Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Language available : english
When the Violent Femmes burst out in the early 1980s, their sense of folk music gone mad made them special. And with Brian Ritchie treating his guitarrón-esque acoustic bass like a guitar, drummer Victor DeLorenzo standing at his drum kit (which included a metal washtub) and squeaky, amateurish singer/guitarist Gordon Gano unleashing his angst furiously, they were also utterly original. Possessed with an energy that journalist David Fricke—who wrote the liner notes for this 40th anniversary reissue—once described as "Jonathan Richman becoming the Lou Reed he always dreamed of," Gano and his wavery voice had a slippery expressiveness even when he was shrieking the key lines to one of their most compelling and angsty manifestos "Confession" ("I'm gonna hack, hack, hack, hack it apart"). Rhythmic repetition, in fact, was one of Gano's greatest strengths as in the sassy, rocking "Add It Up" where he spits out, "Oh, ma-mama, mama-mo-ma-mum," and "So don't shoot, shoot, shoot that thing at me/ Don't shoot, shoot, shoot that thing at me." What gave the band legs was Gano's songwriting in performances like "Blister in the Sun" with its iconic stop-start acoustic guitar chords and tormented lyrics: "Body and beats/ I stain my sheets/ I don't even know why/ My girlfriend/ She's at the end/She is starting to cry." Newly remastered, this reissue is supplemented by nine demos and thirteen live tracks, the latter split between 1981 gigs at Beneath it All Café in their Milwaukee hometown and Folk City in Manhattan. Several tracks that appeared on subsequent albums like the amusing "Country Death Song" can be heard being worked out live. Aided by the element of surprise, The Violent Femmes accomplished that visionary desire to make something unique. "Our goal isn't to give them what they want," Ritchie said in 1986. "Our goal is to give them things they don't even know existed before." © Robert Baird/Qobuz
More infoYou are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From 12,49€/month
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Producer, Recording Producer - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Tanner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Glen Lorbiecki, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Craft Recordings.
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Producer, Recording Producer - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Tanner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Glen Lorbiecki, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Craft Recordings.
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Producer, Recording Producer - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Tanner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Glen Lorbiecki, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Craft Recordings.
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Producer, Recording Producer - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Tanner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Glen Lorbiecki, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Craft Recordings.
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Producer, Recording Producer - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Tanner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Glen Lorbiecki, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Craft Recordings.
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Producer, Recording Producer - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Tanner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Glen Lorbiecki, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Craft Recordings.
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Producer, Recording Producer - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Tanner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Glen Lorbiecki, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Craft Recordings.
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Producer, Recording Producer - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Tanner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Glen Lorbiecki, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Craft Recordings.
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - WILLIE DIXON, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Producer, Recording Producer - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Tanner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Glen Lorbiecki, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Craft Recordings.
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Producer, Piano, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Tanner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Glen Lorbiecki, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Craft Recordings.
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Producer, Recording Producer - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Craft Recordings.
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Producer, Recording Producer - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Craft Recordings.
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Van Hecke, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Recording Engineer, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Recording Engineer, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Recording Engineer, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Recording Engineer, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Recording Engineer, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Recording Engineer, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Recording Engineer, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Recording Engineer, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Edward Haber, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ilana Pelzig Cellum, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - WILLIE DIXON, ComposerLyricist - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Edward Haber, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ilana Pelzig Cellum, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Edward Haber, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ilana Pelzig Cellum, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Edward Haber, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ilana Pelzig Cellum, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Bill Inglot, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Ritchie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Xylophone, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Delorenzo, Producer, Drums, Snare Drum, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Violent Femmes, MainArtist - Gordon Gano, Producer, Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Schultz, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Edward Haber, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ilana Pelzig Cellum, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Add It Up Productions, Inc
Albumbeschreibung
When the Violent Femmes burst out in the early 1980s, their sense of folk music gone mad made them special. And with Brian Ritchie treating his guitarrón-esque acoustic bass like a guitar, drummer Victor DeLorenzo standing at his drum kit (which included a metal washtub) and squeaky, amateurish singer/guitarist Gordon Gano unleashing his angst furiously, they were also utterly original. Possessed with an energy that journalist David Fricke—who wrote the liner notes for this 40th anniversary reissue—once described as "Jonathan Richman becoming the Lou Reed he always dreamed of," Gano and his wavery voice had a slippery expressiveness even when he was shrieking the key lines to one of their most compelling and angsty manifestos "Confession" ("I'm gonna hack, hack, hack, hack it apart"). Rhythmic repetition, in fact, was one of Gano's greatest strengths as in the sassy, rocking "Add It Up" where he spits out, "Oh, ma-mama, mama-mo-ma-mum," and "So don't shoot, shoot, shoot that thing at me/ Don't shoot, shoot, shoot that thing at me." What gave the band legs was Gano's songwriting in performances like "Blister in the Sun" with its iconic stop-start acoustic guitar chords and tormented lyrics: "Body and beats/ I stain my sheets/ I don't even know why/ My girlfriend/ She's at the end/She is starting to cry." Newly remastered, this reissue is supplemented by nine demos and thirteen live tracks, the latter split between 1981 gigs at Beneath it All Café in their Milwaukee hometown and Folk City in Manhattan. Several tracks that appeared on subsequent albums like the amusing "Country Death Song" can be heard being worked out live. Aided by the element of surprise, The Violent Femmes accomplished that visionary desire to make something unique. "Our goal isn't to give them what they want," Ritchie said in 1986. "Our goal is to give them things they don't even know existed before." © Robert Baird/Qobuz
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 34 track(s)
- Total length: 02:04:44
- Main artists: Violent Femmes
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Craft Recordings
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2023 Craft Recordings. ℗ 2023 Craft Recordings.
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.