unique sound. Favorite tracks: Add It Up, Promise
Was very good. Only bad song was Please do not go. Will I listen to again: 90%
A few months ago, i became a father. As i listened to this album, i discovered some interesting thoughts about my daughter, women and men. Thanks for this.
Spiky, very direct and heartfelt. Sharp, raw and challenging with some very catchy tunes
Amazing sound, especially the bass. Songs are fun to listen too but except the first one do not immediately stick in your head... Multiple listenings will fix this though... I stopped after good Feeling as it is the perfect end for this record.
Yep, 40 years after the fact, this album is still pretty undeniable
Great album to represent early 80s stripped down teen angst music. Songs by young adults for teenagers. It still holds strong today with a number of bangers, most prominently Blister in the Sun, their most popular song by far. This kind of music led to the alternative genre that exploded in the 90s.
I obviously knew Blister, but this was a fun listen. Sounds like nothing else from 1983 and almost like a protopunk Mountain Goats. I think it dipped a little in the middle but it opens and closes strong.
I had never listened to this album all the way through but knew four of the songs. As a whole it is an amazing album!
Just wild. Kinda grating, I have to take in smaller doses, I don't have this much energy anymore, lol. But every song is a classic. And it sounds so fresh. 4/5
Some great tracks on this album
Proper good, should really be 5 stars but goof was too cruel and did nit allow it.
Oops. Rating and comments for Pet Shop Boys was meant for this album. Life is a mystery!
More hits than I realized on here. Not sure I've heard Good Feeling before, but really enjoyed it in particular.
Finally an album for incels! I love this thing. Really erratic and interesting instrumentals and the vocal delivery is frantic and angsty. Lyrics are funny. Hooks are catchy. I will listen to this thing again
This is an album I am very familiar with. Before listening to it for this review I thought maybe I like it so much because of the time in my life when I first heard it. I can honestly say that is not the case. VF holds its own as a great album.
4.5 so many hits
I did not realise it was recorded in 1982. Makes it more of an influential ahead of its time piece.
Love the different guitar riffs through the songs. Blister in the Sun is a classic, and listening to the rest of the album, you can tell that it captures the sound of the Violent Femmes well for at least this album. Half of the time, the lead singer has a vocal characteristic that reminds me of the Rolling Stones. It's faint, though. They definitely have their own distinct sound.
I remember a few of these songs from Tony Hawk games.
Very enjoyable album . Some favourites include Prove my Love and Good feeling . It sometimes felt monotonous but It had some variety so I was not bored that much.
Nostalgic for college. 4/5
1984 wow. Way earlier than I thought. Super raw. Loved it.
if it wasnt for reality bites no one would have ever heard of this record.
4.5
This is the good ol, grimy folk punk I live for. Obviously the opener is an all time classic, but if you dig the sound, the whole album sticks the landing.