Survival Guide coming to Phoenix's Egyptian Motor Hotel Oct. 28

Get the latest update on Survival Guide's (a.k.a. Emily "Agent M" Whitehurst - former vocalist for punk standouts Tsunami Bomb) upcoming album release show at Phoenix's Egyptian Motor Hotel on Oct. 28.

Em's fourth full-length album deathdreams will be released on Oct. 19 and it was produced by Bob Hoag (Dear and the Headlights, The Ataris, The Format) at Flying Blanket Recording in Mesa, AZ. Watch the official music video for the bewitching single "Pie" too...Robert Kinsler

Stars As A Stepford Wife Gone Rogue in “Pie” Video From Upcoming Album deathdreams out Oct 19  via Double Helix Records SURVIVAL GUIDE's "Pie"  DSP's: https://ffm.to/sgpieeeee.OPR Video: https://youtu.be/dE6zj91C6rA?si=FzHNLRVo8YV98XE9 SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 (San Antonio, TX) — “Our hostess starts out perfect, but gradually begins to unravel as the song progresses,” says SURVIVAL GUIDE, a.k.a. Emily "Agent M" Whitehurst (former vocalist for punk standouts Tsunami Bomb) about the deranged Stepford Wives treatment for her video for “Pie,” the third single off her fourth full-length electropop Survival Guide album deathdreams, out October 19 via Double Helix Records. The vivid metaphor in the lyrics as a protector (“Let me bubblewrap you / Hide you from his eyes") begins to reveal itself as she dreads younger women having to endure some of the darker things she's been through. The song's origin as a “basic demo” with just a “weird clicky drumbeat, a few bass synths and the vocals” was fleshed out at Mesa, AZ's Flying Blanket Recording Studio with producer Bob Hoag (Dear and the Headlights, The Ataris, The Format) who added in some various layers in production to make the song shine. “Bob really filled it in with harps, violins, mellotron flutes and so much more, and turned it into this unique song,” she says. “Also, I really love desserts and baking, so I’m excited that I figured out how to make pie such a focus in one of my songs.” “Some of the instrumentation on "Pie" gave it a hint of a 1950s sound, which inspired video director Bryan Heiden and the team at The Motivated Mind Group to create the look and feel of the music video,” she adds on the video's treatment. “Even though the song isn't literally about pie" she laughs, "we all wanted to use the imagery of it, so we filmed a cooking show set in the ‘50s. I loved getting to attempt all the different emotions that went into this character. And since I enjoy baking so much, it was super fun to do an exaggerated version of a baking show for the video. It even comes with a few commercial breaks!” SURVIVAL GUIDE / Emily "M" Whitehurst The deviant “Pie” video follows in tune with the previous action-packed videos: “Lady Neptune” which follows a narrative driven ‘rise and fall’ type story that features a plot of a character who wants something more out of life, but ends up choosing organized crime,” and the macabre and blood-splattered short film-esque music video for "Blood Perfume,” which stars Em as a deranged serial killer who outsmarts her victims.  She says the main themes on her upcoming album came from several dreams she had that involved her death, which she adds compelled her to name it “deathdreams.” The opposing imagery and feelings that the title conjures - the duality/juxtaposition of dreams and death: soft and sweet, or strange, dark and ominous - only makes it more fitting. The death themes in Em's music could also partly be attributed to two other sources: that her family owned the funeral home in the town she was raised in, and that cancer claimed the life of her older brother. deathdreams Tracklisting   1. “Bad Little Seed” 2. “Sour Sorrow” 3. “Pie” 4. “Blood Perfume” 5. “Sharpshooter” 6. “Lady Neptune” 7. “wordswordswords” 8. “Fight Me” 9. “Don’t Feel Bad” 10. “Stay Dead” 11. “I’ll Picture You" A former Northern California native now residing in San Antonio, Texas, Em is an electronic indie-pop artist with a background in punk. Her music obsession began with Green Day, leading her to a dreams-come-true life of punk rock as she traversed continents fronting the band Tsunami Bomb as “Agent M.” Over the years, her music gradually shifted toward synthpop in The Action Design, then further into the electronic indiepop realm as Survival Guide. Her danceable tunes evoke a sonic birthday cake: alternating layers of Depeche Mode, Metric, Peter Gabriel, and Grimes, with vibrant melodies and vocals as the icing on top. “Music is crucial to my survival,” she says wholeheartedly, adding, “Survival Guide is one woman trying to shape her own place in this world as a musician."   Emily "Em" Whitehurst is the solo force behind Survival Guide. Her fourth-full length album deathdreams will be released on October 19, 2023 via Double Helix Records. “Pie” is now available on all platforms. "Pie" lyrics:   You are me and I was you You think I’m glaring but it’s not true Even if you just appeared, you’ve always been a piece of me Same cloth, same blood, same tree Same feet stomping rhythm with our stories   Let me bubblewrap you Hide you from his eyes I just wanna get you through these dangerous times Pull you through the fire to the other side   You look like a fresh-baked pie Their tongues are hanging out Never forget that your machine gun is your mouth Little sister, don’t you doubt, oh   I know you hate it when I tell you what to do But it’s only because I worry they’ll steal the light from you   Just let me bubblewrap you Hide you from his eyes It gets me twisted up inside To see you as a prize   You look like a fresh-baked pie Their tongues are hanging out Never forget that your machine gun is your mouth Little sister, don’t you doubt, oh   Oh, fresh-baked pie Oh, fresh-baked pie Oh, fresh-baked pie Oh, fresh-baked pie   You look like a fresh-baked pie Their tongues are hanging out Never forget that your machine gun is your mouth Little sister, don’t you doubt, oh   Fresh-baked pie Fresh-baked pie Fresh-baked, fresh-baked Fresh- baked pie

