Throwing Muses is the 1986 debut album of the band Throwing Muses, released on British independent label 4AD. This was the first album by an American band to be released on 4AD, which had concentrated primarily on British-based acts up to this point. The release marked a shift in the label's direction; a year later 4AD would sign Pixies based in part on the band's connection to Throwing Muses, and by the mid-1990s much of the label's roster was made up of American bands. AllMusic calls the album a "powerful debut" whose "startling collision of punk energy, folky melodicism, and Kristin Hersh's mercurial voice and lyrics...puts the work of most self-consciously 'tortured' artists to shame." The review praises the record's "fluid, effortless emotional shifts"—also described as "violent, vibrant mood swings". The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The album was originally released in the UK by 4AD in August 1986 (CAD607) on LP, CD and cassette. Sometime around the early 1990s, the album went out of print, as plans were made by the band's American label, Sire Records to issue the album for the first time in the US, along with 1987's Chains Changed EP, which had also never seen American release. After Throwing Muses were dropped by Sire following the disappointing sales for 1995's critical favorite University, plans for the re-issue were dropped. The band later resurrected the re-issue project, issuing the 2-CD compilation In a Doghouse in 1998 on 4AD (DAD607CD) in the UK, and on Rykodisc in the USA. This compilation not only contained the debut LP and EP as originally planned, but also (on the second CD) the demo tape that convinced 4AD president Ivo Watts-Russell to sign the band; newly recorded versions of songs originally written in the band's early years; and the band's award-winning 1987 video for the song "Fish".
One of the many things I discovered in this journey is how much I actually love female driven punk. I mean, as a former enjoyer of Avril Lavigne's emo pop-punk, I should've seen that coming. This album carries the female punk energy that I love. But it's sound is quite sonic and atmospheric despite the chaos. It's more post-punk than punk. Still, it has just the right level of grittiness and filthiness from punk. It hit all the right spots in me.
https://open.spotify.com/album/3rIziXSp46zL1jmweXITHy?si=_nFXDUBFSnaG0WFcAaQbrQ Listened to this link for Throwing Muses Album
bleat [bleet] noun 1. the cry of a sheep, goat, or calf. 2. any similar sound (the bleat of distant horns). 3. foolish, complaining talk; babble (I listened to their inane bleat all evening).
Crazed blissful caterwauling. I have been a fan of the Throwing Muses for decades but was admittedly unfamiliar with this album. To be honest, I didn't like it at first but decided to push through. I gave it a second listen, then a third, then a forth. It had grabbed me. It is like a dream or a lucid waking nightmare. It also paved the way for a lot of American indie/underground music that follow Pixies being a prime example
Isn't this new? Not on Spotify, Amazon Music, nor is there a Youtube playlist for them, so I had to create my own, which will probably be broken in a week due to potential copyright strikes. This was hard to find, but damn it was it worth it. It's my kind of music! For some reason, I especially love post-punk music with female vocals, from the B-52s to Siouxsie to the riot grrrl movement. The instrumental is cool, dark, and melodic, and the vocals swap across registers to show both eery and beautiful emotions she's able to portray. Gets a bit psychedelic in some parts, like the dreamy segments of "Rabbits Dying" that transition to an off country hoedown. Also gets really fun and energetic to dance to but simple and straightforward (like New Wave without the excessive instrumentation). No weak songs, I enjoyed them all, but possibly for the same reasons. The production can be a bit hollow in some places, but the lofi sound adds to its aesthetic. I can't wait to explore the rest of their discography. Favorites: Call Me, Green, Hate My Way, Stand Up, Soul Soldier
Absolutely worth the effort to piece this one together. Underneath the surprisingly effective combination of grungy guitar and near honky-tonk rhythms is a frenetic energy that keeps one on their toes, not knowing which way the track will dodge next but fully understanding the new direction when it does. For being released pre-90s, the LP also shows a prescient vision of where guitar-led music was headed with early dips into grungier tones and abrasive vocals. Overall, this LP is an exemplar of why I put up with some of the more questionable albums on this list, as its hidden gems like this which make the experience worth it.
