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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
When last we saw Courtney Love, she was performing on the silver screen and posing for Versace, a far cry from her formative days stumbling across stages wearing ripped thrift-store clothing. But Love's Hollywood transformation is just the latest in her crusade for adoration, whatever the environment. And Celebrity Skin is just the latest manifestation of that obsession. Instead of screaming in rage over a muscular din of power chords, Love sings in a restrained, melodic alto voice; the band matches the euphony with rhythms and hooks that draw from such mainstream acts as Fleetwood Mac, the Go-Go's, and, of course, Smashing Pumpkins, whose frontman, Billy Corgan, co-wrote five songs. What makes Celebrity Skin more than another good rock album, however, is Love's lyrics, which remain confessional and scathing, addressing such topics as physical abuse ("Hit So Hard"), drugs ("Use Once and Destroy"), the music industry ("Awful", "Boys on the Radio"), and her late husband's suicide ("Reasons to Be Beautiful"). If nothing else, Celebrity Skin is proof to all the skeptics that superstars have feelings, too. --Jon Wiederhorn
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
...I've got to say that I love this album. It's a far cry from Pretty On The Inside and Live Through This, but bands are always being critised for churning out the same music - it's a good change. I must admit I like punk Hole best, but this without a question is rock album, just not punk/grunge. The songs are flawlessly written - music and lyrics, and the album has been very well produced. There is a variety of different songs from the pure pop of 'Heaven Tonight', to the punk os 'Reasons to Be Beautiful' and 'Playing Your Song', to the atmospheric nature of 'Northern Star' and 'Dying'. The variety is amazing, and all the tracks are strong. Celebrity Skin is a brilliant opening track and things only get better. The tunes might sound 'pop' to Hole's hardcore fans, but there are messages in the lyrics and plenty of references to the late Kurt Cobain. I doubt very much that Hole have 'sold-out' - just changed. Standout tracks include: Celebrity Skin, Petals, Reasons to Be Beautiful, Playing Your Song, Boys on The Radio, in fact to me all of them are standout tracks. This isn't as good as Live Through This, however it is difficult to compare them as they are so different. I'd recommend this to Hole fans (even Pretty On The Inside fans), give it a try and don't write Courtney off as a sellout, she may be a movie star now, but she still has the punk ethics that sh has always had. Also new Hole material suggests that this 'pop' stage may well be only temporary. Just enjoy the album for what it is - a work of art.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Once again Hole have brought us a raw insightful and lyrically fantastic album. The band have once again covered a wide range of topics in Courtney Loves lyrics and also a selection of up tempo feminist anthems combined with beautiful ballads all in a 12 song album.
The lyrics are ingenious in `Hit So Hard' the lyrics make you wonder what exactly Courtney's voice is describing the immediate reaction to this song is to think that she is talking about Domestic abuse as in the song `He hit me (and it felt like a kiss)' but on further listening I feel that it is the feeling of seeing the most beautiful boy you have ever seen from across the room I think that she is in fact describing that feeling but the intelligent lyrics make both ideas possible and mean that the listener can draw form their own experiences and interpret the song in the way they feel appropriate.
Overall the lyrics on this album are some of Courtney Loves best, this is Courtney Love and Hole after having to hide from the bad publicity Courtney Love was receiving after the death of Kurt Cobain they came back triumphant though with a marvellous album- Celebrity Skin.
The ordeal and loss Love had gone through shine through in `Playing your song' the only song on this album in which her voice sounds angry.
By far the songs on this album I personally think are best are `Dying' and Reasons to be beautiful. In `Dying' Love's Voice pierces the air almost pleading "Remember - you promised me" it is with these lyrics that sting when listening to this song. Reasons to be beautiful is a finely polished rock song the lyrics plead, question and show aggression.
This is an album for the girls, through the songs it tells a story the story of what it is to be female.
