Reviews (page 8 of 14)
very good
Great album. Blister in the sun is so overplayed, and I've heard it so many times, I can't listen to it any more, so I skipped it
This record is pretty good. I especially like the deranged vocal delivery (though I don’t find it as deranged as others do) and the clear imperfections in the music - it sounds kind of sloppy in a good way. The acoustic guitar also sounds cool on a lot of these songs, such as ‘Blister in the Sun’, probably this album’s most popular song. I don’t know how to end this review. Help.
Blister in the sun is such a classic. A lot of really good punk music here.
I enjoyed this way more than I should have, given how purile some of this stuff is. I’ll listen again, for sure. How old is Blister in the sun, though?! Really thought that was a 90s record.
way better than i was expecting it to be given the name of the band
Wow this is really good. So ahead of its time. I can hear the influence this had on modern emo groups like Modern Baseball.
Great sideA so so sideB. Minimal production. Maximum appreciation
Classic but some songs on this are weak
Such a good, and sometimes horny, album
This was definitely a more interesting than similar ones I’ve gotten. The first track is one of those for me that I might’ve heard playing at some random point in my life but never truly listened to it cuz it sounded familiar and I associated it with radio music. It’s actually pretty good and fun to hear in this setting. The rest was a bit of a mixed bag with to the kill and some other ones being pretty good but I didn’t love the album overall. Can’t decide between a high 3 or a low 4
Used to listen to this a lot when I was a teen. Still haven’t decided if it’s good but it’s for sure very fun to listen to 7/10 Fave: kiss off
The good stuff when it comes to early punk. A classic banger
great lyrics and great body of works that sums up the life of a teenager
Great album with some classic songs. This was actually my first time listening to the entire album, and there were some pleasant surprises, most notably the delightful twang of the acoustic bass on tracks like "Please Do Not Go." Good stuff.
Good album. Very upbeat and catchy. Best songs: Blister In The Sun, Add It Up, Gone Daddy Gone
Пацаны обосрали этот альбом, а я хочу немного похвалить. Во-первых: фолк-рок - это уже интересное смешение жанров. Очень динамичная музыка, но при этом без каких-либо перегрузов по инструментам. Очень все сбалансировано звучит и приятно ушкам. Во-вторых, звучит иногда монотонно, но чуваки очень сильно экспериментируют иногда и получается нечто очень нетипичное и крутое. К примеру, долбанное соло на ксилофоне в Gone Daddy Gone. Это же очень круто! В-третьих, вокал очень приятный и мне было хорошо его слушать. НО! Это все еще не отменяет, что альбом репетативен иногда
This had some great songs on it. Really enjoyed it
I've always had a tough time explaining what I like about violent femmes, but I fucking love violent femmes and that's all you need to know.
Classic
Son particulier, rythmes et mélodies contagieux, un groupe qui vieillit somme toute très bien
The vocals can be a bit harsh at times but between Blister in the Sun, Add it Up, and Gone Daddy Gone there are a lot of classics on this album.
An example of how music brings memories. 1987 was a great year.
Wow this is such a surprising and refreshing sound, yet it's so amazingly expressive. It knows exactly what it wants to do and does it all so well
I can't believe this came out in 1983.. I have a whole new appreciation of the Violent Femmes. Killer Acoustic Bass Guitar and clearly influential to Alt and Indie music. Strikingly minimal while whimsical and calamitous
Classic.
Great record I hadn't even heard of. Raw alternative / indie / punk rock that could've been released a decade later than it did. A couple of real bangers with catchy melodies like 'Blister in the Sun' and 'Gone Daddy Gone'.
Classic.
classic
A lot of great songs here, plus some nostalgia. Solid 4/5
A couple recognizable tunes a couple boring tracks. Not a perfect album but a fun listen.
Listened to this album last week for the first time and wasn't a huge fan, this week I love it. Weird how mood and environment can effect your taste in music... but anyways, this is a book club, not a psychology club. Blister in the Sun is definitely the heavy hitter on this album, starts us off with a bang. Please Do Not Go, Gone Daddy Gone and Good Feeling are other favourites. I love the contrast of Good Feeling to the rest of the album - beautiful melody, strings out of nowhere, what a way to finish (not including the two separately released singles at the end in this review). Love their stripped down sound, refreshing to hear something that isn't too over-produced these days. The bass player is awesome. Feels like a pretty influential alt-rock/post punk album - found their sound reminded me of the Pixies at times. Lyrically it feels comically juvenile at times but the songwriter was 18 at the time so I'll allow it. This one will probably get added to my "albums to listen to while working" rolodex.
Liked it. Wouldn’t make my regular rotation but some great tracks and can definitely see the influence they had on what came later.
Enjoyable listen. Unique. Catchy song. Raw. Love the bass and rhythm section.
Nice sounds enougth angry to make middle angry
Enjoyed the almost chilled punk vibe
Good stuff, punky whingy stuff. Not every track hit, but there were some great tunes in there.
I'd kinda heard of Violent Femmes, but wasn't overly familiar, then I'd listened to this album a few times last year and really enjoyed it. 4.5
v good
I forgot hi ow many great songs are on this
Love it!
I love the heavy use of acoustic instruments and the range of influences that are evident in their music
Excellent album, Gordon Gano sounds very similar to Tom Verlaine (of Television) but both bands couldn’t sound any more different!