It's a cranky and hard album, but after the stodgy traditional borefests of Dwight Yoakim and Rod Stewart it feels exciting and refreshing. It's not a sane album, and I don't know if I want to listen again. But I'm very glad I did listen to it.
This album is why I do this project! What a find! Super solid early post-punk with strong vocals and killer riffs. I'm all about it.
This album was not present in its entirety on Spotify so I had to go through Youtube. Anyway, this is very refreshing punk/alternative rock. I love the signer voice and the producing of the songs. It seems there is some pixies influence on thise album. I was surprise because I did not know about this band at all. I liked it 4.
I remember the band's name from when they were popular but I don't know if I listened to them. Glad I have now. This is a solid album. I like the edge to their music but I also hear precision and style. Great balance and not easy to do as I can imagine a less skilled band going too far in one direction instead of showing the intelligent restraint this band shows. I love they way they play with tempo and song structure. Some really cool ideas in here. I'm relistening right now to "Green" because I love the sound of that arpeggio the guitars play.
This was cool. Bit goaty, but I like goats. Never heard of them, will hear them again.
Weird in all the right ways. Best track: Hate My Way
Nice to see some post punk/alt on here. It's a genre that deserves more attention. I hope we see more albums from the 80s. 3.5 stars.
I think this is a remarkable album. I’m sure I’ve heard of this band before but can’t remember the context. This predates Pixies and is as early a “90s indie” album as I can think of. I listened to their 1991 album The Real Ramona and thought that was spectacular as well. The fact this is from 1986, was released by a British label, is by a band fronted by two women, and is so tight, unique, and confident a debut all at once congeals it into something special. It’s sent me down a long forgotten rabbit hole today listening to bands that Throwing Muses undeniably had a huge impact on with this debut: Autoclave, Rainer Maria, Liz Phair, Pixies, Modest Mouse, Bikini Kill, Nirvana, Breeders, That Dog, and so many others. Hell, it paved the way for the entire 4AD label, now home to indebted powerhouse indie acts like Adrianne Lenker/Big Thief, Deerhunter, Tune-Yards, US Girls, The National…. A great, great, important album and honestly one of my favorites discovered via this group! Thanks 1001 Albums Generator! You da best! 4/5.
This album feels like a total prelude to what would be 90s indie and alternative music. There's this grungey aspect to it but then there's still that reverb-y fingerprint of the 80s in there. I read somewhere that the Pixies opened for Throwing Muses. This album has a lot for me to unpack. Lyrically, I'm trying to follow what's going on but I feel like it's relatively cryptic stuff. Or maybe my brain is too small. Instrumentally is where I'm sold on my first listen. Basslines that bounce, basslines that feel dark and broody, Hersh's voice that switches from smooth to shriek to calm, the random percussive elements ("Rabbits Dying"), some VERY sick riffs ("Call Me", "Hate My Way" "Stand Up"), the (dare I say) beat switches ("Soul Soldier"). I get this B-52s silliness from a lot of the more upbeat tracks and a Toadies type of 90s from the slower ones. This is another album that really feels like it's in between the gradient of 80s and 90s, a connective tissue between two decades in music with very distinctive styles. I'm kind of just rambling here writing notes as I wait on my flight to board but, in essence, I feel like this is one of those times where I "get" this album and I "get" why it's on this list. For music lovers, especially those who have an interest in the intersection between post-punk and indie rock, this album feels like it has to have been an inspiration to many and the fact that this band went relatively unnoticed makes me think they deserve to be heard.
Album not available on spotify
super cool
Wow! What an album!
this wasn't available on spotify, so I listened to their next album, "The Real Ramona" instead - and it was great! Poppy, angsty, varied, a bit tortured and discordant
Não conhecia a banda... uma excelente surpresa! Gostei muito do album!
Enjoyed this double album twice. Great work 👏 5
makes me wanna learn the guitar again
I really liked this album. Her voice is fantastic.