'Hackney Diamonds' shines as bright as Rolling Stones' extraordinary legacy

Artist: The Rolling Stones

Title: Hackney Diamonds (Geffen Records)

Tell me more: More than 60 years into their sensational run, The Rolling Stones have returned with a true masterwork. Hackney Diamonds is an ambitious album that finds Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood delivering a masterful celebration of their signature sound infused with enough contemporary sonics to surprise across the 12-song set.

With drummer Steve Jordan playing drum across the majority of the album tracks in the place of the late drummer Charlie Watts (the latter who passed away in August 2021 at the age of 80), an all-star cast of greats add their respective talents with a collective focus on the songs. Producer Andrew Watt's role is likely another major element in the ambition and success of the album, the British band's first new full-length disc of new material since 2005's A Bigger Bang.

Indeed, the stellar production heard across the album is equaled by the strength and diversity of the song craft as well as the inspired performances of the players. And Jagger sounds outstanding across the title delivering vocals that are strong and stirring.

Hackney Diamonds' lead single "Angry" is among the album's more signature rockers, with Jagger's emotional appeal for forgiveness delivered against an uptempo beat and sharp guitar work from Richards and Wood. 

But it are the album's deep cuts and the diversity of material that make Hackney Diamonds a genuinely magnificent gem. 

None of the dozen selections on the album is a throw away. The band can be heard revisiting past glories with a decidedly fresh approach while also frequently expanding its musical palette.

"Get Close" is anchored by some sizzling guitar work. A melodic chorus and top-tier sax playing bolster the song. "Depending On You" is a beautiful country-tinged ballad. With its gorgeous arrangement, the semi-acoustic song is deeply affecting. 

One of the biggest surprises on the album is the aptly-titled "Bite My Head Off," a true punk rock foray featuring Paul McCartney on bass. Listening to the edgy cut is to be reminded of the ferocity of the Sex Pistols. No mere curiosity, the punk rock-edged track hits home.

Among other standouts on Hackney Diamonds are the country blues nugget "Dreamy Skies," the bewitching blues rocker "Live By The Sword" (the latter featuring the late Watts, former Stones bassist Bill Wyman and pianist Elton John) and the amazing gospel-meets-soul track "Sweet Sounds Of Heaven" featuring guests Lady Gaga (vocals) and Stevie Wonder (keyboards).

Richards is featured on lead vocals on the luxurious track "Tell Me Straight," anchored by some particularly lovely guitar work.

My favorite track is "Whole Wide World," a song that somehow blends the best of 1980s alternative rock with the Stones' timeless approach. The guitars are razor sharp and the explosive chorus is pure ear candy. Jagger's lyrics are especially poignant:

When the whole wide world is against you
And you’re standin’ in the rain
When all you friends have left you down and treat you with disdain
When the whole wide world’s against you
And life’s got you on the run
And you think the party’s over
But it’s only just begun

The album's final track," Rolling Stone Blues," is a winning traditional acoustic blues cover of Muddy Waters' 1950 classic "Rolling Stone" (the song that is said to have inspired the band's name). A wonderful track to bring The Rolling Stones' singular journey full circle.