This album has always been oddly enjoyable to me. In some ways it’s a recipe for disaster; Gordon Gano’s whiney vocals, the wild bass playing, the minimalist production. But somehow it all meshes together and the album weaves in and out of frustrated angry punk and gentle radio-friendly pop songs like they were always meant to be together. The fact that Blister in the Sun, a song that’s played at stadiums to this day, is on the same album as the menacing Add It Up is just amazing. Also this came out in 1983! Thinking about all the alternative/indie bands this influenced is also wild.
love the sound, but lyrics could be... tough at times
Només coneixia "Blister in the sun" i he descobert un àlbum molt entretingut i amb cançons senzilles però efectives, on convergeixen rock, punk, americana i fins i tot una mica de reggae.
Such an iconic artifact of post-punk/early alternative, and it still holds up very well in that context. There's a strong whiff of juvenalia - and why not, it was made by kids - and the Lou Reed/Velvet Underground influence occasionally shades from homage to near imitation. The editing isnt perfect - there are several pretty clunky and abrubt fade outs in songs. But overall it's a surprisingly mature (in its vision and execution) and polished album.
What the fuck was gimme the car. Otherwise great album especially good feeling. Surprised that i still know the words to kiss off when i haven’t listened in Years
My favorite Femmes album. SO many great singles.
I confess, I already have this album. Although the first song of Violent Femmes I heard was (of all things) "The Country Death Song." Very strange, but there you go. Saw them live in college, with the original drummer. It was very interesting as he only had the snare and very little else. But that's how this whole album is, right? (More on that later). You've got a great one-two-three pinch in three of those first four songs: "Blister In The Sun," "Kiss Off," and "Add It Up." "Please Do Not Go" has a Bob Marley-esque kind of feel to it, believe it or not. It's too bad that the first song seems to have been reduced to being the song people clap along to at baseball games. It's a great song, a song about drug abuse (another one of those songs people probably should listen to more closely before they rock out to it...). So, the drums. The rest of the instrumentation doesn't bother me as much, because they do vary up the song styles. And it _DOES_ work. But just the snare? It does make it feel a little... one-dimensional. I always hoped for a little more that way. So that always nags at me, every time I listen to the album. It's that that makes it a 4-star, not a 5-star album for me.
These guys are just so...eclectic? I don't own any of their albums and probably never will but I always find myself strangely drawn to their songs when I hear them. Something about Gano's unique vocals, the unique musical arrangements (e.g., xylophone on Gone Daddy Gone...love it), or the off-kilter lyrics. I know American Music isn't on this album but that sums up their stuff - you hear it once and you think that's a stupid song. But you hear it twice and you can't stop singing along. I guess that's why this is a cult classic. If you quickly listen, you move on angrily. But if you give it a couple listens, you crave it any time you need something good but different than the rest. Or when you want to have some sing along fun. First 4 tracks are a great sequence, even if Blister in the Sun is way overplayed. Prove My Love is also a lot of fun, but also sounds a bit like Kiss Off and Add it Up smashed together. I know these guys and this album aren't for everyone. But they're/it's one of a kind (and good). And that's worth something.
Fun album. Blister in the Sun is one of those songs where I didn't know the name and then immediately said, "I know this!" Good song. I enjoyed pretty much every track. Not groundbreaking (unless there had never been punk folk before?), but a fun listen. Favorite tracks: Blister in the Sun, Kiss Off, Please Do Not Go (great bass break in the middle), Add It Up. Good stuff - I'd definitely listen again.
Nice album. Definitely a reference for future bands that came after it.
Violent Femmes made an awkward, angsty, sexually frustrated record which sounds like nothing else at the time. Creepy yet engaging, disturbing yet funny, this is a high octane burst of brilliant alternative music. With xylophones.
blister in the sun - 3.5 stars kiss off - 3 stars please do not go - 4 stars add it up - 2 stars confessions - 3 stars prove my love - 3.5 stars promise - 4 stars to the kill - 5 stars gone daddy gone -5 stars good feeling - 5 stars ugly - 4 stars gimme the car - 5 stars
Melhor album até o momento. Quase dificil de descrever a experiencia. Um disco que brilha pela crueza que apresenta. As vezes senti uma vibe country, em outras me remeteu à crueza punk, ou a fase inicial do Nirvana. Desde a primeira audição ja ficaram várias canções na mente. Blister in the sun (Riff e vocais excelentes) Please do not go (Riff de baixo viciante)
Discazo, temazos, mucha energía
Sounds like urban punks trying to be hillbillies and I'm hear for it
Það er eins og fólkið segir: þessi plata er frábær! Ég tengi hana svo mikið við síð-níuna að ég gleymi því alltaf inn á milli að hún sé frá snemm-áttunni.
I ended up really liking this. The vocalist has a great idiosyncratic voice.
En osympatisk kille förstörde det här albumet för mig i många år i och med att han gillade det hårt. Dags att vara sjysst.
Jonathan Richman minus genialitet? Men vilken platta som helst med Blister in the sun förtjänar ju en fyra hursomhelst.
Denna lyssnade jag sönder när jag var typ 13. Tror jag lyssnar på detta istället: https://open.spotify.com/album/3oloiyQgCoTq0t155i0anl?si=pULN_yKXRdib2-etZIlXxQ
Total classic.
Više mi se sviđa nego prije, što je jako pozitivna stavka.