Logistically, this is not an easy album to listen to. Nothing about it on Apple Music. I found a copy of this on YouTube. To keep track I had to listen closely and follow along to the lyrics on the web so I could know what song I was listening to. It was worth the effort! Call Me immediately had me paying attention - what a great song! I liked Green, but it was Hate My Way that gave me chills! That lead singer is INTENSE! Vicky’s Box left me a bit stunned. What a song! Rabbit’s Dying - holy shit who are these people? This is an incredible song. I feel like this band is from some higher dimension… they break a lot of songcrafting rules and their songs hold up. Clip clops throughout America (She Can’t Say No) and really incredible performances grabbed me - that lead singer again! WOW! WTF? Soul Soldier just about knocked me out… like two songs in one - very different in tone and composition but somehow melded together. This from teenagers? Wow! This is a spellbinding album filled with incredible songs in the hands of a great band wielding a singer who seems to have come from some other world. The music is so sophisticated, breaking all kinds of rules about what makes a great song and in the process creating some really amazing songs! Why this was so difficult to find and listen to? This is one of the best things I’ve heard on this project… I cannot stop thinking about how impressive these unorthodox songs are. It borders on a crime that it took nearly 40 years to come to my attention. But thankfully this speaks to me maybe even more loudly than it would have when I was 18. I am in awe…
Wow oh wow oh wow. This is some very powerful stuff. Why wasn't this band, like, Nirvana big? So good.
The Spotify link is correct here, even if it seems wrong! "In A Doghouse" is a compilation of early Throwing Muses work, and the first 10 tracks are actually "Throwing Muses" (the album). And it's great!
Baller album, this is exactly my shit. Love the harsh vocals and early punk vibe. This is a bear to find, I assume their history with many music labels has made music rights complex, but Youtube had the album in its entirety.
shit is hot
Uma ótima descoberta, o tipo de banda que eu amaria se já conhecesse. Vou ouvir mais com certeza. Melhores músicas: Green e Cry baby cry
Reminds me a bit of the Runaways. Especially Vicky's Box. Very Cherry Bomb-esq. Also a bit of Grace Slick thrown in there. Not quite four stars but I don't think 3 does it justice. Closer to 4 tho.
Better than Muse
No esta en Spotify
This one I like, raw, emotional, artistic.
This was a lush well orchestrated album that reminded me of The Beach Boys with English folk revival and experimental folk like the Kink’s ‘Village Green Preservation Society.’ The biggest issue for me was the length and the fact that the album sounded a bit dated. In its greatest moments, it was absolutely gorgeous.
BUENARDÓPOLIS y mira que entré con una pajaaa pq duraba una banda pero me encantó. 9/10
Always down to listen to Throwing Muses. I've never listened to this particular album before. Definitely will give it some more love down the road.
Ah really liked this, strong (post?)punk album. Glad I discovered it Saved tracks: Green, Vicky’s Box, America (She Can’t Say No), Cry Baby Cry
I like this! Exactly the kind of niche badass alt rock I enjoy. And the band is fronted by a unique and bewitching woman? Amazing! I am loving the vocals, the lyrical content and style, and the production that creates the right mix of raw yet popish musicality. It honestly feels like it paved the way or in some part even inspired Hole's Live Through This. Sucks that I can't listen to it on Spotify, because that's where I do all of my listening, but at least there's a lot more Throwing Muses music there that I can explore. And I will be exploring this band more, no doubt about it. Hidden gem, good find!
I like this a lot. Very original and interesting. 4 stars.
It’s annoying to have to find the songs one by one. I would be willing to buy it while I still have a car that can play CDs, but timing wise that won’t work out for the challenge. Very interesting overall. Nothing about this bores me. I do wonder about whether certain songs in particular relate to being hit by a car while riding her bike. I can’t help but wonder about the role of dissociation on this album in general, since Kristin has since spoken about being dissociated during songwriting prior to EMDR treatment. Lots of the lyrics speak to trauma and various aspects of mental illness. I didn’t expect the country influences that came up in a couple places. It gets a 4 rather than a 5 for because of the annoyance of trying to piece it together myself for this (I could buy directly from Kristin that might shift things) and because it is sort of emotionally intense with few breaks outside of songs that are on other albums anyway. Those albums can be 5s. If you’re new to the band this is certainly a good primer.
