Throwing Muses

Not available on Spotify as of September 2026. It's on YouTube, though, and you can listen with your screen off and without ads by using the Brave browser to access the playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDIxWXRU4UDo6zvUgDsqL4R94CyK9oTRT

I've listened to the Breeders. I've listened to Belly. This is better than either of those. This album is now in my rotation.

dull punk cool album cover though

Not listened

Not much to say about this one. Its just some nice enough rock music. Lady led is nice. It just isnt huge for me. Plenty good but not that memorable. Didnt save anything. There were a couple good bass lines thay made me consider it but It didnt stay at that same level throughout. Just good enough. Decent. Mildly enjoyable. Thats all I got.

Dreadful

Not bad

Još jedan užas od albuma. Bokte mazo. 1/5,1/10

Never heard of these before, can see why the label signed the Pixies after hearing these guys

Good find! I was listening to their 2003 album of the same name by accident and thought "a bit late to the early 90's American Alternative Scene"... annnnd BOY WAS I WRONG! 4.5 Stars because i like this stuff.

What a revelation this has been. I spent years championing all- and female-fronted rock bands on college radio and never once played Throwing Muses. And yet I feel I’ve heard their sound in every female-fronted band and female solo artist I’ve listened to since. The angsty delivery, the screams, the cryptic lyrics, the dark atmosphere, the raw, almost homemade sound, the sense of experimenting out of necessity, the wild guitar and bass work, and the pounding drums. This must have sounded so fresh back in the day, and it still does now. The link in the top review is WRONG! It points to their 2003 self-titled album, not the 1986 debut, so check the track listing before you press play. You can easily find the original on YouTube or elsewhere. Better yet, track down a copy of In the Doghouse if possible (with this album included on it + extras): it’s amazingly raw and urgent. A monumental album.

En la onda de elástica y otros girl distortion de los 90 pero suena más monótono

There's so little female representation on this list, so it's disappointing that I really disliked this.

I was looking for this album and found it under a different name. I liked the intensity of the music. I also liked singing mostly but her vibrato would get a bit much in some songs. These songs were longer. So it’s definitely a challenge but I really liked it overall

This was ok. Would probably like more in a better mood.

Like it 3/5

This gives average jrock

(6/7) awesome stuff, especially for something no one seems to have ever heard of before

Cute listen, I really liked their energy

Listens: 2 (barely) Standout Tracks: Green, Hate My Way I honestly think I would have really enjoyed this - I did enjoy this in some capacity - if I could have found a proper, full version of the album in decent quality/fidelity. Lo and behold though, the only place I could listen to the "album" was on shitty Youtube (not YTM), where some mook uploaded the music 16 years ago (honestly though, thank you) and Google for some reason turns a blind eye to this - basically - piracy. So, Google allows people to upload music to Youtube and does nothing about it, but doesn't hold the rights to let you listen to the album from their music platform... cool. Then on top of that, two of the ten tracks were simply unavailable. So, I only listened to 80% of the album and from what I did hear, I liked. It's too bad that the only way I am going to be able to properly listen is to sail the high seas.

Apple Music note: Look for this debut on the 1998 compilation 𝘐𝘯 𝘢 𝘋𝘰𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦. The jangly guitars and rough-edged indie-pop sound are appealing, and there’s enough going on to make this an enjoyable listen. What’s missing for me is a song that really stays with me once the album ends. I like what I’m hearing without getting particularly attached to it. Perhaps I’ve heard too many similar records by now, but this one doesn’t do much to separate itself from the pack. I don’t need every debut to reinvent guitar music; I’d just like a stronger reason to return to this particular one.

Not bad by any stretch, but also nothing that really jumped out at me.

5 / 10

Главное, не перепутать альбомы . Оригинал 1986 года теперь в in doghouse. А то куда веде ссылка совсем не то. Оригинал норм, но ..,

Amazing debut. I really started to listen to Kristin Hersh before getting into Throwing Muses...so I was destined to like this earlier stuff, too. (My favorite album: Sunny Border Blue (2001).) Yes, I really like this stuff. 5 "can't get enough of her voice/inflection" stars.

Very grungy and punk rock/pop punk vibes, a little grrrl music.

This was tough to find because it's not on Spotify and is not to be confused with the band's 2003 album which is also self-titled. However once I found the tracks on a Youtube compilation... I really enjoyed it. Enjoyable punk-rock album from a more raw version of Siouxsie and the Banshees. Also reminded me a of a short-lived 2010s British band called Savages. Good stuff just wish it wasn't so hidden.