Punk beatles
It remains unclear how ironic this was ever meant to be. In real time, one definitely found it the most direct, extreme and clinical expression of Smithsian disaffectedness. It was as if punk anger slid from posturing to pathology and was delivered acoustically. And it was dangerous in a sense; one wanted to ask one's fellow frat party dancers if they took these cuts (either to the recorded versions or those supplied by up-to-date cover bands) if anyone was taking this seriously or – perish the thought – literally. "Do we hear what they're saying? Do we agree?" is what one wanted to know. But not wanting to seem too dull or obvious to the dark, reticent, pre-goth non-cheerleaders who seemed to dig the record, one decided to keep one's mouth shut. Today, it seems far too cleanly presented, if still quite authentically delivered. The catchiness lapses to kitschiness eventually. And the proceedings even read cute today (see xylophone on "Gone Daddy Gone" which is effective and refreshing, though the solo is probably overkill). It scans nearly as parody, being quite light and bright musically in contrast to the doom and gloom emotionally. Indeed, the notion of VF as black-comedy novelty act (the alt music equivalent of Harold and Maude, say) is borne out by the fact that they came and went in a blink and don't seem to have milked matters on the afters market too gratuitously. Still, as a genuinely fun listen and a richly representative artifact of a time, of a place, this record retains distinct value.
A great record whose acoustic leanings prove that punk doesn't have to be loud and fast; the aggression still comes through in the twisted lyrics and vocal delivery and the perfectly mixed rhythm section
When this album came out, it felt like a breath of fresh air. Raw and unpolished, but catchy at the same time. Especially relevant if you were a depressed teenager at the time (which I was). Excellent debut album. 4 stars.
Great!
First one on the list is already a favourite one. Great start!
Flip off your parents, but you won't because this ain't punk. Make out with Mary from biology class, but you won't because this ain't that kind of teenage drama. It's just you listening to whiny angst ridden Violent Femmes, and loving every moment of it.
Reminds me of a bad part of high school, which is a shame because this album slaps. I thought seeing the Femmes a few years ago at an outdoor festival would purge some of those memories, but the venue was overcrowded with white MAGA dudes who were still pretending to live their high school glory. Why can't I get just one screw?
A fun sound a fun album
Toksično ali ipak s razlogom kultno
Cute little album. Such a vibe. Sad they never rlly made anything else this good.
Notes - folk punk, alt punk record - debut album - most of the songs written while the singer was in high school - awkward nerdy edge, but self aware - super stripped back instrumentation lets the song stand on its own - sounds like sitting around listening to some guys you know playing songs - i listen to this album pretty regularly - lotta great earworm melodies and choruses Fav - Kiss off - iconic Least fav - To the kill - sounded like a worse version of songs already on the album 4/5
Rough and ready acoustic punk, and who could fail to love xylophone solos.
Really surprised how many of these songs I knew - wasn't aware of ever having heard much besides Blister. A pretty ace album actually.
Yeah good blister in the sun is classic
I always forget that they're Blister in the Sun. The rest is nice too
Pretty familiar with this album already. It has a lot of great stuff on it. 4/5
This is still pretty good, but not as life-affirming as REM’s debut, or at least it isn’t by today’s standards. Still, I think that “Blister in the Sun” and “Add It Up” will go off at any point in history. B
nice
Like their 1st two albums. Energetic, simple.songs, good voice.
This album has some interesting "figures" with the guitar and the bass and also the voice of the singer make the album interesting. It's also a very peculiar rock the album has this grunge style with classic rock. However a big part of the album sound the same which could make it kinda boring but with no doubt it's a good album to listen to.
Fun eccentric vibe, with dark lyrics Great album
This is not an album to be analyzed. This is one to turn up loud, sing along, and remember how fun college parties were with warm beer and sweaty people oozing pheromones and freedom.
It's been at least 30 years since I've listened to this record — though I heard "Blister In The Sun" in a store or somewhere just the other day — and I remembered more of it than I expected. This struck me as such a wild departure when it was released, acoustic punk with a sense of humor, and I liked it then, but I considered it something of a novelty record. But it's really a good album. The songs hold up, the playing is better than you think it is, and lyrically, there's a lot to like. I was a bit reticent, thinking this was not going to live up to my teenage memories ... why can't I get just one fuck? How subversive. But this is no novelty record. It's definitely affected and not right for all occasions, but it's good, for real.
Yes! This is most definitely an album to listen to before you die. Preferably in your late teens with friends at the party when you are ready to dance. Just don’t jump on the bed…it will break.
Pretty hype. Never noticed the velvet underground influence before. - 4 stars
This is a great alternative album. I’ve included it in my library.
Punk folk. Brilliant. Even better if they made a punk rock version.
I like it a lot, his voice is so laid back, their songs feel so punk, so free, and it's easy to listen, definitely gonna add most of the songs on my playlist. It's apparently Folk Punk Album which I've never heard of, and I would like to hear more!
comico constante, ludico y original blister in the sun ★ kiss off confessions ★ promise gone daddy gone 3.8
Simplicity. It’s three dudes in a half circle around one microphone, singing these catchy little tunes. Love it (8/10) FT: Blister in the Sun, Kiss Off, Confessions, Gone Daddy Gone
It’s raw and radical, it’s childish and refreshing. These early days of Indiepoppunk had their genius moments. And they are still there even 40 years later!
They’d be great for shaky. There were a few songs I knew that I didn’t know was them
Love the Violent Femmes! They’re so incredibly unique and fun to listen to.
Upbeat fun and a couple ear worms
Enjoyed more than I thought I would.
Good, grungy vibes
This is a super interesting album. I'd heard Blister In The Sun plenty but never listened to the whole record. It sounds as if it was made far later than it was. Very early pop punk, indie rock mix. Enjoyed it.