Really liked the first 3/4th or so, then it got a little out there
beautiful voice from the female singer, suprisingly energetic algum
I really liked this one. It's always nice to see a female-led band on here. Hersh's voice here is great, and the riffs are pretty creative. Fave track(s): Call Me, Green, Rabbits Dying
very different lyric style than i’m used too but definitely would listen to more stuff by tjem
Throwing Muses prefigures much, but it also occupies a rather unique sonic place I can't quite place yet. The sound sources are clear enough, emotions more so, and the album has an arc. The connection to Pixies is obvious, this debut more fully-realized than the other band's if a touch less distinctive.
Sounded like something I should have already listened to. Quality listen.
In the 90's I liked Tanya Donnelly's band the Belly, found out she was in this band and checked them out. I was blown away but who good how good Kristin Hersh on this album. Great album.
Old school punkyness. Dig the female vocals.
Started out strong and interesting...was a tired by the end. Overall a pretty cool band I had never had exposure to in the past. 4/5
I really liked this album
Such a cool sound! Definitely more punk-y than what I'm used to, but still slays. Also, love the juxtaposition of a female voice with punk/rock. Her (their? at one point it sounded like multiple women, maybe it was just vocal layering) voice(s) gave me slight Dolores O'Riordan vibes. I definitely need to listen again, it's frustrating that it's not on Spotify though.
Love female-fronted alt rock with some bite. It's not nearly common enough for my tastes. This is a super solid example of it. She has a great voice.
Cool girls gone bad
Great sound, really shaking up the eighties and part of a whole new emerging alt rock sound. No doubt enjoyment will increase with further listens - the sound grabs you first and the production is such that the vocals are one more layer of sound, an instrument - so I have no idea what Hersh is saying and there’s further exploration to come - but I’m willing to find out.
Superchulo. Es de una de Belly y The Breeders
Throwing Muses is always a good time
Always surprised to find music like this from the 80s. Feels ahead of its time.
Surprisingly solid. 7/10
7/10. I quite liked this, I wish it was on Spotify
Yoko Ono meets the Pixies meets something entirely unique.
Loved
Punk and Shoegaze? Hellyeahbrother.
I loved it! How did i not know about them?
4.2 - Dark, angsty. Reminds me of Siouxsie Sioux. Hope this comes to steaming services soon. Standout: “Rabbits Dying”
A very solid punky album, never heard of the artist before. It reminds me of meat puppets a little bit
This was new to me, gave it a couple listens. They have their own unique thing going on, especially in the vocals and lyrics. I like how they stay in high energy serious mode the whole time. I could see myself coming back to this.
Interesting album. Some weird lyrics but I enjoyed it.
Gott stöff.
I almost passed on this one because I couldn't find it. I did find it here though https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1Xd2jY3zWQ. I'm very happy I did finally find it. It is an amazing album. Every part of this album (drums, vocals, lyrics, feel, etc, etc) is amazing. So good!
I loved what I thought was the first Throwing Muses album - I just didn't know about this one at all. I was a big fan of House Tornado/Real Ramona/Hunkpappa and I thought Fat Skier was their first so now I'm totally confused! I saw them live back in 89 and forced my university friends to be fans too. This is great, full of the slightly discordant tempos and melodies over interesting chord structures. I get it won't be to everyone's tastes but it was great to discover this.
Fun, enjoyable. Will revisit.
Avançades al seu temps, el disc de debut sona com el rock alternatiu sonaria una década més tard de l'edició del disc. Comença a un nivell molt alt als prmers temes, però es va apagant a poc a poc. Tot i així, molt de mèrit tenir aquest so i valentia al 1986
Ok album. Singing was sometimes enjoyable, sometimes not. Good riffs, would give it another try. Hard to find to listen to on streaming platforms.
This album was incredibly difficult to find-- I'm not even certain that I listened to the right one. I liked it but I won't seek it out again
Could not find it to listen to, but later albums are great.
