Reviews (page 6 of 14)
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.
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.
It’s funny how “Blister in the Sun” is the biggest hit off this album, yet to me, it’s one of the most annoying songs ever. For many years, I was turned off by Violent Femmes because of that song. But then I heard “Add It Up” and fell in love with it, so I decided to get the album. Once I did, it became one of my favorites for a while. Violent Femmes is one of those bands that straddles the line between folk and punk, but they also have a fun and playful undertone. Although I’ve played this album so many times that I probably won’t go back to it in the future, it will always have a special place in my heart.
It started great with Blister In The Sun but after that I felt pessimistic towards the album. Then after a few tracks it began to grow on me. The overall themes of edginess and rebellion with a nice slice of rawness displayed on the album helped me understand it more and why many people enjoy this. Still on some of the songs here the vocals really made me want to die of cringe but it still had that weird ass charm to it ig. Best - Blister in the Sun, Add It Up, Confessions, To the Kill, Gone Daddy Gone, and Good Feeling Worse - Kiss Off, Please Do Not Go, and Promise 3.50-3.75/5
Cool album, a bit monotone
Music to grow through puberty by
several songs had the girls dancing around being silly this weekend! great album and one I don't listen to enough
God, I saw the Violent Femmes live right before covid. It was not an enjoyable show. Outside of blister in the sun, I feel like they are kind of a hard listen. Okay, Kiss Off is grreat too. I am eating my words, this whole album is pretty dank. I think a live version of ~50/60 somethings singing this stuff is just lost on ya boy.
Love this album. A lot of bangers/classics.
Good solid songs that make feel. The vocals are clear, the lyrics make you imagine things, with his clarity. The album has a distinct sound which i like with each song putting a different spin on the original. I think overall good album 4/5
I truly enjoyed Violent Femmes' self titled! The main thread throughout was minimalist punk, to the point of almost sounding folk--which I never imagined was a thing. "Good Feeling" has a folk-y hymn vibe and somehow isn't out of place. I don't think the minimalism was simplistic, though; it came across as purposeful. "Gone Daddy Gone" contained a xylophone, which was both unexpected and enjoyed, but it wasn't too much at all. Despite the minimalist feel in the music, most songs were fun to listen to and had such a good bounce. The clever lyrics helped to keep the album light. 4.5
This is another fine example of a band who came out the gate swinging with a style of their own, and nailed it! Nobody else was doing anything else quite like this at the time. This album immediately defied the idea that this time period was setting around punk music. It demonstrates that punk didn't need to be "hardcore" to be relevant. Violent Femmes were definitely ahead of the times with this album, too; it puts a very 90s alternative spin on things, almost 8 years before the 90s even arrived. In fact, certain elements of the album even sound like 2000s indie music. I guess this just goes to show how influential this album was to the alternative/indie scene into the coming decades. Honestly, if I had been asked to guess when this album was released, I probably would have been about ten years off. Another thing that is kind of surprising about this album is how it is mostly acoustic (there are exceptions here and there) or acoustic-forward; in any case, the instrumentation is somewhat at a minimum, and yet they're still able to capture a punk and alternative sound so well. In my mind, that's no easy feat. The lead vocals also really help set the scene, though; Gordon Gano does a fantastic job of sounding edgy, strained, weird, creepy, and intriguing, all in one. It's a perfect voice for straddling the line between 80s punk and 90s alternative music; you can hear Gano taking vocal inspiration from those who came before, and you can hear what would inspire other artists moving forward. All in all, a cool, unique, and gritty album!
I went back and forth on this album a lot. I think it was very forward for its time, the songs are very catchy and the fact that they had sustained success (though moderate) because of this album does a lot. I just convinced myself to give it another star.
I didn't know this band before - I was quite disappointed to learn that they're dudes if I'm honest. That said, it's a pretty good album - although the vocals are not what I'd normally like, it creates a sort of unsettling atmosphere that reminds of the darker parts of the Rolling Stones. It also achieves a very distinctive sound with a relatively simple production which I think is very valuable
Such a nostalgic record for me. Funny to think when I first became aware of Blister in the Sun it was already 10 years old. This now 42 year old album still sounds fresh and fun.