Absolutely good melody
Another new find for me, I had not heard of Violent Femmes before this. Sounds a lot more 90s than early 80s. Love the bare-bones production. And the xylophone solo on Gone Daddy Gone has no business being that good.
The OG folk punk album
First time I've ever hear the full cd played through. Moving this into my rotation.
Weird but great!
requires a few listens to get into it, is quite innovative for year 1983, but other bands made it better later on. 7/10
Actually never listened to this full album. It's really good.
Oh Hell Yes. Though this album is slightly too entwined with my memories of working at Dick Smith and a particular branch manager at the time.
L'esperit DIY que impregna el disc, i el seu to marcadament alternatiu, li dona una capa d'encant especial. És EL disc de la banda, i el material està entre el millor del rock alternatiu dels '80. 'Blister in the Sun', 'Gone Daddy Gone', però també 'Confessions', 'To the Kill', i de fet tota la resta brilla d'una manera que el grup no sera capaç d'assolir mai més en el futur
MAD nostalgia points for this one! "Blister in the Sun", "Kiss Off", "Add It Up", "Promise", and "Gone Daddy Gone" were in heavy rotation in late middle school when I was establishing my iTunes library and let me tell you, them play counts were HIGH.
Blister in the sun! One of the best guitar riffs / acoustic guitar riffs of all time. So simple and memorable. I didn't realize this album (this band?) was so acoustic-driven. I love the bass sound and performance that pulls your attention throughout the entire album. It is easily the defining voice on this record. Acoustic bass guitars aren't so commonly used and man does it sound great on these tracks. Overall I thought it was great. Blister in the Sun is obviously the standout track and I think the only thing that hurts the record is that there are a few songs that sound kind of similar to that one and it doesn't stray too far in any direction from that one sound.
Already listened
Pas 100% mon genre, mais c'est impressionnant comment cet album sonne en avance sur son temps. Ça aurait pu sortir dans les années 90
I thought I’d get tired after the first song because the vocals are… unique, but I had a fair amount of fun listening!
Pretty fun album. Only knew the single and there’s more to this band than that one song from all the indie comedies.
Unique, fun and creative
Ahead of it's time. Very fun, big punk sound. Amazing bass.
Amazeballs
Bra shit
Ça change un peu et c'est frais
un peu mal à l'aise sur la chanson ambiance incel mais on va considérer qu'ils l'ont écrite dans le cadre d'observations sur la nature humaine (cf Emile Zola ou Damso avec la chanson Julien notamment) sinon un kiff
Listened Before? Y YES! Perfect listening for a Friday! This brings me back to my high school days. Dripping with nostalgia and a great album to boot. VF is the worst sounding good band out there, IMO. Added to Library? N Songs added to Playlist: Kiss Off, Add it Up
The album with Blister in the Sun on it! That’s essentially all I knew about it before listening. Folk punk is a genre I really didn’t know existed, but it’s incredibly cool! The style of vocals on this album, half lazily talking and half singing, isn’t always up my alley, but it works very well here. Overall, the album is very fun and I enjoyed it a lot!
Loved it! Obviously knew the first song but I didn't know anything else. I really enjoyed the stripped back acoustic punk style. Definitely a keeper!
Jolly. I enjoyed that.
My ex was a violent femme. She would come home, take her bra off and beat me to a pulp. Her tits had an unbearable pong that often caused me to vomit all over our medieval furniture that she insisted made the house look like the kind of fuck chamber ancient Kings used to force maids to suck them off in. I disagreed.
Not remotely violent
what a great album! I had been burned out on some of the classics (Blister, Gone Daddy) but I really enjoyed the other songs far more than I expected to. 4.5/5
wow - really liked this more than i thought i would
Good mix
Man, that band that was on Sabrina the Teenage Witch is really good.
Never listened to the album before, despite being well acquainted with Blister in the Sun. More than a touch of Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers which is no bad thing. Will definitely listen again.
A really excellent album full of youthful energy. There are a couple of dodgy lyrics here and there but on the whole, it's a delightful portrayal of a teenage experience.
I love this album. I love this band. Saw them live twice (decade apart). Each time was the same. Loads of leather-elbowed types enjoying themselves to the limit, belting out the songs.
Muito bom.
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Yeah
One of those bands that you'll instantly recognize on the opener. West coast pop-punk, the bass is the standout on the album. This was a fun listen.
I was unduly suspicious, though admiring, back in the day. It all felt a little too much, both too obvious and too cheeky. My suspicion came from too many young women (albeit cool ones) liking them, a general preference for more artful Anglo angst (aka, The Smiths) and perhaps a reluctance to embrace such raw emotion (not a trend that’s necessarily gone well since). It’s pretty bright for being so dark and holds up pretty well; a lot of volume gets produced from the small-scale configuration, plus generally crisp playing and a solid differentiation of songs. The records beyond this got pretty shaky pretty quickly. But the 4 is merited.
This album screams high school to me even though it was released well before I was in high school.
A neverending rush of bombastic, jangly, at times serious early alternative rock that deserves its distinction as the Femmes' best. Favorites: Blister in the Sun, Please Do Not Go, Add It Up, Confessions, Prove My Love, To the Kill, Gone Daddy Gone, Gimme the Car.
4.25
Sounds like they released the demo, but it works. Angry acoustic. Angroustic.
Love Blister in the Sun. I feel like there’s probably some other pretty decent tunes on here that I like if I was as familiar as I was with that opening track. I wouldn’t have picked Folk-Punk as one of my favourite genres, but I like the dirty DIY sound of this.
