Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby is the second studio album by the indie rock band Girls Against Boys. It was released in 1993 on Touch and Go Records. In his retrospective review, Ned Raggett of AllMusic wrote, "when Girls Against Boys released Venus Luxure, it was clear that the quartet had really turned into something spectacular. Avoiding the clichés of early-'90s indie rock for its own surly, charismatic edge, Girls Against Boys here kicked out the jams like nobody's business." Trouser Press wrote that "Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby is where all the flailing around starts to gel."
There are far more "post-hardcore" albums here than quality, influence, popularity, depth etc demand. I guess the author just liked the scene at the time. This wasn't a bad album by any means, but it *was* unremarkable. 3/5.
Nothing extraordinary about this album.
It's post-hardcore, so every song sounds heavy, and the vocals are scratchy and mono-tone. It all sounds a bit dated. If the vocals were better, the songs might have held up.
Wow. This one was easy to rate.
Wikepedia gives the genre as "Post-Hardcore, Indie Rock, Noise Rock" - of these "Noise Rock" seems to be the most appropriate for this truly depressing album. The album's only claim to fame that I can see seems to be that one of the tracks, "Bulletproof Cupid", was used in the "Need for Speed: The Run" video game soundtrack. Not sure how this got into the "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" list?
Completely utterly worthless
Horrid, horrid indie. I'm done with this shit. Really can't listen to this sort of crap these days.
Never heard of these folks. This was a fun enough listen, although nothing revelatory. I'm sure there are a bunch of more exciting post-hardcore bands that shoulda made the cut before this, but thems the breaks! Fave track - "Go Be Delighted"
Just painful. Angry adolescent noise. (Having said that, I'd probably have been really into this when I was about 15.)
Indie shit
Not a fan at all.
Let’s be honest, I am totally biased when it comes to this type of bands. The DIY musical movement has my heart and soul, so my opinion is going to exaggerate their pros while omitting their misses. Loved this album from start to finish. Lots of energy thrusted by great vocals and dual bass work. 100% recommended if you are into Fugazi and Dillinger Escape Plan
I have nothing against this album in particular, it kinda just sounds like less creative but less abrasive Sonic Youth. But I am a bit annoyed that all that Wikipedia can say about this album is that one of its songs appeared in a Need For Speed game. Did we realllllllly need to listen to it? 5/10
Album #16 Another band/album that I was not familiar with. From the get go, there is a clear garage/indie vibe with a very unique sound. I was wondering if the mixing was off because how the bass sounded (loud and rough), but it turns out that there were two bassists playing - neat! The vibe that it gave me was very early 90s grimy garage rock or even a post-hardcore sound. I digged this album, but it wasn't jaw dropping. I can't place any standout tracks and the lyrics, assuming you can make them out, aren't memorable. A generous 3*
They have a heavy sound that leads nowhere, in my opinion. Nothing terribly exciting or above average with their sound and really a second tier hard rock/metal/grindcore/hardcore band. Okay, but far from essential.
Ooh, guess I'm only the third person to review this! A nice and much-needed heavier rock album to grab my attention for a bit. It absolutely slaps! Definitely sounds newer than 1993, too. This is one that's totally new for me, but I found myself liking it a lot. Favourite: Let Me Come Back
Really liked this one, saved for future listening
Not my genre of music, but this band nailed it. Was actually quite good
One of my favorite bands.
Heard about this band, never listened to any albums or songs. Really good. Really, really good.
Great song
Een paar fantastische nummers. En een paar middelmatig. Al bij al een goed album dus
Really enjoyable
Eindelijk weer eens een album wat ik nog niet kende maar wat me positief verraste! Ik ken een ander album van deze band maar dit is ook lekker puntig en opzwepend.
Heel vet! Er zijn 2 andere plaatjes van Girls Against Boys die ik beter ken, maar deze is ook te gek!
I have no idea why I didn't hear this back in 1993. This is very much in the vein of what I was seeking out. The raw analogue power of the presentation. No-nonsense rock that performs at its full capacity. If you ever hear about an act whose performance feels "honest", this band fits the bill – Like how you can hear the edges of all the complex emotions that Tom Waits brings to his performance? I understand that there is always studio magic going on here, but this album captures that ineffable quality of performers giving you what they have. It almost has a "one take" quality, as if the musicians are playing simultaneously in the same space for a work that feels organic, whole, and sincere. I can easily see myself sitting on the dubious couch in the corner of their rehearsal room listening to my friends while I get my calculus homework sorted for university. This album takes me to a time when I had big feelings and big plans.
