Tuesday, January 23, 2007

New Kristin Hersh Album

This makes me very happy -- it's been far too long since she has released an album of new material.

The Rolling Stone review:

Photo

Kristin Hersh

Learn To Sing Like A Star, 2007

RS: 3 of 5 Stars

Average User Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Play View Kristin Hersh's page on Rhapsody

The title is a joke: at forty, Kristin Hersh has a voice that's worn as hell -- all two-packs-a-day rasp and vinegary bite. On her seventh solo album, the former singer for poetry-addled alt-rockers Throwing Muses finds a fitting counterpart to that somewhat disturbing voice in largely dark, largely acoustic songs that toss in string arrangements and often work up smart, stormy tumult. Though Hersh outfits the waltz-y "Ice" with a great slo-mo chorus, tunecraft isn't exactly her strength, and sometimes the album slips into haziness. But the best songs are unsettling in a good way: The haunting, plaintive "Sugar Baby" builds to a cathartic climax, and "Under the Gun" conjures a long night filled with fever dreams. Like a Star proves Hersh can rock powerfully; if she had some stronger material, she might be able to make a truly killer record.

CHRISTIAN HOARD

(Posted: Jan 22, 2007)

Here is the video for "In Shock" from the new album:





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