Ah, Blister in the Sun. Tooon. Gruff vocals. Anti establishment growling. Rinse and repeat.
What a classic record. Very stripped down and simple, yet so witty and complex. Great listen.
I liked it more than I thought I would. Never was a huge fan of their hits, but their deep tracks are pretty cool!
I've heard a few songs off of this one. I dig it, it gives me like this weird uncomfortable but super upbeat vibe. I'll end up checking out more of their discography at some point. Because this felt pretty out there, and it's own thing.
Was pretty great
An alternative classic. The acoustic instruments give the angsty songs a unique flavor.
YUH
I still love the Violent Femmes. This was never my favorite album, but it's still fun to listen to.
A simple production but lyrically very fun and honest record. That's what songs should be all about. 4 stars.
Rock alternativo-folk. Muy animando. Está bastante bien.
Amazing album. Unique voice. 8-9/10
02/02/2022
This album was a lot of fun. Some of the lyrics are pretty awful but I can get past that. Will definitely check this out again.
Rock alternativo-folk. Muy animando. Está bastante bien.
I adore the sonic palette of this record, with its spanky basslines and homegrown, rough-around-the-edges feel. The production and vocals blend to create the epitome of angst and the teenage underground scene of the time. BEST TRACKS: Blister In The Sun, Kiss Off, Add It Up WORST TRACKS: Confessions, Promise
punchy, love it
GREAT! So many great songs. 4/5
it was ok
i wouldnt have guessed it came out when it did. does that mean it was ahead of its time? energetic and raw and in my opinion fun.
Violent Femmes is the band's first and most successful album to date. It was released in 1983. First folk punk album I've heard. My favourite songs: Confessions, To The Kill, Gone Daddy Gone, Good Feeling. Also the CD bonus track "Gimme The Car" is funny. :)
lotta bangers
Possibly a 4.5. Felt like a big influence on Neutral Milk Hotel. Love the poppy relatable angst.
Fun folk punk! Lyrics drew me in (surprising) despite whiney tone.
Angular, clattery, post-punk performed on mostly acoustic instrumentation is a good concept, and this is well-executed. 'Blister In the Sun' and 'Gone Daddy Gone' are the obvious earworms here, but there's a lot to enjoy in this weird slacker soundscape.
Yeah, I'm with Andy here. Never owned this record, can't recall a specific time I listened to it, can't think of a specific friend who loved it, and yet somehow I knew damn near every song. Maybe it's because a bunch of these tunes found their ways into movies? I dunno and I'm not gonna Google that. Love the bratty imperfection of it all, and I feel somewhat safe in saying "Blister in the Sun" gets played on classic rock radio? Does that sound right to anyone else? Kind of amazing all around.
Pretty good indie. Extra star for having two xylophone solos in Gone Daddy Gone
Definitely reminds me of Jonathan Richman with the strangely intense sincerity, the vulnerable vocal delivery peppered with practiced emotional stammering, the old timey backup vocals, and the generally upbeat but cleverly knowing sound they have going. Despite these similarities it somehow comes across as completely original. Perhaps it's the strangely poetic and playful lyrics that definitely have a darker edge than Richman's, or perhaps it's the quiet loud dynamics and the way they can play with what seems like wild abandon and then just stop and focus it and go in a completely different direction on a dime. Or perhaps it's just that acoustic bass. Holy Shit. You can also tell who was listening and influenced by this (Frank Black and The Pixies). A huge link between some of the more cult acts of 70s and college rock and the alternative and indie rock that followed.
Never heard of them. Thought it was great. Love the poppy punk and the lyrics reflecting their age perfectly.
Wasn’t expecting a lot but was pleasantly surprised
An album that very much took me by surprise. Given the genre/my limited knowledge of the band I really didn’t expect to like this but it won me over and after my first listen I immediately went back for more. Great sound, great songs, great album.
I don't know if I actually never heard the rest of this album (past Blister) or if I just don't remember it. But - either way - I love it. It's so good. I get that it sounds simple - or even "bad" - to a lot of people. They may listen to it and think - "I could write those nonsense lyrics" or "I can play the guitar as good as him" or "I could have come up with that bass riff" - but guess what? They can't. And even if they could, they didn't. So fuck them. Plus, I now realize what an influence the Femmes must have had on Dispatch - another band I'm fond of. So props for that.
Thought it was excellent throughout.
More of a 3.7, but rounded up to 4
Them nerds done good.
An absolute gem of an album.
Great new album now in my life
Love me some acoustic bass... Stone cold classic. If you were a teen in the 80s or 90s this album just exists in your brain, fan or not. Let's call it Femmeosis.
8/10 Muito bom
Add it up banger Blister in the sun - classic Post punky
4.5
Very good, especially as most of the songs were written when he was 18. A little Jonathan Richman influence...
A very nice album
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Blister in the sun, Please do not go, Gone daddy gone
I have a lot of thoughts on this record. The first time I found out it was from the early 80s, I was shocked. This feels like a crazy, weird, experimental record that felt like prime mid-90s territory, among the likes of Beck, Cake, etc. This record feels so ahead of its time it's insane to me. Wikipedia describes this as a "folk punk" record and, while I can kind of see that, the folk punk I'm more familiar with is like... early Against Me!, as well as a bunch of smaller, local bands from my basement show days. Plus, this record has a lot of influences from blues and maybe even bluegrass. Total blast, super fun. Favorite tracks: "Add It Up", "Gone Daddy Gone"
Was für eine schnodderige Chuzpa! Grandios low fi und dabei so wuchtig. Wie geht sowas?! scheppernde 4.4
Really good this, folk-reggae-libertines vibes
Strange, but fun!