Information: rollingstones.com.

Robert Kinsler

Fall 2023 New Music Roundup

The upcoming weeks will see both groundbreaking veterans and cult heroes featured on new audio titles. Here is a roundup of some of the most anticipated rock and Americana releases.

Artist: The Rolling Stones

Title: Hackney Diamonds (Geffen Records)
You might like if you enjoy: The Rolling Stones
Tell me more: The wait is almost over. The Rolling Stones return on Friday, Oct. 20 with their eagerly-awaited full-length studio album Hackney Diamonds. As of the writing of this preview, the British troupe has released two advance tracks from the disc (the signature rocker "Angry" and soulful gospel-tinged "Sweet Sounds of Heaven") that have added to the collective hopes of classic rock fans that the 12-track Hackney Diamonds will join the celebrated heights of some of the band's most beloved album titles. In addition to the late Charlie Watts, other notable artists featured on the Rolling Stones' first new album of original material since 2005 include Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Lady Gaga and founding Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman. Information: rollingstones.com.

Artist: Simple Minds

Title: New World Dream — Live From Paisley Abbey (BMG)

You might like if you enjoy: U2, Simple Minds
Tell me more: Beloved Scottish rock troupe Simple Minds returns this month with New World Dream — Live From Paisley Abbey, a one-off live performance of the band playing their 1982 masterwork New Gold Dream. The performance was captured a short distance from the band's hometown of Glasgow in the picturesque 12th century Paisley Abbey. Among the classic cuts revisited by Simple Minds (singer Jim Kerr, lead guitarist Charlie Burchill, acoustic guitarist Gordy Goldie, bassist Ged Grimes, drummer Charisse Osei and vocalist Sarah Brown) on the title are "Promised You A Miracle," "Glittering Prize" and "Someone, Somewhere (In Summertime)." Recorded in 2022, the recording is part of Sky Arts' "Greatest Albums Live" series, which captures iconic artists playing classic albums from their illustrious careers. The collection will be released via vinyl and audio CD on Oct. 27. Information: simpleminds.com. 

Artist: Jimi Hendrix Experience

Title: Jimi Hendrix Experience: Hollywood Bowl August 18, 1967 (Legacy Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: Jimi Hendrix, Ten Years After
Tell me more: Jimi Hendrix was relatively unknown when he took the stage at the Hollywood Bowl on Aug. 18, 1967. Indeed, the Jimi Hendrix Experience — whose debut album Are You Experienced had not yet been released — was serving as the opening act for headliners the Mamas & The Papas. In front of a sold out audience of 17,000 concertgoers, Hendrix (guitar and lead vocals), Mitch Mitchell (drums) and Noel Redding (bass, backing vocals) blew away the crowd with fiery takes of songs by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters as well as soon-to-be original classics "Purple Haze," "Foxey Lady" and "The Wind Cries Mary." Jimi Hendrix Experience: Hollywood Bowl August 18, 1967 is set for release on Nov. 10. Information: jimihendrix.com. 

Twenty-five years after its initial release, Tim Easton's
celebrated Special 20 will be reissued on Oct. 20, 2023. 

Artist: Tim Easton

Titles: Special 20; Not Cool (Black Mesa Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Tim Easton, Peter Case
Tell me more: Acclaimed singer-songwriter Tim Easton is the focus of two reissues. Black Mesa Records will release both Special 20 and Not Cool — both long out of print — on vinyl and audio CD on Oct. 20. The songs on Special 20 (the original album was released in 1998) cover a number of themes pulled from real life as well as the world of fiction. Fifteen years later, Easton went into Nashville's famed Alex the Great studio to record Not Cool. Enlisting the talents of Joe Fick, JD Simo, Jon Radford, Megan Palmer and Sadler Vaden, the fast-moving sessions resulted in one of Easton's most beloved discs. "Not Cool is the record, from start to finish, that I call my best album," Easton says in recent press notes. "Any one of the 20 songs on these two albums still rings a bell in my book. No disrespect to any of my albums, but these two are my favorites." Information: timeaston.com. 

Artist: Robert Rex Waller Jr.