Unexpectedly delightful. I love that this list introduces me to things like this that I kind of know exist but have never dived into. Fave track for now: Learned It
Lovely stuff
Overall liked this album. The sound reminds me of Kyuss or early Queens of the Stone Age - which is a sound I really vibe with. Definite re-listen.
Sombre, mais pas lourd. M'a fait penser à Tool parfois, un groupe que je découvre et que j'ai envie d'écouter plus
That opening bass hit is great. Unique sound focused in the bass end. A good mix between punk/alternative/almost metal.
An album on this list finally straight up my alley. Proto-post-hardcore from the 90s. Solid stuff.
Never heard of this band. Good listen, will listen again.
Def rocks, pretty nondescript
The lightest of fours.. has a few good tracks later on in the album, I like the grungey rock kinda sound
Really good, had some bangers, energetic rock, can't ask for much more. (75%)
Good hard alternative rock - love the drums - not much to write home about but I’d definitely like to revisit.
Weak sometimes, but in general i dig that
sounds like smashing pumpkins but actually good
Very QotSA-esque
Creative rock
Dark, edgy, and fucking cool. Never heard this band before but it's great.
This is the kind of grunge I can get behind. A little thin, my opinion a bit inflated by intrigue about the band, there's more than a little bit of romance.
Me surpreendeu positivamente, esperava nada e veio coisa boa.
I liked this. Very 90s, but in a good way. Will listen again.
Solid 90s rock. Not much to say about it.
It's loud, it's heavy, and it has some solid riffs. But it's also a little dull if I'm being honest. Not bad, not great, sort of okay. 2.5 stars.
I only knew one of their newer records before. This record is a lot better. Sludgy post-hardcore. People who liked them were probably also into Fugazi, the Jesus Lizard and maybe Quicksand and Helmet. GvsB have a less harsh, more laid-back vibe. The songs are repetitive and long, but I like them. Favorite song: Billy's One Stop.
more boring than i wanted it to be — nothing terrible, but not much great either.
This album is good but not great. Kind of a 3.5. The overall sound is pretty cool, but it doesn’t come together for me.
Pretty generic stuff. Can't say I really enjoyed it all that much. 2.5/5
5/10. What's the point?
Guarantee their garage smells like body odor, cheap marijuana, and vomit. Best track: 7 Seas
pretty sure I've heard of this band but IDK if I've ever listened to them. I'll have to dig in a bit more. I do enjoy this, though I've never listened to a lot of post-hardcore.
C'est special, un beau bizarre. Je ne suis pas certain du style, c'est mélangé et pas très mémorable. Ca aurait été probablement un haut 2 mais je me rattrape, car j'ai mit 2 a MArylin Manson quand J'aurais du mettre 1. Donc un 3
This lives on the edge of 90s alternative and what would become contemporary post hardcore. It is in that that this album flourish with a macabre tone and downright dooming demeanor. An otherwise beautiful little secret of 1990s rock.
3.5
I am here for this bass tone. Satin Down I'm not so into. Bullet Proof Cupid is a cool song.
Liked a good bit of it.
Alright I jaut started, I love the instruments but I'm not too keen on the front man. I think different vocals could be better, it is the 90s though so I get it. Okay Learned it is a banger. That little riff at the beginning was siiick. like creepy nine inch nail vibes, they need more melodic break downs and shit in their other songs because this workssssss. back half of this really surprised me.
Exceedingly generic 1995 sounding noise. This came out in 1993 so does that make it ahead of its time? Made zero impression.
I don’t know, I’m usually a huge fan of this dancey punk rock but I feel like this one just kinda washed over me Might come back to it in the future though to se of my opinion changes Favourite tracks: In Like Flynn, Bullet Proof Cupid, Billy’s One Stop
3/5
Much more my style compared to some of the other stuff on this list. It doesn't really stand out for me though. Most of the songs are really solid without much else. The back half of the album definitely brings it up a notch though.