Classic album. "Blister in the Sun", "Kiss off", "Add it up", "Prove My Love", Gone Daddy Gone", "Good Feeling"
4
Really good
Super catchy, Would be great at a house party. A bit same-y after a while, but good to come on a playlist. Great bass guitar work.
treads the line between lackluster and intensely passionate.
I really enjoyed this album.
Great album - weird to think that this was a good 25 years before Bright Eyes!
Great mix of folk and punk rock. Music and a voice that shouldn't work, but they work so, so well.
Violent Femmes on Violent Femmes by Violent Femmes war Kids see Ghost bevor die Kids Ghosts gesehen haben
Very powerful and eclectic album from what I usually listen to. Has punk influences (1 of their members was from the Pretenders), which I really like (vocals). Hints of folky-banjo vibes. Kind of a curious name for a band when you think about it.
fun, rustic, invigorating
Amazing that is from 1983. Sounds of the mid 2000s at a minimum
Не, нормальная тема. Качает, напевается, не душит. Но не откровение. Blister In The Sun и Confessions запали. Если потянет на панкуху - возможно, обращусь. Надеялся, что название группы переводится а-ля "Жестокие женщины", но не, там сленг какой-то пиндосский. Не люблю, когда локальные мемесы выносят на публику без пояснения. Особенно когда на аву какую-то хуйню ставят, спрашиваешь "Нахуя?", отвечают типа "А, да это локальный мем наш, забей...". У-у, су-ука... Но в контексте данного альбома не особо коробит.
An absolute swanky jaunt of folk punk. The vocals are unique and distinctive, and the style feels so ahead of its time for the early 80s.
Good, catchy
This is awesome! In no way does this sound like 1983, it's more like early 90s grungey sounding, which is totally my thing. I love this. I didn't even know Gone Daddy Gone was a Violent Femmes cover, I should have known this stuff. I'm not sure how this band got past me, not anymore, this is a most pleasant surprise.
More my genre, found the middle bit not as rememberable but the better songs definitely ranks it higher. Always been a fan of Blisters in the Sun
Oh that was so good. Only knew the first track, nice to discover “new” music this way. Dirty bass.
I enjoyed Violent Femmes. "Blister In The Sun", "Kiss Off", "Add It Up" and "Gimme The Car" are great songs.
Scrappy, fun, and hooks for days
Rubbish bar 1 song
Love this sound. Rock, folk, and punk elements. The vocalist is particularly my favorite part.
Like an acoustic energy ball. I like it!
garage bandy. not bad. reminds me of pixies
One of my mom’s favorite bands so I am about it. Grew up with it
Mum, can we get The Pixies for dinner? No, we’ve got The Pixies in the freezer at home The Pixies in the freezer
Always liked Blister in the Sun, Add it Up, and Gone Daddy Gone, but many of the other songs sound familiar. Not sure if I ever listened to the whole album before.
The lo-fi recording style, threadbare instrumentation, and frenetic energy of this album all work wonderfully together. Worth another listen just to piece together the themes of sexual frustration and denial that run throughout.
Great sounds. Punchy driving. Very angsty. Love the raw,.unpolished sound. Lyrics are by a bunch of guys who just want to get laid. Juvenile but it works with the music.
This is awesome! In no way does this sound like 1983, it's more like early 90s grungey sounding, which is totally my thing. I love this. I didn't even know Gone Daddy Gone was a Violent Femmes cover, I should have known this stuff. I'm not sure how this band got past me, not anymore, this is a most pleasant surprise.
Classic!
I think I would be hard pressed to find an album more ahead of its time than this. The fact that this came out before stuff like The Pixies, Nirvana, or basically any other altrock/indie band is unbelievable. And on top of that, it's a fantastic listen.
Peak Scott Pilgrim. Should probably add some songs to library.
Really liked it, not as heavy as I expected. Will listen to it again.
Bardzo fajny vibe buntu młodości w brzmieniu jak i w tekstach. Prawdziwa kwintesencja punkowej muzyki. Słuchając tego albumu ma się ochotę na prawdę wstać i wykrzyczeć coś ludziom wokół. Na pewno będę wracał do tego albumu, żeby dodać sobie energii.
zajebiste pozdro
Alt sound to the 80s. Blister in the sun and go daddy go are great
Classic.
Great folk-punk-indie-whatever. Short and to the point. Blister in the sun is of course a classic
This was a weird album. I really enjoyed some songs, disklied some of the others. It just felt a bit jointed. It's definitely ahead of its time, like everyone else I kinda assumed it was from the mid 90s not early 80s. I'm glad it added a couple of tracks to my playlist but I don't think I'll listen to the whole thing again. 3*
3.5
I like their guitar work. I don't love the singing. Gone Daddy Gone is fun!
Сбивчивый и чистый вокал-речитатив как у Surfing bird + rubber zebra, но мало инструментала и заполнения Я это написала несколько месяцев назад и сейчас поймала себя ровно на те же мысли,
No sería algo que escuché en mi día a día pero se siente como si un diario fuera un álbum.
I was okay a the sound was a bit harsher than what I usually listen to but it was good.