Titles: See The Big Man Cry (Have Harmony, Will Travel Productions)
You might like if you enjoy: I See Hawks In L.A., Carla Olson
Tell me more: Robert Rex Waller Jr. (the frontman of Americana collective I See Hawks in L.A.) and Carla Olson (the Textones) have been collaborating on stage and in the studio for years. On Waller's upcoming See The Big Man Cry the acclaimed artist revisits classic tracks from the far-flung likes of Bobby Rydell, Bruce Springsteen, Charlie Louvin and Gene Clark on the ambitious Olson-produced 13-track project. Olson and Waller assembled an all-star cast of Los Angeles' finest America players to work on the recordings, including Olson (guitar, harmony vocals), John York (12 string guitar), Benjamin Lecourt (drums), Skip Edwards (piano) and many others. See The Big Man Cry will be released on Oct. 20. Information: robertrexwallerjr.com. 

Artist: Jon Byrd

Title: All Your Mistakes (Longleaf Pine Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings
Tell me more: Jon Byrd writes and records "what they used to call country music." Fans of authentic country will be able to hear the Birmingham, Alabama native's fifth full-length album All Your Mistakes when it is released on Oct. 20. Armed with his strong baritone vocals and acoustic guitar work, the album also features the talents of pedal steel guitar player Paul Niehaus, guitarist Joe V. McMahan, drummer Bryan Owings and bassist Chris Donahue; harmony vocals are provided by Shannon Wright, Amelia White and Andrea Zone. Information: jonbyrd.com. 

Artist: The Lunar Laugh

Title: In The Black (Big Stir Records)
You might like if you enjoy: The Lunar Laugh, Jason Falkner
Tell me more: Oklahoma-based power pop quintet The Lunar Laugh returns next month with their latest studio LP In The Black. I absolutely loved 2021's Nighthawks! and look forward to digging my ears into the trio's fourth full length effort. The album featuring the bona fide talents of singer-songwriters Connor Anderson, Jared Lekites, Campbell Young will be available on audio CD and via streaming on Nov. 11. Information: bigstirrecords.com. 

Artist: Shooter Jennings

Title: Shooter Jennings and the Werewolves of Los Angeles Do Zevon (BCR Media)
You might like if you enjoy: Shooter Jennings, Warren Zevon
Tell me more: Based on the strength of the first advance tracks ("Excitable Boy" and "Lawyers, Guns and Money") from the forthcoming live album Shooter Jennings and the Werewolves of Los Angeles Do Zevon, the tribute to the late great singer-songwriter Warren Zevon will be an essential addition to any music lover's permanent collection. Three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer Shooter Jennings recorded the full-length set with a top-tier band at the "Rebels & Renegades Music Festival" in Monterey, CA in late 2022. 

“This last year we had a blast doing two separate shows paying tribute to one of my favorite artists of all time, Los Angeles legend Warren Zevon,” says Shooter Jennings in a recent media release. “When Zevon was picked to be potentially inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year we, along with millions of Zevon fans, were hoping that he would finally get his due in the halls of Rock & Roll History. Unfortunately, Zevon didn't make it in this year and won't be honored on November 4, 2023, in New York City at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony. Upon hearing this news, the Werewolves of Los Angeles gathered in our Wolfcave to discuss what we could do about it. We decided that even though Warren wasn't going into the Hall of Fame, we could take a special trip up to New York City that weekend and do our own celebration of Warren's bad-ass music.” 

Shooter Jennings and the Werewolves of Los Angeles Do Zevon will be released on Nov. 3. Information: shooterjennings.com. 

Robert Kinsler

Paul McCartney's THE LYRICS returns in paperback

A new one-volume edition of Paul McCartney’s THE LYRICS: 1956 to the Present, to be published in paperback on November 7, 2023. Returning after its #1 New York Times bestselling run in hardcover, this updated version of THE LYRICS features additional commentaries on iconic songs spanning Paul McCartney's unparalleled musical career.

Those seven new song commentaries include:

·       Bluebird

·       Day Tripper

·       English Tea

·       Every Night

·       Hello Goodbye

·       Magical Mystery Tour

·       Step Inside Love

When THE LYRICS published in 2021 to worldwide acclaim, it was heralded as a one-of-a-kind self-portrait of McCartney, earning Book of the Year by Barnes & Noble and Waterstones, and winning a British Book Award. Critics reveled in "how deeply he is steeped in literary history and how much his output as a songwriter has in common with the works of the likes of Dickens and Shakespeare" (New York Times Book Review).