That’s quite the way to arrive on the scene - excellent debut! Side A hits got radio play through the 80s so very familiar with them. Album starts very strong then fades and gets a bit whiny. Prove My Love is the best song on Side B and I never heard it before this listen. This will go down on your permanent record (3.9*s)
Neurotic and uncomfortable are somehow made accessible and even catchy by Gordon Gano with the Violent Femmes. This album deserves a lot more credit than it gets, the deep cuts are better than the hits we all recognize from radio play. It's acoustic punk if there could be such a thing, it feels dangerous and dirty, even a bit deranged (but in a good way). It's defiant, rebellious, and unique (xylophone solo, yes please). It's pure honesty and speaks to all ages, high praise for 1983. I do have to add that I love "Gimme The Car" added to the tracklist after the original press.
I had listened to this a few years ago and forgot how much I liked a lot of these songs (beyond just Blister in the Sun). A unique sound and a lot of fun, for the most part. A few I didn't love, but pretty impressive capturing of what it's like to be a high school guy written by musicians who were less than 18!
If I were 10 years younger, this would have been an important album for me all the way through my life. Still good, still worth listening to, but not a driver for an oldie like me.
8/10. I was between 7 and 8 here but trying to error on the side of pessimism. Their quirkiness hurts them in some songs, like Kiss Off, where I was starting to lean toward a six. But overall, the quirkiness pays off. And there is a good enough balance and good songs throughout the album to bump it to an 8.
First is the best by far. Great songs but they never could back to that level.
Blister in the sun is annoying as hell but the other songs were very fun. For punk.
Super incelly. Also sounds a lot like emo, but it's from the 80s. Super fun to listen to!
this is surprising to ME but i liked this... i started getting bored in the last half but then gone daddy gone came on and i liked it again
boy did add it up get oedipal in a hurry
i will probably not listen to this again but i found it so compelling, how did this come out in 1983 when it sounds like it could have been on an oc soundtrack or on a side stage on warped tour
Very folky and punky
Like! 4/5
Amazing stuff. Takes me back to Tony Hawks Underground 2 times
The lyrics on the Violent Femmes debut were written by a horned up 18yr old Gordon Gano. The lyrics are immature at times and that’s ok, the sound itself is pretty innovative for its time. Gano’s snotty vocal delivery is distinct, they’ve got the punk flavour with more of the jangle indie rock sound which would have absolutely had an influence on indie rock bands to come. Fun stuff 4 stars
lovely
Quite a unique album. I've heard Blister in the Sun a few times before, but nothing more. I think I'll revisit it one day, I quite enjoyed the vocals and the music itself. I think I need to stew on it more before I fully figure out my thoughts on it, but it was enjoyable.
Really enjoyed this album. It has a unique voice and style that’s kinda infectious. Could see teenagers feeling these songs at the time it came out.
Shocked by how modern this sounds. Loved it!
i don’t quite know how to explain but there’s nothing that recaptures the angst and heartbreak of being a teenage for me than folk punk…
Always great, best xylophone solo in a rock album ever
So many hits
As much as I like “Blister in the Sun”, I didn’t think I would appreciate much more than that. I was wrong. Fun guitars and a vibe that makes you wanna rock! Reminds me of a couple guys grabbing a guitar and playing at a party… including getting a bit sloppy and bouncing back strong! Not all tracks are great, but fun nonetheless. High 3/ Low 4, depending on my mood
Interesting mixture of punk and indie
The only band to make an acoustic bass sound good.
. Kind of disconcerting to realize I know all the lyrics!
This is so good and hornier than I remember which might actually dock points as it's a bit on the concerning side. GONE DADDY GONE lives in my head rent free probably forever. 4.5 for me, but going:
What an album for 1983! Starts off with a banger and just keeps it rolling. The final track (Good Feeling) is such an appropriate change of pace.
-great bass (I love the bass on this album in fact) -singer reminds me of Jeff Mangum from Neutral Milk Hotel (perhaps this is where he was inspired), and Lou Reed as well -catchy -album for the rejected boys (and girls if you want) finished listening to it -favourite songs: Blister In The Sun, Add It Up, Confessions (<3), Prove My Love, Gone Daddy Gone -least favourite song: To The Kill
A classic that I never really got into, but has some strong material and the band had a unique sound.
