Music Reviews

The last Violent Femmes record. Violent Femmes – Freak Magnet – 2000 (Amazon) Not Available for digital download. Right off the bat, with “Hollywood is High” and it’s screechy electric guitars, I got the sense that the Femmes were BACK in 2000. I hadn’t been this excited by a Femmes Continue Reading

Considered their worst album!! Only released in Australia!!! It’s the lost Violent Femmes album!!!!! Violent Femmes – ROCK!!!!! – 1995 (Amazon) I have to thank my ol’ pal, John for supplying me with this record. Just about every review of every Violent Femmes album at some point declares that it’s Continue Reading

I don’t normally review live albums in the Reflecting Pool, but since the next album in the Femmes’ oeuvre, Rock!!!! was originally only released in Australia (!!) and is supposed to be horrible, I will pass on it until someone can send me a free copy. Because of that omission, Continue Reading

Violent Femmes – New Times – 1994 (iTunes – Amazon) This is actually the one I’ve been dreading. I was sent this for review when I was writing for Home Theater Technology 17 years ago. I listened to one track, got distracted by something and decided to write about something Continue Reading

Gordon Gano’s got girl trouble. Girl trouble up the ass! Violent Femmes – Why Do Birds Sing? – 1991 (Amazon) You know this album isn’t even available on iTunes or Amazon MP3 download. A shame, really, because much of this record, for me, was a real return to the Femmes Continue Reading

Stripped down to their basics, can the Femmes find the fire? Violent Femmes – 3 – 1988 (iTunes – Amazon) You know what? I think the Violent Femmes are just exhausted. They cut their teeth busking on the streets of Milwaukee and they were hungry and edgy and young. Look Continue Reading

The 3rd Femmes record. Bigger production. Better distribution. So, what happened? Violent Femmes – The Blind Leading the Naked – 1986 (iTunes – Amazon) I really couldn’t wait for this album to come out. I think I got it at Tower THAT day. And then I think I listened to Continue Reading

Their debut was a seminal Indie college radio release. How did Violent Femmes follow it up? Violent Femmes – Hallowed Ground – 1984 (iTunes) For my money, Hallowed Ground is Violent Femmes best work. It is one of the darkest albums (Country Death Song, a powerfully crafted masterstroke of familial Continue Reading

It took 10 years for their debut album to make platinum status. They became darlings of the Indie scene in the 90s. And they have fallen off the face of the Earth. I’m gonna go back and give the Femmes a more than cursory listen. Violent Femmes – Violent Femmes Continue Reading