Sounds like something churned out from the 90s grunge era, but just not as good.

Declaração pré listen. como pode um album com 1º música com 90 k de streams vei ... mas vou ouvir de mente aberta. desde o começo do album da pra perceber uma atmosfera indie. parece uma banda de 4 jovens descompromissados com o estudo colocando a alma num sonho distante. é incrível ? não | inovador ? não. mas sem dúvidas tem seu valor

I liked this, but I liked the other music from the band that I went and checked out after more than I liked this album.

Excellent album. I had never heard of the "Throwing Muses" but I really enjoyed this album (glad there's another album by them in the project). Some songs look deceptively simple...for 20 seconds. The tempo variations, the chords, the lyrics...are really interesting. And the vocals are also great (at times they reminded me of Tori Amos ("Green") or Angel Olsen ("Soul Soldier")). Some songs I particularly enjoyed: "Call Me", "Green" (probably, together with "Soul Soldier", my favourite and, interestingly, the only track written by Tanya Donelly), "Hate My Way", "Vicky's Box", "Stand Up", or "Soul Soldier". Overall, a very solid 4 star album.

Sounds like free spirits.

Eh

..

equal parts grating, unctuous, and tedious.

A lot of female punk energy on the album. That's a good thing. The music is cool, dark, and melodic, and just a little bit aggressive. You can hear their influence in bands that come after them.

how the hell had I never heard this before? It's right in line and on label as stuff that was so so formative for me and yet, totally unknown. Music is amazing... Had to go hunting for the full album off streaming but was worth it. Not totally mind blowing for me but I'll be returning to it and Throwing Muses + solo projects in the future.

