88.5 GAAT - Violent Femmes, Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes debut album, Violent Femmes, is a solid album, from start to finish, and I’m not sure why. There is absolutely no production value- songs have a spartan assembly of bass, acoustic, snare, and the occasional xylophone. Most of the songs are suited for open chord guitar strumming, mostly in the key of G. Lyrics are ridden with teenage angst about sex and love lost, and Gordon Gano doesn’t croon as much as whine (which seemingly fits the part).
So what makes this album stand out amongst others? Everything clicks- it has that magic; call it a busking band breakthrough. Each song consistently hits the mark. I first heard the album back in ’92. I could hardly believe it was recorded ten years earlier, as it still sounded fresh. To my ears it doesn’t sound dated, even twenty years later; then again, maybe my taste in music is frozen in the mid 90’s.
This was the first album where I learned every word to every song; the type of record to play in a car filled with your best friends, radio blasting, shouting out lyrics to “Add it Up” or “Kiss Off,” driving with no particular destination in mind. Nights where three hours spent in a Jersey diner in the middle of the night (or was it morning), nursing a cup of coffee didn’t seem unreasonable. Nights when South Street still had Zipperhead, tattoo / piercing parlors, squatters, and the streets closed for pedestrian traffic. Vintage clothes and clove cigarettes. Ah, the smell.
Senior year of high school, both the Ramones and the Violent Femmes were playing in concert the same night, but different venues. I had to pick one or the other. The one Violent Femmes album was weighed against the Ramones’ entire career. Sad to say, but the Femmes won out that duel. This is one of my shameful regrets, Joey Ramone is dead, and I’m seeing the Femmes in concert later this summer. Ah well, it was a great concert, wonder if I can still squeeze into that concert T.
So what makes this album stand out amongst others? Everything clicks- it has that magic; call it a busking band breakthrough. Each song consistently hits the mark. I first heard the album back in ’92. I could hardly believe it was recorded ten years earlier, as it still sounded fresh. To my ears it doesn’t sound dated, even twenty years later; then again, maybe my taste in music is frozen in the mid 90’s.
This was the first album where I learned every word to every song; the type of record to play in a car filled with your best friends, radio blasting, shouting out lyrics to “Add it Up” or “Kiss Off,” driving with no particular destination in mind. Nights where three hours spent in a Jersey diner in the middle of the night (or was it morning), nursing a cup of coffee didn’t seem unreasonable. Nights when South Street still had Zipperhead, tattoo / piercing parlors, squatters, and the streets closed for pedestrian traffic. Vintage clothes and clove cigarettes. Ah, the smell.
Senior year of high school, both the Ramones and the Violent Femmes were playing in concert the same night, but different venues. I had to pick one or the other. The one Violent Femmes album was weighed against the Ramones’ entire career. Sad to say, but the Femmes won out that duel. This is one of my shameful regrets, Joey Ramone is dead, and I’m seeing the Femmes in concert later this summer. Ah well, it was a great concert, wonder if I can still squeeze into that concert T.
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