Although I never really listened to them outside of radio plays, this is such a classic album, and I'm impressed at how many of the songs I already knew, and enjoyed. And while I get it that they grew tired of being compared to Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers, it's pretty hard to avoid the comparison. I'm also really impressed to find out that all the songs were written by Gordon Gano when he was a high school senior (and even more impressive that only a few seem like they were written by a teenager). I also had the chance to hear them play in 1994, and while the venue wasn't a great one for music (RFK Stadium in DC, part of a massive lineup called "HFSFest"), they put on a great show, and at one point a bunch of people were dancing to their songs in a weird conga line in a nosebleed section of the stadium. I'm pretty sure their setlist included mainly the songs from this album, which was fun.
very good
Great how it spearheaded indie , things like dashboard confessional. Keeper
Solid punk-ish album, never felt bored, was surprised when it was already over. Apparently the songwriter wrote this all when he was 18. That gives it a punk ass youthful energy, but also a bit of immaturity.
Very solid, thoroughly written songs. The details audible in the music despite their lack of electric instruments, really give it this satisfying sense you can feel their fingers working their instruments; that alone significantly adds to its punk factor. Mix in catchy melodies and choruses, a refusal of simple strum patterns, and angsty, untrained vocals, and you get a warm, folksy punk album. I think the album slumps a little bit after "Add it up".
Great songs and energy
I had not idea this album was almost as old as me and was released in the early 80s. I remember Blister in the Sun being popular in the late 90s after being in a movie and at the time assumed that it was "new" music. But turns out these guys were about 15 years ahead of the time, which is phenomenal. After Blister, I found the next couple songs a little boring as they're not much different musically from Blister, but then Add it Up sucked me in and I've really enjoyed the rest of the album. They absolutely nail the folk-punk thing, which is really fun, the bass is killer, and I like the rawness of the recording. I think this is one I'll go back to.
This was really cool, enjoyed the acoustic approach to punk and felt I heard more of the lyrics than would be normal for punk music.
acoustic folk punk. lively sounding recording of basically three guys busking. unique singer's voice. most songs very hooky and interesting to the ear. quite up my alley. last three songs are a strong finish.
I didn't realize this album was released in the early 80s - not the 90s.
First time I've heard this, recognized the opening song, decent
Impressive album. I didn't realize who this artist was until now, but made the connection after that first song. I've had them on my list to explore for a while. Quite a few songs on this album were pretty good.
Gen x uni student music
Good.
The tone is set with the opening bars on the album. Eclectic post-punk.
Snotty punk
Violent Femmes Blister in the Sun is another Durham memory trigger, watching Gross Pointe Blank on VHS and listening to the soundtrack. Clearly the standout track on here, a great song. Is it about wanking? I never felt like it was to me. They have a distinctive sound with the acoustic bass being almost the lead melodic instrument and the no frills drumming. It does give each song a very similar sound and feel, but after a few listens I realised I really liked that sound and their style. A kind of wonky slightly off kilter jittery indie pinkish pop that I found very endearing. I think they must get a lot of Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers comparisons as there are a lot of commonalities; unexpected slightly caustic lyrics: a punk sensibility but on acoustic instruments and an overall very singular style. And I presume they were very influential, especially on the 80s and 90s US lo-fi stuff. Kiss Off I liked, echoes of Solitary Man in the intro and Please Do Not Go too, even if on first listen it sounds like it might be a rewrite of Blister in the Sun. Add it Up has more than a hint of One by One by Foo Fighters. I like its energy and its build towards the end. Confessions is a nice change of pace until the last minute or so, I do like the chaotic ending. Prove My Love is probably the 2nd best song behind Blister in the Sun, as another great bit of catchy indie pop. Really enjoyable. Promise is a bit Prove My Love part 2 without being as good although I do like the musical hook. To the Kill I liked a lot on repeated listens, has a kind of insistent groove to the music and like the melody of the chorus. Gone Daddy Gone is a bit of a re-has of Add it Up, although I liked the xylophone as a slight differentiator. Good Feeling I really liked, I really enjoyed the wonky sweetness of it and the fiddle is a nice addition. Overall I really enjoyed this. On first listen it felt quite samey but I really got into it on repeat listens and a few songs really stood out, Add it Up, Confessions, Prove My Love, To the Kill and Good Feeling, along with Blister in the Sun. In terms of a rating I’m stuck between a 3 and a 4, but I think I’ll tip over into 4, mainly as I enjoyed it for it’s offbeat energy and distinctiveness, and that I’m certain it will be a grower as I’m definitely going to revisit it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Yeah this was a lot of fun
Yes you know these songs.
could i write poetry to this? y
Pretty good!