This is the sort of album that thankfully has the grace to know it's a half-hour jobbie. The singer has generic punk chick voice and that's fine for a few songs, but it wears thin quickly. The music is just basic 3-chord alterna-punk, albeit with a bit more dynamic range than the words "basic 3 chord punk" allow. It showed potential in places but whenever it had the option of leaning into something that sounded nice or inserting loud strummed chords... it chose wrong. But at 37min, once in my life, there was enough of that "let's give this a go" energy that it kept me entertained for its brief runtime. 3/5.
Very difficult to find, no trace of it on YT Music, I gather it’s not on Spotify either, possibly on Pandora if search results are to be believed, but you know, not going to get back into that relic over one album. Not available to buy anywhere I could find except as a pricey used disc or LP. Honestly find that kind of inexcusable in this age of essentially free and instant publishing: some rights holder is being an idiot. Upshot is I listened to a half assed playlist on YouTube that kind of approximated 80% of the album. Which was fine, distinctive, but another one of these highly affected vocalists who’s style gets on my nerves after about three songs.
Decent album, nothing mindblowing.
Not available on Spotify, only one song
Definitely worth tracking down all of the tracks on YouTube. 3.5/5
Eh
Some interesting parts
Powerful raw energy, yet melodic and meaningful lyrics
OK, so this album is apparently discontinued and not available on any streaming service. I was able to hear a few of the isolated tracks, but I cant properly judge the entire album. 3/5
notes - debut album by post punk alt rock band throwing muses - contemporaries of the pixies - strange angulr guitar parts that often loop small ideas over and over - vocals are sort of talk-sang, reminds me of sonic youth a bit - feel like interpol are fans - these songs always feel like theyre on the edge of emotional payoff but never quite get there fav - fear - best combination of her specific vocal style and instrumentation least fav - rabbits dying - wasnt a fan of the change up halfway through 3.5/5 super unconventional and interesting but not something i would listen to regularly
This was a struggle to find since it's not available on any streaming platforms but luckily Youtube had it. Aside from that, I thought it was pretty average. Not the best, not the worst. The goat noises caught me off guard, but it was silly, so I give it a pass.
Not available on Spotify, had to put together on YouTube.
Throwing muses
I could not find the compilation album that was listed, but it seems to be a re-issue of the self-titled first album - which I have on vinyl - and some demos and other stuff. I think the debut is a fine album, great punkish energy and interesting melodies. And Kirsten Hirsch's vocals are menacing and aggressive. 3.5 stars
Based on only one song available on Spotify.
The book had a rave review for this album. I might have liked it on a different day, or maybe 10 years ago, but right now it's not having a major impact for me. Good on these two young artists though, there's a lot of variety and emotion on display here.
после первого раза понравилось чуть больше, можно потом ещё проверить
major Sleater-Kinney vibes but weirder songs and lyrics and a decade ahead of time
Maybe it was the mood I was in while listening to this, but I didn't think of it much more than a relatively OK 80s indie album.
Throwing Muses is a name I recognized, but the album was all new music for me. The album was okay and seems adjacent to some of the bands that I have regularly listened to. This album felt like a predecessor to some of the work from Sleater-Kinney. "Hate My Way" and "Vicky's Box" were my least favorite tracks, but "Fear" and "Soul Soldier" had some great backing rhythms and energy that keep this album at least at 3 stars. I would be interested in hearing more from Throwing Muses.
I don't recall this album from '86, but did listen a bit to this band in the 90s. I always enjoyed their style, which is jagged and grungy, but still has surprise melodic elements as well. For when it came out, the album would have been pretty edgy. It's actually quite prescient of how music would sound 5-7 years down the line. In the grand scheme, it gets lost in the shuffle of a lot of the music that came after it. But it's a really interesting listen. Album isn't available on Spotify. With a little digging on YouTube, you can find most of the album tracks and live versions of others. Fave Songs: Fear, Vicky's Box, Rabbits Dying, Green, Call Me
They're good but it's not quite my taste.
Uinspirerande
Surprisingly little listens on this one, considering it's on this list. Captures something specific that I can't put my finger on, not sure if I caught anything that I loved from this one, loads of tracks which blend into eachother pretty well.
Ok, reasonably catchy and edgy. Quite 4AD. Low three