Finally in paperback, this new edition of THE LYRICS further celebrates the breadth of that creative life and musical genius, covering sixty-six years through 161 songs-from early days in Liverpool, the global pop cultural domination of The Beatles, the '70s radio gold of Wings, and Paul's prolific and still peaking solo career.

Arranged alphabetically with a treasure trove of material from McCartney's personal archive - drafts, letters, photographs - never seen before the 2021 publication, THE LYRICS establishes definitive texts of these songs for the first time and describes the circumstances in which they were written, the people and places that inspired them, and what Paul thinks of them now.

Seven new song commentaries elaborate more on these themes, whether mulling over the romantic yearning in Vera Lynn's "We'll Meet Again" (Bluebird), the playful double entendres meant to trip up BBC censors (Day Tripper), the call and response power of a song (Every Night), the challenge and pleasure of writing for other performers (Step Inside Love), and the unlikely experience of serenading astronauts (English Tea).

With a personal foreword by McCartney and edited and introduced by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon, THE LYRICS is the definitive literary chronicle of one of musical history's most enduring treasures.

Born in Liverpool in 1942, Paul McCartney was raised in the city and educated at the Liverpool Institute. In June 2023 he published a collection of his photography, 1964: Eyes of the Storm, in conjunction with an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Since writing his first song at 14, McCartney has dreamed and dared to be different. He lives in England.

Paul Muldoon is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of fourteen full-length collections of poetry, including the recent collection Howdie-Skelp.

 

US product information: 
THE LYRICS: 1956 to the Present 
Paul McCartney, edited with an introduction by Paul Muldoon 
ISBN: 9781324094098 
Liveright Publishing 
$30   
One volume paperback 
624 pages

Craft Recordings celebrates 40th anniversary of Violent Femmes’ self-titled debut with deluxe reissue

CRAFT RECORDINGS CELEBRATES 

THE 40^TH ANNIVERSARY OF VIOLENT FEMMES’

CULT CLASSIC SELF-TITLED DEBUT WITH DELUXE REISSUE

 

The remastered and expanded Deluxe Edition includes favorites 

“Blister in the Sun,” “Please Do Not Go,” “Gone Daddy Gone” & “Add It Up”

Plus rare demos, B-sides, live performances & more

 

The single “Gone Daddy Gone / I Just Want to Make Love to You (Live)” 

available to stream/download today

 

Folk-punk pioneers now on 40^th Anniversary Tour

Los Angeles, CA (October 10, 2023) — Craft Recordings is thrilled to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of Violent Femmes’ 1983 self-titled debut with a special reissue of the seminal cult classic. Due out December 1^st and available for pre-order now, the deluxe 2-CD and digital formats will feature newly remastered audio and over a dozen demos, B-sides, and live performances from the pioneering folk-punk trio — including alternate versions of iconic songs like “Blister in the Sun,” “Please Do Not Go,” “Gone Daddy Gone,” and “Add It Up.” A special 4-disc vinyl box set will follow February 9th, 2024, limited to 5,000 copies worldwide. Housed in a lift-top box with die-cut window detail, this collectible edition offers three 180-gram LPs — the original album, alongside the demos, and live material — plus, a replica 7-inch single (“Ugly”/“Gimme the Car”). The original album and single discs are cut from the original analog tapes, while lacquers for the complete set were cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio. Both the CD and LP editions will feature an expansive book with new liner notes by journalist and Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke, complete with interviews with Violent Femmes members Gordon Gano, Brian Ritchie, and Victor DeLorenzo.

 

Reflecting on the album’s 40^th anniversary, bassist Brian Ritchie shares: “I am frequently stopped on the street by people who tell me, ‘Your album changed my life,’ or some variant. I don’t have to ask, ‘Which album?’ because it is implied that they’re talking about the first one. The uncanny thing is that these people range from early teens to septuagenarians, and they all have the same testimony.” Ritchie adds, “Sometimes music is more than just a pleasing sound that entertains. It takes on greater meaning. Multiple generations have found the songs to be relevant in their life situations. Some people say they had sex for the first time listening to it (which I find appalling but whatever) and someone even said, ‘I was conceived to your music.’ Wow.”

 

Today, fans can visit digital platforms to pre-save Violent Femmes (Deluxe Edition) and stream or download the advance single, “Gone Daddy Gone / I Just Want to Make Love to You (Live).” Recorded in January 1983 at Folk City in New York, NY, this raucous early version of the longtime fan favorite includes a complete verse from Willie Dixon’s 1954 song “I Just Want to Make Love to You” (originally recorded by Muddy Waters). Like all the bonus material featured on Violent Femmes (Deluxe Edition), “Gone Daddy Gone (Live)” was previously unavailable in digital format. 