Reminds me of Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. Killer bass. 4.5 stars
On the day that this was our assignment, I couldn't get through it. It was just grating on my last nerve. I did understand that it was more me than the Violent Femmes (it was not good accompaniment for my stack of grading as tall as the house). Now that the bulk of grading is behind me, I can't say that all the grating has stopped, but there is something cool here.
Of course I’ve heard Blister in the Sun… a true classic. The rest of the album was better than I expected.
I listened to this album three times in a row when I was sick in high school. I threw up and couldn’t tolerate his voice for years after. His voice still gets me a little nauseous. But this album has a few great songs. In particular a big fan of Gone Daddy Gone and the xylophone solo
I really enjoyed this. The mix is unusual - really thin so that the bass stands out a lot. Fun album. Will listen again.
Great American punk alternative album, think it’s ahead of its time and clearly highly influenced by Lou reed, which makes it right up my street. Added to my frequent rotation,
I liked it! Solid album, huge banger to start the album off, and catchy tunes sprinkled throughout. The two extra songs (Ugly, Gimme the Car) turned me way off haha, but the 10 songs on the original album were all good.
I was not aware of this band, but I think I’ve heard Blister In The Sun before somewhere. Really liked the album, especially Add It Up, but the better songs are all in the first half in my opinion.
Listened through it a few times. Really liked it, feel I’ll listen to it more and like it more and more. Could be a 5 given time.
I'm well aware of 'Blister in the Sun', 'Please Do Not Go' and 'Good Feeling' but I've never listened to a full Violent Femmes album, should be good! This is a lot of fun, high energy stuff. Way more interesting and rocking than I was expecting based on the songs I do know by them. Really fun listen, will definitely revisit. 4/5
I know they were huge in the 80s (when I was born!), but I can't help but thinking that this has all the earnest lack of pretense as early Green Day but without the benefit of being particularly enjoyable to listen to. ...okay, fine, it's kinda enjoyable, just with some ups and downs - and hugely influential, obviously. That gets it an extra star. Four stars, that's IT
Setting: Once on Friday night while driving to Sig Ep Charlie's house warming party (which was fine and very grown up). Once this morning while getting ready for work. Mood: Both neutrual. So I loved this album. I knew Blister in the Sun and Gone Daddy Gone already, and was happy to find I liked the rest of the album almost as much as those two. I'm generally a fan of this album's quirky artsy Gen X vibe (reminds me of Pee Wee's Playhouse), and this is a fine example of that artistic style. It made me reconsider how I've been rating things though. I love the album, but I like Sam said about OK Computer, I dont know if it matches up to an unquestionable 5 star like Otis Blue. I think I've handed out too many 5 stars, and want to start saving those for when I think something is truly, truly exceptional. If I were re-doing it Id re-rate the following from 5 to 4 stars: Head Hunters, Songs From The Big Chair, Out Of The Blue, Ill Communication Album Cover: A-
I don't really love this type of music, but the album was fun. I like a lot of the guitar licks, the acoustic sound, and the goofy vocals.
I had heard Blister in the Sun so many times and never knew who it was by. If I had to say who wrote it and when, I'd have guessed a 2010 one-hit wonder indie band. I enjoyed this album a lot. The vocals were raw in a way that wasn't off-putting, and the guitar / drums were engaging throughout. My favorite songs after Blister in the Sun were Please Do Not Go and Add It Up. 7/10. I'd listen to this again.
There’s a lot to like here and a lot of charm. I love the use of acoustic bass as well as more gentle and subtle drum touches against propulsive folk punk. Some of it becomes a bit samey for me, but what stands out most to me about the Violent Femmes’ debut is that it sounds anywhere between 10-20 years ahead of its time.