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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
With the burgeoning riot girrl movement owing a weighty debt to Throwing Muses' femme-punk blueprint, and Brit shoegazing bands like Ride and Slowdive finding inspiration in their more ethereal grooves, by their fifth album University, Kristin Hersh was clearly more than just a student of alternative pop--she was a fully fledged tutor. With former band mate Tanya Donnely hitting paydirt in her new band Belly, and the Muses--that's songwriter Hersh, bassist Bernard Georges, and drummer David Narcizo--entering their 11th year, there was some doubt if Hersh could still make relevant music. University, thankfully, is more than enough to prove the detractors wrong. The gleefully dynamic opening barrage--the hooky "Bright Yellow Gun", keening proto-grunge fuzz workout "Start", and the taut, new-wave confession al "Hazing"--demonstrates that Hersh's finely honed pop edge is in full working order, while the more delicate, folkier likes of "Snakeface" and "Crabtown" pull the Muses muse in breezy, incandescent psychedelic directions. The Muses split after their next album, "Limbo", in 1996. In retrospect, University looks to be their finest work. --Louis Pattison
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Possibly their most coherent and listenable album since the success of "The Real Ramona" in 1991. "University" has established some unusual and in some cases, funky rhythms - and coupled with Kristin's unique vocal talents with the ability to produce a range of emotions, this is an album that takes you on a journey right from the start.
It quite simply has it all and is a musical treat for any willing ears. From the harsh abrasion of "Start" to the mellow and atmospheric "Crabtown" - the contrast of tracks is direct whilst still maintaining a level of subtlety.
On first listen it may appear to be full of guitars and punchy rhythms (as in "Surf Cowboy") but the beauty of "That's All You Wanted" carries innocence and charisma through a contrast of guitars and strings.
Basically, if you're looking for an album that pin-points the whole range of qualities born to Throwing Muses - then look no further.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Another fine album. Alongside The Real Ramona, their most pop-orientated album.
Highlight: Shimmer
Highlight: Shimmer
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
19 reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Courageous Risk Taking
7 April 2000
Format:Audio CD
The core of University is lead singer Kristin Hersh. Her voice is powerful yet modest: she doesn't attempt (thankfully) an operatic range or embellish her lines with unnecessary vibrato. The straight-up rock cuts are intense and moving (Bright Yellow Gun, Calm Down). University is minimalist (the melody is purposely subdued), rhythm driven and structurally complicated.
The most intriguing and adventurous cut is `Flood.' The composition opens with a sparkling guitar lead, overlays Kristin's voice with tick-tock string plucking, breaks into a second vocal melody (and a higher octave), then ends with a short synthesized harmony. The cut also changes tempo at least twice. If this sounds tedious and studied, it's not meant to. University is not a compilation of toe-tapping ditties. Each composition is smart and unique: `Start' is atonal, `That's All You Wanted' multi-layers Kristin's vocal harmonies, and `University' pastes together an assortment of sounds effects (including a child's voice) with rhythm guitar. Their frequent use of dissonance and resolution is scarce (and seldom accomplished) in popular music.
University reminds me of the noise-as-music experimentation of The Velvet Underground, the ambient pieces of Brian Eno, and the electronic experimentation of The United States Of America. I must credit Throwing Muses for their courageous risk taking and subsequent success.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Where was I?
17 Nov 2004
Format:Audio CD
I can't remember where I was when I first heard Kristen Hersch and Throwing Muses. I'm not even sure what made me go out and purchase "University", but there it was, popped into my CD player - again, and again, and again, and again. I couldn't find anyone to share my enthusiasm over this record and was fairly dumbfounded as to why TM was not on the lips of every indy rocker out there. Just mine. But that was okay, because I had found something that no one else had or seemed to appreciate. "University" was a turning point for me, as I had finally discovered music that somebody made that seemed to be made just for me. I didn't care if others didn't share my enthusiasm, or didn't think it was the best thing they've ever heard. It just didn't matter. What mattered was there was a band out there that didn't care, either. They just made music that made them feel good, and didn't give a damn that they weren't cracking the top 40. And that made me feel good, too.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
A blinding blizzard of pure musical talent
9 Feb 1999
Format:Audio CD
Okay, two great things about this album: a) Kristin is in particularly good form here. Her quality of execution in both guitar playing and vocals is simply stunning. This is an album made by someone who musically knows what she wants, and goddamn NAILS it! b) Bernard Georges gets a really *sweet* bass tone on this album. Perhaps I'm predisposed to notice that since I'm a bass player myself, but this is just emblematic of what this album is all about; each member of the trio making the most of their individual abilities to create a product that is as airtight and downright superb as any album you'd care to name. Give it time to sink in, though, that's the case with every Throwing Muses album. But they are worth it in spades...
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