 

Released on vinyl and cassette in April 1983 — and certified Platinum by the RIAA in 1991, the same year it charted on the Billboard 200 for the first time — Violent Femmes has achieved cult status and served as a perennial discovery for music lovers partial to unbridled expression of teen angst. Just a year prior to recording their debut, Gano (vocals, guitar), Ritchie (bass), and DeLorenzo (percussion) co-founded the band in Milwaukee and got their start performing in the streets (a point of necessity rather than preference, given that local clubs refused to book them and it was too hot to practice in DeLorenzo’s basement). But when members of the Pretenders caught Violent Femmes performing on the sidewalk during a tour stop at Milwaukee’s Oriental Theatre, the legendary British/American band spontaneously added them to the bill at that night’s sold-out show. By the following summer, Violent Femmes had landed a spot opening for punk heroes Richard Hell and the Voidoids at New York City’s Bottom Line — a two-night engagement caught by Fricke himself, who soon penned a glowing review in Musician magazine. “The Violent Femmes don’t just steal the show — they blow a fresh wind of post-punk originality rooted in rockabilly simplicity, the dry, folk twang of quintessential hobo Dylan and the stark bash and graphic lyricism of Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground,” he wrote. 

 

In July 1982, Violent Femmes headed to a Lake Geneva studio and cut their debut album’s 10 songs in just a week, funding the sessions with a $10,000 emergency loan co-signed by DeLorenzo's father. Produced by Mark Van Hecke, Violent Femmes mostly consists of the band’s first takes and centers on a raw and potent sound augmented by their idiosyncratic instrumentation (Ritchie favored an acoustic, mariachi-style bass, while DeLorenzo’s minimalistic drum kit included an upside-down metal tub). “We were using tape, which was expensive, and paying for this record ourselves,” Ritchie says today. “We might have a few, false starts. We’d get a take, then say, ‘That sounds pretty good, let’s try a few more.’” After sorting through a deluge of rejection letters from record labels, the band released their full-length debut via Slash Records (a now-defunct offshoot of the Los Angeles punk zine, also home to punk trailblazers like X, the Germs, the Misfits, the Gun Club, and more).

 

Both of-the-moment and strangely timeless, Violent Femmes matches its restless and frenetic breed of folk-punk with Gano’s singular songwriting voice, at turns giddy, acerbic, and painfully vulnerable. “We’re avant-garde because we’re so reactionary,” Ritchie told Rolling Stone in 1983. “We go back to improvisation, to raw emotions and primitive, old-fashioned sounds. And Gordon’s songs make the whole thing accessible.” To that end, the album’s slippery emotionality encompasses everything from the loopy euphoria of “Blister in the Sun” to the plucky desperation of “Prove My Love” to the jittery frustration of “Add It Up” and “Kiss Off” — the latter a track whose iconic mid-song countdown features an ostensibly dashed-off but entirely intentional outburst from Gano. “That’s the way I wrote it – this voice getting so carried away that he forgets what eight is for,” he says. Meanwhile, Violent Femmes’ exquisitely erratic musicality manifests in such unexpected forms as the bluesy catharsis of “Confessions” and the bright and bouncy exotica of “Gone Daddy Gone” (achieved through the band’s use of xylorimba, a xylophone-marimba hybrid).

 

Released in 1987, the CD version of Violent Femmes featured two extra songs, “Ugly” and “Gimme the Car” — the latter an alluringly sour and sexually blunt track that Gano and Ritchie performed at the former’s National Honor Society induction ceremony his senior year of high school (a turn of events that promptly led to Gano’s expulsion). Both songs originally appeared on a 7-inch released by London-based indie label Rough Trade in 1983.