средненько переслушал дважды задает энергию и настрой в манере исполнения есть какое-то легкое отношение к переживаниям и из-за этого не воспринимаются серьезно. Это тоже взгляд не буду переслушивать хитовых хитов прям нет, но есть запоминающиеся треки 3.2
It's very obvious how influential this album is just by hearing it. There's some really good tracks on here, and I love me some folk punk. However, this album's popularity also proves that incel behavior is way too normalized in society. I hope this list has other folk punk albums. I understand why this one was included, but in order to truly appreciate the genre people need at least one other example where the lyrics aren't awful. P.S. I'm mad that the "Violent Femmes" is the name of a group fronted by questionable men instead of a group fronted by lesbians.
pretty good a definite classic. type of songs everyone has heard from somewhere atleast once. just not really my tyoe of vibe
Good and original punk! Very authentic sound!
Several iconic songs - Blister in the Sun, Add It Up, Gone Daddy Gone. Very distinct sound that was ahead of its time. A lot of this album sounds the same, and some of the songs can be kinda whiny and grating. Overall decent though (3).
Hmm, I expected a little more from this album that I didn't really get. Sure, its a good album and has a hit song I've heard a bunch, but the rest of the stuff didn't move with me.
worst best album
me gusto, no es que lo escuche con mucha atencion pero me gusto
neuritically good
not bad
So I’ve never listened to this record in its entirety because I’ve been irritated by the song “Blister in the Sun” since the very first time I heard it 40-whatever years ago. I made it through the whole song this morning, though, so be impressed with me. No, that didn’t improve my opinion. The Violent Femmes have a slight resemblance to the Modern Lovers, except that the singer doesn’t have Jonathan Richman’s sincerity and quirky sense of humor. So it all just ends up being annoying. Wait though, “Gone Daddy Gone” is fun. I was going to smack a 2 onto this record until that came on.
some very nice lyrical moments there
Última semana completa de agosto y vamos con esta banda que creo me suena de nombre y, si no es así, su nombre me llama la atención. Suena simpática, punkie, pero más tranqui. Me recuerda a bandas como Descendents (Please Do Not Go) o The Damned (Add It Up) pero más lights. Debo decir que al principio me costó enganchar pero después entré. No me voló la cabeza pero me agradó. Gracias y hasta mañaña
I was curious to hear this largely acoustic punk/post-punk album, having seen it named on quite a few ‘best ever albums’ lists. In fairness, it does sound rather ahead of its time for 1983; quality-wise, however, I thought it was okay but nothing special. Based on a couple of listens I don’t really get the hype. ‘Blister in the Sun’ is the most famous track and it's… fine? ‘Add It Up’ was probably one of the better tracks, plus ‘Gone Daddy Gone’ (the xylophone really added to it), and the genuinely lovely ballad ‘Good Feeling’. Decent 3 stars overall.
3.5
Weder noch. Aber auch nicht unhörbar.
really enjoyed the first few tracks and also gone daddy gone but the rest was meh
I was surprised this came out in 1983, felt more like the 90s. It was hit and miss. Some great songs (Blister in the Sun, Prove My Love and Ugly) but lots were forgettable.
A acoustic and folk-leaning punk-album is something i didn’t have the desire to seek out before. I find it hard to believe that this album is from 1983, i would’ve located it more in the 90s. So i guess the album was quite forward-thinking back in the day. Now, i enjoy punk, so i was trying to be as open as possible. After the first shock i adjusted my ears to the clash of acoustic guitars and i quite liked the sound. It got grating at some points, but nothing so bad as to turn me off. So that folk-punk idea is kind of working for me. The big problem, though, is the lead singers voice. My god, it is grating and annoying me so much. Other punk-singers can hide insufficient vocal chops behind a wall of noise typical for the genre, but Gordon Gano doesn’t have this advantage. Some tracks are straight up unlistenable to me because of his vocals, especially Blisters In The Sun, Act Up and Confessions. It really takes a lot away from the record. Some songs, namely Kiss Off, Prove My Love, Good Feeling and Ugly are still big fun and i will probably keep them in my rotation. So ultimately, the album has some cool ideas and i like the general directon. And that xylophone? Lovely.
I always thought that Violent Femmes was something like Throwing Muses, or maybe even the same band. But it’s more like an episode of Monthy Pythons Flying Circus: “and now for something completely different”. Not really my liking but I can understand why this album is part of the 1001. And that’s something that can’t be said about every album in the book.
3.5
A New York punk rock sounding album in the vain of Iggy and the Stooges or Lou Reed. Lots of upbeat energy is there in tracks like "Blister in the Sun". And there is some more gritty punk feel present too. The track "Blister in the Sun" was used in an advertising campaign in the UK. Which caused controversy in the band. However, had it not been for this, I would have not heard this song. Which raises the debate of, when is the use of a song not acceptable? Is using a song to promote a product beyond the pale? If so, is radio similarly distasteful. Especially if it is a commercial radio station? Personally I believe that exposure is exposure and this does not mean that a piece of music is devalued by being used in an advertising campaign. However it does run the risk of being forever associated with a thing. As per Reef's "Place your hands" when used on the UK television program TFI Friday. (2.666)
Wisconsin’s greatest acoustic punk trio. Great musical ideas and some terrible themes.
I've been very hot and cold on this. On my first listen I thought this could be a revelation; the missing album in my musical history, tying all the threads together. On the second listen it reminded me of a scratch band who just scraped the runner up position in a year 9 battle of the bands. Maybe this all averages out at a 3. Good tracks I especially enjoyed: * Kiss off * Blister in the sun * Good feeling
Très sympa ça commence a tiré vers du rock un peut plus punk/garage
Random take men om man låtsas att det är Svampbob och Patrik som sjunger och spelar så blir det ännu bättre.