3/5

Really nice female perspective

Throwing Muses Throwing Muses 1986 Genres: Rock Styles: Indie Rock, Post Punk, Alternative Rock 1. Call Me (★★★☆☆) -Contexto: Retrato de soledad y desamor. La voz narradora ve cómo algo (una relación, una época) se termina irremediablemente, mientras se hunde en un pozo de introspección que ella misma cavó ("me enterré cinco pies bajo tierra siendo profunda"). Se siente invisible, patética ("qué perdedora"), y termina reducida a esperar pasivamente que alguien —cualquiera— la llame. Es la típica canción de Hersh que arranca agresiva y termina en una coda casi tierna. 2. Green (★★★★★) -Contexto: Es la única canción del disco escrita por Tanya Donelly, y es una elegía de amor. Donelly contó en una entrevista con Uncut (2020) que la canción habla de su primer amor, un chico que murió siendo muy joven, y que el título hace referencia al color de sus ojos. La letra funciona como un duelo alucinado: ella construye una "ciudad" en su cabeza con él, se pone su ropa "como armadura", lo compara con un fénix que renace en su cama, y cierra aceptando que él "se va de nuevo". Es, según la propia Donelly, una de las canciones más difíciles de tocar en vivo por lo personal que es. -Fav 3. Hate My Way (★★★⯨☆) -Contexto: Un catálogo de identidades y odios posibles (podría odiar a Dios, a Hitler, a la escuela, al sudor) que la narradora va descartando una por una, porque el problema no es odiar algo externo sino "su propia forma de ser". La letra mezcla violencia real (hace referencia explícita a "Mr. Huberty", el autor de la masacre de McDonald's de San Ysidro en 1984, que se disparó en la cabeza) con imágenes de infancia rota y termina preguntándose abiertamente por qué quiere morirse. Es la canción más citada del disco por su crudeza. 4. Vicky's Box (★★★⯨☆) -Contexto: Está dedicada a Victoria Cessna, amiga artista de Kristin Hersh (esposa de Slim Cessna). La letra mezcla la vergüenza y el ocultamiento de la orientación sexual de un personaje masculino con una descripción del hogar como jaula ("me siento encerrada"). Hersh la enmarcó en general dentro de su experiencia con la depresión. 5. Rabbits Dying (★★★★☆) -Contexto: En una charla online, cuando le preguntaron de qué trataba, Hersh confirmó (medio en broma, medio en serio) que la canción es sobre una adolescente sin techo que queda embarazada de su novio, también sin techo, en una carpa o refugio precario ("lean-to"). El conejo agonizante que da título a la canción funciona como metáfora de esa fragilidad: un cuerpo que ya "no tiene piernas", que es observado por el tiempo mientras se apaga, con la orden repetida de "no correr a ciegas" y "no salvar el cerebro". 6. America (She Can't Say No) (★★★★★) -Contexto: Pese al título, no es una canción de comentario político directo (aunque la crítica de la época la metió en esa moda del indie americano de tener "una canción política"); la letra es más bien una pesadilla de parálisis y pánico: alguien que no puede pararse, no puede decir que no, sueña con un funeral propio y siente que la atraviesan con una espada. Es ansiedad y miedo llevados a imágenes casi de terror nocturno, con la frase "América no puede decir que no" funcionando como eco de esa incapacidad de reaccionar. 7. Fear (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Una meditación directa sobre el miedo mismo. Hay una figura que sostiene el dolor de otra persona sin quebrarse, frases que piden literalmente "dispará y morite", y un estado de shock permanente. El estribillo repite "miedo" una y otra vez como un mantra que se parece a la propia cara de quien canta. 8. Stand Up (★★★⯨☆) -Contexto: Escena de celos y confrontación, con imágenes infantiles y oníricas (un árbol enorme, la oscuridad que asusta) mezcladas con frases agresivas ("rompete el brazo", "pará"). Parece describir una rivalidad amorosa o un vínculo doméstico tenso, con la orden "stand up" funcionando como desafío. 9. Soul Soldier (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Usa la guerra como metáfora del amor: un soldado se arrastra por un campo de batalla mientras el cielo "escupe" balas, y una mujer necesita a su "soldado" para sentir que tiene alma. Es una de las canciones más largas y estructuralmente más "de rock" del disco, con la dependencia emocional retratada casi como una herida de combate. 10. Delicate Cutters (★★★★★) -Contexto: Es, según lo confirmó la propia Hersh a la revista Mojo, una canción sobre su propia autolesión ("estaba cubierta de cicatrices pero no sabía cómo habían llegado ahí"), ligada a lo que en ese momento se diagnosticó como bipolaridad y que ella reinterpretó después como un trastorno disociativo (su "Bad Kristen" o "Rat Girl"). La letra describe paredes que gritan, una figura que se arrastra por el cuarto, cabezas que se estrellan contra ventanas, y termina en una sala llena de "cortadores delicados" abriendo puertas: una imagen casi grupal del autolesionismo. Cierra el disco sin final feliz, solo con guitarra y la voz de Hersh. -TOTAL = ★★★★⯨ (4,05) -Un álbum que resulta hasta "íntimo", oscuro, sonando ciertamente mal por momentos, pero sinceramente me "fascinó" el personaje de Kristin Hersh, y al terminar de escucharlo por segunda vez inevitablemente terminé valorando más... por poco no le pongo cinco estrellas la verdad.

I liked the social commentary and darker tone.

Not sure if we were supposed to listen to the 2003 album or the one from 1986. It was not good especially for 2003. I don’t really have any context for this. Maybe the 80’d one was better. I’d give it a 1 for 2003 standards. 2 for 80’s standards.

Sounds bad

Not even sure I listened to the right thing but I really didn’t care for this which sucks because I love lady singers

Feeling unsure on how I feel about this. On one hand, I kind of like the tone of it. At least some tracks. A bit like some softer Nirvana. On the other hand, no song really grabbed me. It all just passed me by quite unnoticed. Definitely lies in the borderlands of 2 and 3 stars, but I think in the end this will be a weak 3 stars. A bit uninspired, but I've had worse 3 star albums.

I thought this was ok. The female vocals really work and I prefer it when it leaned more towards punk than grunge. Kind of cool but no songs grabbed me and I don’t feel like listening to it again. Weak 3.

Two albums in a row that I had to track down because they weren't streaming. I even had to kind of splice this one together to listen through it. I realized partway through that I had been listening to the wrong album (very strange for a band to self-title two separate albums, but I digress), and I couldn't find a complete playlist for this album. Anyways, it was really great, and it is a shame that it is a bit difficult to find. I can certainly see myself coming back to this album repeatedly. There are a few minor stumbles (I think "Soul Soldier" and a few other tracks have a bit too much vibrato), but they are pretty small all things considered and I am willing to overlook them given my overall enjoyment of the album. I'm glad I listened to this one. Favorite track: "Green"

Who inspired who, The Cranberries or Throwing Muses? 3 stars

This links to wrong album on Spotify, had to go to YouTube. I've never heard this band. This was really good. I hear influences on Interpol, PJ Harvey and Arcade Fire, and influences by Patti Smith, Siouxsie Sioux, and a bit of Echo and the Bunnymen.