 

Upon its arrival in 1983, Violent Femmes quickly earned acclaim from the likes of Rolling Stone, who hailed the album as an “unnervingly precocious debut” by a band “that not only acts like it just reinvented rock & roll but somehow manages to sound like it as well.” Thanks in no small part to its brutally accurate rendering of adolescent heartache and fury — courtesy of Gano, still a teenager at the time of the LP’s creation — Violent Femmes only grew in cultural impact over the coming decades. In fact, Pitchfork later proclaimed that “Violent Femmes are perhaps the greatest mixtape band of its era…For those that encountered the Femmes in this manner, the band’s songs were akin to outsider art — found musical data that offered bracingly unfiltered takes on lust and alienation and the yearning to belong.” In the depths of the ’90s alt-rock boom, the trio also took major hold of the zeitgeist: in 1994’s Reality Bites (released the same year that Violent Femmes performed at Woodstock’s 25^th anniversary concert), Ethan Hawke serenaded Winona Ryder with an embittered rendition of “Add It Up,” while a 1995 episode of My So-Called Lifeopened on Claire Danes joyfully lip-synching “Blister in the Sun.” “It exists as an artifact of history," says DeLorenzo of the band’s debut. “At the same time, it’s been passed down from generation to generation which continues to make it brand new. We’re in a rarified position with that record.”

 

Over the course of their extraordinary career, Violent Femmes have released nine studio albums, including standouts like Why Do Birds Sing? (a 1991 LP featuring their hit single “American Music,” which climbed to No.2 on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart and has since become an essential song at shows). They’ve also taken the stage at leading festivals like the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (performing a highly anticipated set in 2013), and seen their songs reimagined by major acts like Gnarls Barkley (who covered “Gone Daddy Gone” for their Platinum-certified debut album St. Elsewhere in 2006). To celebrate the 40^th anniversary of Violent Femmes, the band recently embarked on a headlining tour of the U.S. — check out the full tour itinerary below and visit vfemmes.com for ticket information.

 

Click here to pre-order Violent Femmes (Deluxe Edition), or stream/download the advance single and pre-save the album.

 

 

Tracklist – Violent Femmes (Deluxe Edition) (2-CD edition):

 

Disc 1:

 

1. Blister In The Sun

2. Kiss Off

3. Please Do Not Go

4. Add It Up

5. Confessions

6. Prove My Love

7. Promise

8. To The Kill

9. Gone Daddy Gone / I Just Want To Make Love To You

10. Good Feeling

11. Ugly

12. Gimme The Car

 

 

Disc 2:

 

1. Girl Trouble (Demo)

2. Breakin’ Up (Demo)

3. Waiting For The Bus (Demo)

4. Blister In The Sun (Demo)

5. Kiss Off (Demo)

6. Please Do Not Go (Demo)

7. Add It Up (Demo)

8. Confessions (Demo)

9. Prove My Love (Demo)

10. Special (Live At Beneath-It-All Café, Milwaukee, WI - 9/12/1981)

11. Country Death Song (Live At Beneath-It-All Café, Milwaukee, WI - 9/12/1981)

12. To The Kill (Live At Beneath-It-All Café, Milwaukee, WI - 9/12/1981)

13. Never Tell (Live At Beneath-It-All Café, Milwaukee, WI - 9/12/1981)

14. Break Song (Live At The Jazz Gallery, Milwaukee, WI - 12/8/1981)

15. Her Television (Live At The Jazz Gallery, Milwaukee, WI - 12/8/1981)

16. How Do You Say Goodbye (Live At The Jazz Gallery, Milwaukee, WI - 12/8/1981) 

17. Theme and Variations (Live At The Jazz Gallery, Milwaukee, WI - 12/8/1981)

18. Prove My Love (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)

19. Gone Daddy Gone / I Just Want To Make Love To You (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)

20. Promise (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)

21. In Style (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)

22. Add It Up (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)

 

 

Tracklist – Violent Femmes (Deluxe Edition) (digital edition):

 