2026.08.18.
Man, I just love the 2000s grunge rock scene….. THE FUCKING 80s???
Not my music, but understandable why it is listened by people
Lyrically off, of its time, wouldn't go back.
the punk/folk combo was new for me... and it did't connect that much with me. can see the appeal but I'm still not a punkhead.
i feel like i've listened to this album at some point... it's not bad? couple more good songs than i gave it credit for 💥blister in the sun 💥kiss off 💥add it up 💥gone daddy gone
no sé si los pixies estuvieron antes que ellos, pero se escuchan muy influenciados por ellos o los pixies fueron influenciados por violent femmes.
Jeg tolkede folk-punk-lyden mere som rockabilly, men uanset mærkat utraditionelt for perioden. Kunne godt høres igen.
Rock alternativo competente e divertido. O contrabaixo tem bastante destaque nas músicas. TRIxHBB Kai.
Pretty wonky guitar and bass sounds on this. I enjoyed some of it, i’m just not a huge fan of Ganos vocals. Melodically kind of uninteresting to me outside of blister in the sun unfortunately.
Pretty decent. It has a kind of punk-ish sound to it but it's so low-energy that it's hard to think of it in the same category.
Voy 56 discos y la mitad se parecen a esto
Somehow this is both annoying and good enough to be completely average.
It came with a lot of hype when I first heard it years ago. It was fine then. It's still fine now.
The upbeat songs are the ones that shine on this album for me. Punk lyrics and vocals over acoustic instruments is brilliant. The slow songs are rough though.
I loved this album when I was a freshman in college. Today, I learned that I have matured quite a bit since freshman year…
Didn’t blow me away but enjoyed it. Impressive how much “size” they get out of the broadly acoustic sound set here. Good album
Besides Blister in the Sun, it was mostly unmemorable. But I do like this band and their vibe.
Better than expected. Stripped down and basic.
Not exactly my thing with the sort of sparse instrumentation, but it was okay. I only really liked Blister in the Sun, Prove My Love, and Promise.
Surprisingly enjoyable
This was way ahead of it's time for 1983, it sounds like it could easily be from the early 90's. It has an alternative vibe that is certainly different than a lot of the other popular music of the time. I enjoyed it, but for as influential and groundbreaking as it surely is, it didn't knock my socks off. Which is fine, it's a good album in a vacuum, and it takes on a surprise factor when you learn when it was released. But that in itself doesn't make it particularly special.
lol its pretty vibey and im surprised i knew one of the songs beforehand and idk what that tells me about me at the ripe age of 21. "kiss off" was the song. well the rest.. was.. interesting.
i just don't understand at all the praise this album is getting. but it isn't a bad album though
A classic of early 80's punk. Seems like Blister in the Sun has appeared in a million movies and TV shows--it's almost a parody to use it now. When I was in elementary school all the middle school kids were into this, so I pretended to be as well. Anyway, not bad album.
i liked it
Was not what i expected, lovely songs with deep meanings and elegant instrumentation, big fan
Je pensais pas aimer et en fait j'ai passé un bon moment Playlist pick : Gone Daddy Gone
It was a good album. Many of their songs sound the same
I can see how this is foundational. There's some songs on the album I'd listen to more than once, but it's like 3/5 one and done for me and it's not really my style.
I am torn. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it, thought some of it was pretty decent. 2.5 stars.
It's alright. The guy can't really sing but some of the tunes were catchy.
At under thirty minutes this barely qualifies as a full album by conventional standards, which makes it all the more remarkable that it still manages to feel uneven. The opening one-two of “Blister in the Sun” and the promise it establishes set expectations the back half can’t consistently meet — a familiar problem, but more pronounced here than most because the gap between the peaks and the valleys is genuinely wide. The peaks are real. “Blister in the Sun” is transcendent in the specific way that opening tracks can be — the kind of song that resets what you think a guitar and a voice can do together in under three minutes. “Add It Up” is the other anchor, the song that works at maximum volume late at night when everyone is sufficiently committed to the moment, which is its own category of achievement. These are songs that have appeared in movies, TV shows, and club sets for forty years for good reason. Gordon Gano’s voice is the variable that determines everything else. When the material is strong enough to carry it the adenoidal intensity is part of what makes the record feel like nothing else. When the material isn’t — and “Please Do Not Go” is the clearest example — it tips from distinctive into wearing, which is the honest ceiling on what the record can do front to back. A three with two genuinely great songs inside it. Worth catching their festival set at Bourbon and Beyond for exactly those two songs. A standalone show in Roanoke is a different commitment, and this listen settles that question cleanly.
very interesting, not usually what i would listen to but definetely don't hate it, kinda like the vibe.
Listening to 𝘝𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘍𝘦𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘴, it’s easy to hear the roots of what would later be called alternative rock. The album doesn’t fit comfortably into any one genre. There are traces of folk, bits of rock & roll, punk energy, and a quirky acoustic sound that feels entirely its own. What I find most interesting is how unusual the album still sounds. Even decades later, it doesn’t really resemble what most people think of as alternative rock. The stripped-down instrumentation and nervous energy give it a personality that sets it apart from many of its contemporaries. I enjoy the album’s originality, but I’m not sure I enjoy the album itself as much. I can hear why it became influential, yet I never feel completely won over by it. In the end, I admire it more than I love it.