The lyrics are ingenious in `Hit So Hard' the lyrics make you wonder what exactly Courtney's voice is describing the immediate reaction to this song is to think that she is talking about Domestic abuse as in the song `He hit me (and it felt like a kiss)' but on further listening I feel that it is the feeling of seeing the most beautiful boy you have ever seen from across the room I think that she is in fact describing that feeling but the intelligent lyrics make both ideas possible and mean that the listener can draw form their own experiences and interpret the song in the way they feel appropriate.
Overall the lyrics on this album are some of Courtney Loves best, this is Courtney Love and Hole after having to hide from the bad publicity Courtney Love was receiving after the death of Kurt Cobain they came back triumphant though with a marvellous album- Celebrity Skin.
The ordeal and loss Love had gone through shine through in `Playing your song' the only song on this album in which her voice sounds angry.
By far the songs on this album I personally think are best are `Dying' and Reasons to be beautiful. In `Dying' Love's Voice pierces the air almost pleading "Remember - you promised me" it is with these lyrics that sting when listening to this song. Reasons to be beautiful is a finely polished rock song the lyrics plead, question and show aggression.
This is an album for the girls, through the songs it tells a story the story of what it is to be female.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
As soon as the song 'Celebrity Skin' hit my ears I knew I'd made the right decision when buying this album. It has a wonderfull track listing full of songs that are unique in sound, style, and rythmn. Its one of those albums that makes you sit down, drop everything and just listen. It is a beautifully written, composed, and performed album. The track 'Reasons to be beautiful' explores the thoughts of LOVE and has a very deep and meaningful undertone. The album shows a more mature side to the band, with LOVE expressing herself over death, life, and love. This album is a mix of emotions which fit together perfectly to create a sensational album.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
buen disco
muy buen disco puro grunge, describe lo que era una epoca un poco loca, courtney para mi uno de sus mejores trabajos
Published 5 months ago by alex
Awful... Yes Indeedy!
Courtney Love is at it (again) with her middle-of-the-road "Alternative Rock" that doesn't sound very alternative at all, it pretty much sounds like a bad Smashing Pumpkins... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Ms. L. J. Braisby
Surprisingly good.
Co-written & produced by Billy Corgan this was Hole's bid for the mainstream and it worked. Chock full of melodic hooks and confessional, scathing lyrics that deconstruct the... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Alister King
Hole - Celebrity Skin
This album is a very good album which is jammed pack with sing along lyrics and catchy tunes which grab and pull you in the world of the album Celebrity Skin. Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2010 by J. Arthur
great cd
this cd is fab and worth listening to in my opinion its her best and i still even tho i have had it for years listen to it often
Published on 18 Dec 2009 by J. Lisser
Rip Your Heart Out ( nevertoolate #005 )
Ms Love has never been her own best friend.
This is self-evident.
Looking for love in all the wrong places.
Chasing that elusive spotlight. Read more
This is self-evident.
Looking for love in all the wrong places.
Chasing that elusive spotlight. Read more
Published on 15 April 2008 by The Wolf
I love pop music
Pop.Why are some so scared of that little three letter word.
Sue I love Napalm Death,My Dying Bride and Enslaved,but why should that mean I shouldn't like Gwen Stefani,Kelis... Read more
Sue I love Napalm Death,My Dying Bride and Enslaved,but why should that mean I shouldn't like Gwen Stefani,Kelis... Read more
Published on 9 April 2008 by D. L. Wilkinson
Smart up-tempo Hollywood hooks
Smart up-tempo Hollywood hooks an a clear ability to write great songs.
The souind & feel is Fleetwood Mac meets Smashing Pumpkins; no surprise perhaps since Billy Corgan... Read more
The souind & feel is Fleetwood Mac meets Smashing Pumpkins; no surprise perhaps since Billy Corgan... Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2008 by Alister King
Shoot it up
This is a perfect pop record commercial yet gutsy.
Awful is a fantastic pop record it's melodic and rythmic with the hard edge you'd expect from Hole. Read more
Awful is a fantastic pop record it's melodic and rythmic with the hard edge you'd expect from Hole. Read more
Published on 21 Mar 2006
No risks. No flaws.
Where to start. Ah yeah, the 'Hollywood Years'. For me, Courtney Love starring in "People Vs. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2006 by "cocaineboy"
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