1. Blister In The Sun

2. Kiss Off

3. Please Do Not Go

4. Add It Up

5. Confessions

6. Prove My Love

7. Promise

8. To The Kill

9. Gone Daddy Gone

10. Good Feeling

11. Ugly

12. Gimme the Car

13. Girl Trouble (Demo)

14. Breakin’ Up (Demo)

15. Waiting For The Bus (Demo)

16. Blister In The Sun (Demo)

17. Kiss Off (Demo)

18. Please Do Not Go (Demo)

19. Add It Up (Demo)

20. Confessions (Demo)

21. Prove My Love (Demo)

22. Special (Live At Beneath-It-All Café, Milwaukee, WI - 9/12/1981)

23. Country Death Song (Live At Beneath-It-All Café, Milwaukee, WI - 9/12/1981)

24. To The Kill (Live At Beneath-It-All Café, Milwaukee, WI - 9/12/1981)

25. Never Tell (Live At Beneath-It-All Café, Milwaukee, WI - 9/12/1981)

26. Break Song (Live At The Jazz Gallery, Milwaukee, WI - 12/8/1981)

27. Her Television (Live At The Jazz Gallery, Milwaukee, WI - 12/8/1981)

28. How Do You Say Goodbye (Live At The Jazz Gallery, Milwaukee, WI - 12/8/1981) 

29. Theme and Variations (Live At The Jazz Gallery, Milwaukee, WI - 12/8/1981)

30. Prove My Love (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)

31. Gone Daddy Gone / I Just Want To Make Love To You (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)

32. Promise (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)

33. In Style (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)

34. Add It Up (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)

 

 

Tracklist – Violent Femmes (Deluxe Edition) (vinyl edition):

 

Disc 1:

 

Side A:

 

1. Blister In The Sun

2. Kiss Off

3. Please Do Not Go

4. Add It Up

5. Confessions

 

Side B: 

 

1. Prove My Love

2. Promise

3. To The Kill

4. Gone Daddy Gone / I Just Want To Make Love To You

5. Good Feeling

 

Disc 2:

 

Side A:

 

1. Girl Trouble (Demo)

2. Breakin’ Up (Demo)

3. Waiting For The Bus (Demo)

4. Blister In The Sun (Demo)

5. Kiss Off (Demo)

 

Side B:

 

1. Please Do Not Go (Demo)

2. Add It Up (Demo)

3. Confessions (Demo)

4. Prove My Love (Demo)

 

Disc 3:

 

Side A:

 

1. Special (Live At Beneath-It-All Café, Milwaukee, WI - 9/12/1981)

2. Country Death Song (Live At Beneath-It-All Café, Milwaukee, WI - 9/12/1981)

3. To The Kill (Live At Beneath-It-All Café, Milwaukee, WI - 9/12/1981)

4. Never Tell (Live At Beneath-It-All Café, Milwaukee, WI - 9/12/1981)

5. Break Song (Live At The Jazz Gallery, Milwaukee, WI - 12/8/1981)

6. Her Television (Live At The Jazz Gallery, Milwaukee, WI - 12/8/1981)

 

Side B:

 

1. How Do You Say Goodbye (Live At The Jazz Gallery, Milwaukee, WI - 12/8/1981) 

2. Theme and Variations (Live At The Jazz Gallery, Milwaukee, WI - 12/8/1981)

3. Prove My Love (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)

4. Gone Daddy Gone / I Just Want To Make Love To You (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)

5. Promise (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)

6. In Style (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)

7. Add It Up (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)

 

7-Inch Single:

 

Side A:

 

1. Ugly

 

Side B:

 

1. Gimme The Car

 

 

Tour Dates for Violent Femmes

 

10/11 - Queen Elizabeth Theatre (Toronto, ON)

10/12 - Mtelus (Montreal, QC)

10/13 - MGM Music Hall at Fenway (Boston, MA)

10/14 - Ulster Performing Arts Center (Kingston, NY)

10/15 - College Street Music Hall (New Haven, CT)

10/17 - Webster Hall (New York, NY)

10/18 - Starland Ballroom (Sayreville Station, NJ)

10/20 - Rams Head Live! (Baltimore, MD)

10/21 - The NorVa (Norfolk, VA)

10/22 - The National (Richmond, VA)

10/27 - Arizona State Fair (Phoenix, AZ)

11/16 - The Novo (Los Angeles, CA)

11/18 - Darker Waves 2023 (Huntington Beach, CA) 

 

 

About Craft Recordings:

Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most essential collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its storied repertoire includes landmark releases from icons such as Joan Baez, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Celia Cruz, Miles Davis, Isaac Hayes, John Lee Hooker, Little Richard, R.E.M., Joan Sebastian, and Traveling Wilburys. Plus, the catalog recordings of celebrated contemporary acts including A Day to Remember, Evanescence, Alison Krauss, Nine Inch Nails, Taking Back Sunday and Violent Femmes, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, HITCO, Musart, Nitro, Panart, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Vanguard, Varèse Sarabande, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation—ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover. Craft is also home to the Billie Holiday and Tammy Wynette estates which preserve and protect their respective names, likeness and music through day-to-day legacy management of these cultural trailblazers. 

 

Craft Recordings is the catalog label team for Concord. For more info, visit CraftRecordings.com  and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.