It was interesting. Surprise.
The raw aggression of this makes me like this and hate it at the same time. I am impressed by the weight and seriousness of the sound, and also feel like I am hanging out with assholes, as they repeat phrases like "I hope you don't have a good time." The fact that they had two bass players is interesting, and I can appreciate how that is shaping their sound into something unique.
I've already forgotten about this
Strong sound. No idea what any of the lyrics are about.
Good sound to it.
Some of the songs are fun, some sound incredibly dated.
Pretty hard. seems ahead of its time. 3.5
Solid rock but nothing to write home about
I like it. It's my type of music. It's representative of the time, with a more pop-oriented sound of the grungey end of early 90s post-hardcore. I can hear Fugazi and Mudhoney as predecessors, and Deftones as a successor, in terms of the high distortion, growling yet accessible vocals, slow groove with heavy bass, and alternation between loud busy chaos and unsettling quiet. The best part is the contrast between the two basses. Lots of songs I like, with several not standing out enough. It's a decent album, but I'm not able to fall in love with it like I can with other similar records. Favorites: Go Be Delighted, Learned It, Bughouse
Listenable, but I wasn’t in the mood. 3* I think
Good album! Nothing too great and very repetitive. It's like Trance/Acid Indie Rock or something. I could see maybe some Nine Inch Nails influence or Pixies influence. Not bad, but not great either.
Listenable, but not memorable. Pretty close to a four; I might re-listen.
Ganksa kul. Låter lite som punk och stoner-metal. Rockets Are Red, Learned It och Bullet Proof Cupid var bäst. Hade en ganska chill, lite tuff vibe. Kanske är det det som man kan förvänta sig av punk-stoner-metal.
Based on title/band name - wasn't excited. Got through album. Was decent.
Went in one ear and out the other, fine but forgettable.
Didn't really grab me. Vocals are seldom the strong suit of this kind of music and these are uninspiring even in that context.
I honestly thought that this was gonna be another female led 90s indie rock thing but it was actually just an average male 90s indie rock album. It felt like a less memorable queens of the stone age thing where I had no strong feelings while listening to the album and will probably immediately forget about it as soon as it ends. It was by no means bad or grating, it was just whatever.
pretty dank, almost 4 stars, may return and give it another listen
I thought this was good. Hadn't heard before and was a reminder in some way
Brani Preferiti: - "Bulletproof Cupid" - "7 Seas" Note: Mi piacciono i suoni hardcore e grunge di questo album. Diciamo che la musica pesante e ripetitiva su cui il cantante canta in maniera rasposa è ciò che caratterizza il genere post-hardcore. Devo dire che sentire due bassi e una singola chitarra è stata un'esperienza interessante, in genere è stato un ascolto carino per passare il tempo.
Pleasant surprise of decent 90s metal mixed in with some Slint-esque ominous guitar work here and there. 3.5 stars.
first listen an alright album
Grungy, hard guitar. 3.5
Pretty good
Good background music while working. A bit too slow and boring to actually "listen" to. I know some of their other albums feature songs that are faster and way more energetic which I prefer over the majority of the songs on this album.
2.5/5
This was decent. It came out in 1993, so it's hard to tell if it's derivative of or an inspiration for bands like Rage, Tool, and Marilyn Mason - but I'd consider it to be in the same bucket. It's very much NOT any of those bands, but you catch hints of it throughout.
Eh. Noisy garage rock. Nothing special. Pass.
Indie rock. Hardcore.
Helt nice bortsett att sångaren var hemsk
Pretty cool post-hardcore. Having two bassists is something I’d like to hear attempted more often
De cara achei que não ia gostar não. Mas o começo do álbum me agradou, senti que se perdeu um pouco ali no meio mas pro fim ele pegou o ritmo novamente. Fave: satin down
fucking terrible name. it's got nothing on pocononce.
I liked more than I thought I would so 3 stars.
Decent garage/hardcore-ish LP with a few fun tracks. Can’t say anything has stuck with me throughout the day, though, and there are far more notable albums from the time period.
Heavier than expected. However the album didn't stick with me. First impression wasn't that great and I might need to revisit it.