Grunge several years prior. I enjoyed this album a lot.

En mi lista de Spotify se reproduce no este debut sino el disco de 2002 titulado igual. Pero claro no es lo mismo, este último es inferior (salvaría la parte final con SolarDip, Epiphany, Half Blast y Los Flamingos). Tiene un sonido más basado en Smashing Pumpkins que en ellas mismas, aunque muy por encima de lo que harína los Pixies por esas fechas. Volviendo al debut del 86, autotitulado igualmente como el otro, In a doghouse incluye además el Ep Chains Changed y algunas grabaciones de esa época, la mejor de su intachable trayectoria. Fueron pioneras en muchas cosas, una banda liderada por dos mujeres de enorme talento Kristin Hersh y Tanya Donelly, y que son un claro antecedente para los Pixies, palabras mayores. Call me, Green y sobre todas hate my way, Vicky´s box. Con influencias de REM, peor también de B-52´s. The Go-Gos o Replacements. Este es esencial pero el resto no está nada mal, también los de Hersh en solitario (colaboración con Stipe incluida) The Real Ramona (4AD, 1991), Red Heaven (4AD, 1992), University (4AD, 1995) y Limbo (4AD, 1996), más alguno posterior; estos tres últimos ya sin Tanya Donnelly, que logrará el éxito siempre merecido por la banda madre al frente de Belly, una supernova de pop crispado y luminoso de la que germinará el fascinante Belly (4AD, 1993) y el infravalorado King (4AD, 1995).

I hadn't heard this early release of theirs, but it strikes me the same way the later albums did. They were creative, and made music that sat in a unique little pocket of indie rock, but it's not my stuff. Too jittery and unstable, like someone talking to you incessantly who barely pauses to breathe and keeps changing the subject.

Mercury

Tycker sångaren låter som Fiona Apple och av nån anledning gillar jag inte henne så då blir det ett lite lägre betyg. Men annars gillar jag det, verkligen tidigt 2000-tals rock.

Definitely can hear the potential in this one. You can also hear how this sound influenced the Pixies and how they would define late 80s alt rock. Nonetheless, it wasn't the best listen and I had to listen on YouTube.

Not my thing, never understood their sound or minor popularity.

3.5

Surprisingly, I had never heard of this band until now, but overall I thought it was a pretty good album. To me, it clearly represents a specific stage in the evolution of alternative music. When I think of 80s bands with a strong female presence, like The Runaways, Babes in Toyland, X, and The Pretenders, this album feels like a natural next step. It works as a great bridge between that era and what would eventually become the female-led alternative and grunge bands of the 90s, such as Hole, L7, and The Breeders. It sits in the middle of that timeline, pulling in punk influence, raw and stripped down indie production, and tempos that lean toward early grunge and alternative rock. Since this is their debut, it definitely makes me curious to hear where they went from here and how their sound evolved after this album.

Hey, this is quite deeeeceent!! I love her vocals and can absolutely smell the connection to the Pixies which is superb. Would lean towards 4 starts, however unlike Pixies debut, I am not hearing much in terms of really memorable writing and moments, but absolutely strong 3 stars, but I'm only halfway through.

This is great, post punk, pre grunge. For those who couldn’t stream it giving it one star, there is a ‘did not listen’ option, use that rather than ruining the rating system.

Never listened to early-Muses. Tanya Donnelly being in the band at this period really shines through, as there are snippets of guitar lines and melodies that get picked up again on Belly's first album. I've always loved the allusions and imagery that both Hersh and Donnelly manage to conjure in their work, and it's good to see that's in place at the start of their careers.

There should be more bands formed by step-sisters. 3.5.

Love the story behind the band. Wish I would have given them more listens in the 90s when I liked this genre more.

I just couldn’t get over the vocals which just grated on me. I can understand why some people would like it, but just not for me.

This was just not for me. Harsh vocals, that just were unpleasant to listen to in the main. Bizarre song structure and tempo changes - especially on “Soul Soldier” (which I actually found rather unsettling to listen to - it made me twitchy.) You can hear the influences of Siouxsie and the Banshees et al everywhere on this album, but it doesn’t have a hint of their musicality. Unorthodox, to say the least, and not in a good way - for me, anyway. Probably a 1.5*, but I can not in good conscience round up as I could find nothing about it I genuinely could say I enjoyed.

Once again I am struggling with post-punk. There are parts of this I like - some of the actual music is appealing to me, for example the bassline on Stand Up - but 90% of the time I can't stand the vocal and don't find most of the tracks particularly interesting. I don't have a lot to say about it either. It's just not for me. Better than a 1 because it doesn't inspire hatred, just indifference. 2/5

Нетривіальний пост-панк, в мене рівень задоволення скакав по альбому нерівномірно. Вистачає хорошого матеріалу. Поставив зараз 3.5, але думаю, що варто повернутися ще раз.

Дивна плутанина за назвою альбому ітд ітп. Початок мені сподобався, кінцівка - ні. Загалом я б сказав що доволі цікаве відкриття з цього списку.

I was surprised that I had to find this album on YouTube. The image on this page isn't even of the original release, but of a combined version with an EP and some demos.

Good at their sound but not an album I would return to.

Didn’t know what to expect, but it turned out decent

This album blended perfectly with my day, female punk-like is always nice

Not bad!

Some interesting shoegazey sounds here

Nothing special. Kinda my style of music but not done in a very good way.

Really interesting and well worth the listen. I like how some of these songs develop and change throughout. Her voice can be haunting at times. Favorites were Hate My Way, Soul Soldier, and Delicate Cutters

great punky debut LP + EP + demo cassette

Usually rate these albums on a would I listen again basis. Probably wouldn’t with this, although it’s not bad. Gets another star for the use of cowbell though.

Great voices but not memorable to me

ok

Very valid alternative music with female vocals to put on in the background. Doesn’t necessary break through to the front for me but still pretty good.

I really liked this, so much that I looped it around and listened to it again. 4 for now and who knows, it might upgrade to a 5 later on. This album also inspired me to listen to Throwing Muses other work which I am enjoying as well.

This was great! Awesome voice and great indie rock stuff years before it's time!

Fun run from a powerhouse underrated band.

An album not being available on streaming is kind of an automatic ding, especially when the artist has other stuff there, so this better be good. It's largely good more than bad, but I don't love the lead singer's wailing. Fortunately she doesn't go to that well all that often, but there's some real off-putting Yoko-esque material here.

Interesting punk/college band sound. Singer resembles Gwen Stefani

It's okay, nothing new under the sun, just okay.

Decent alt rock album that isn't bad, but struggles to keep consistent momentum from song to song. Some high points & some low points come together to make a perfectly mediocre album. At least it isn't dragged on at all. Top tracks: Hate My Way, Vickie's Box, Stand Up

Wikipedia saved the day. I was halfway through listening to the band's self-titled 2003 album, which is linked here to Spotify. I realized that what's actually on the 1001 list is the band's untitled 1986 album, which I was able to find on YouTube. To reiterate: 1986 - untitled Throwing Muses album. 2003 - Throwing Muses by Throwing Muses (self-titled) It actually was an interesting listening experience, because they changed a lot in those 17 years. The earlier album was a lot more evocative and emotional; the later album was polished but didn't leave much impression.

Very nice to hear. I didn't know them. I put them into one of my playlists and I will try to listen to them a little more to get to know this band.

Very up my alley. Sad that this is my first time hearing Throwing Muses! I particularly like that it sounds better than just about all 80s bands of a similar style. Good work, 4AD Shout out to anyone who likes Mass of the Fermenting Dregs

Surprisingly worth going out of my way to track down and listen to the entire album. I don’t know that I’d rather listen to this than Siouxsie and the Banshees if I have that as an option, but the performances on here are still very strong.

Full disclosure, this got real short script. Paris got in the way. Listened to two songs, did not form a full opinion.

Another one of those albums where I almost like it but there’s just something off for me

Struggled with the bleating lyrics, but otherwise this was pretty good

I couldn’t find this album on Apple Music or YouTube, so I listened to an available playlist instead.

Pretty good, wish it was less rock more Midwest emo

I guess I listened to the wrong one, it was really good though Will I listen to again: 80%

This was a great record. I enjoyed the vibe, will relisten

Checklist: -Female lead vocal -rough guitar -great rhythm Yeah, I like this band. 4/5