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Showing reviews 1-5 of 16
 A Catalogue Of Emotions. April 30, 2004
cherry_venom (london, england)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
'Live Through This' is the best album Hole released. Not as raw as 'Pretty On The Inside' nor as polished as 'Celebrity Skin' but still raw and polished enough. It starts with 'Violet', which sums up Hole completely.Rage, Cynisism, screechy guitars and lyrics screamed in your face with incredible amounts of energy and passion. Next comes Miss World, a simply breathtaking song.Miss World was the first hole song i heard on Holes website 2 years ago, and i instantly fell in love with it.Trust me, you'll be singing along to 'I made my bed ill lie in it!' in no time!'Plump' follows, a venom filled hit back at those who dared to questionCourtney's abilities as a wife and mother and lines like 'I dont do thedishes, i throw 'em in the crib!' are screamed with bitter sarcasm.'AskingFor It' is a beautifully crafted song, as is 'Jennifers Body'.'Dollparts'is arguably the second best song on the album, with its haunting lyricsand acoustic guitar. Track 7, 'Credit In The Straight World' is a cover (ithink) and seems out of place on this cd, as it lacks the passion of theother tracks. But 'Softer, Softest' makes up for it, a classic anthem ofself loathing and despair.'She Walks On Me' reverts to the gritty sound of'Pretty On The Inside', but still fits comfortably amongst the othersongs. 'I Think That I Would Die' was co-written by the wonderful KatBjelland (Babes In Toyland/Katastrophy Wife) and seems another hit back atthose who question Miss Love's maternal skills, with lyrics like 'Where ismy baby?Who took my baby?' climaxing with 'its..not..yours..F***YOU!'.'Gutless' is the 11th track, a funny, well written song. Last of allis 'Rockstar' which is actually a song called 'Olympia' (the other versionwas banned). 'Olympia' is about cynisism of the riot grrl movement. Itsone of my lesser favourites on the CD, but is still a good song. I'veranted lots about Courtney, so ill mention the other members too. EricErlandson plays his guitar beautifully, and Schemel's drumming poundsthrough your skull.Its a shame that Kristen died when she did, althoughAuf Der Maur was a good replacement. This album simply IS hole. Cynics whostill insist that Kurt wrote it should listen to 'Pretty On The Inside'and 'Celebrity Skin' (written before she met Kurt, and after his suicide)which are proof Holes talent at writing songs. Quite simply - Kurt couldntwrtie music like that.It's girl music. By girls, for girls. Thats not to saythat males wont enjoy it too, but this is the album that will get girlsthrough their teens.And thats speaking from experience.So even if you hateCourtney, buy this album. It'll show her talent, and maybe have the powerto change your mind. As you can tell, im very passionate about this CD.Itwas, and still remains the best album ive ever heard.
The best album I own September 13, 2002
N. Stokes (Midlands, UK)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I bought this album after falling in love with the song Miss World, which was getting a lot of play in clubs during the early 90s. I'd liked 'My Beautiful Son' when it was released but I just thought that Hole were a one-off Grrrl band until I bought Live Through This.pI was impressed with the quality of the lyrics - there isn't a single cheesy moment on the album, unlike most if you analyse them lyrically - and the way their poignancy was enhanced through the violence or melody of the music. It's one of those albums that gives you a new favourite track each week, though for me the highlights will always be 'Violet', 'Ask For It', and 'I Think That I Would Die'. Harsh guitars sit in contrast with pretty harmonies, mirroring the two voices of Courtney Love.pThere have been many rumours that these songs were written by Kurt Cobain etc etc - well, who cares? They're great pieces of music and deserve to be listened to because they've moving and exciting. The lyrics are definitely not Cobain's, either, they are far too tender and explore their themes from a much more female and empathic point of view than Cobain ever did.
Simply brilliant January 4, 2004
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
This album shows Hole at their peak, after the raw angst of Pretty on the Inside, and before the overproduction of the 'glossy' Clebrity Skin. The album shows real emotion and depth. brIt all kicks off with Violet, a beautiful song with a powerful chorus. Next we get the contrasting Miss World, a calmer song with a catchy hook which was the first single from the album. The album follows on with Plump, a raw scream out which would not have looked out of place on POTI, which includes one of my favourite hole lyrics, 'They say I'm plump, but I throw up all the time.' This leads into Asking for it, another beautiful song with a haunting chorus, 'Was she asking for it, was she asking nice?, and the hauntingly psycic 'If you live through this with me, I swear that I will die for you.' brThe album continues with Jennifers Body, another fast paced classic with deep lyrical refences. Next is another slow, beautiful song, Doll Parts, which is an amazing, beautiful song with such emotion conveyed through it, 'Yeah they really want you, but I do too', and 'I want to be the girl with the most cake.' Love seems to be referring to herself and her own feelings in this song. Next is Credit in the Straight world, a cover version which is my least favourite song on the album (in my opinion Old Age should be there instead, but maybe thats just me.) After this is Softer Softest, another song about Courtney being the 'pee girl' in her class at school. It is another hauntingly beautiful song. Next is She walks over me, which is another loud scream ridden song which you can turn up loud and really let rip to. We next come to I think that I would die, a song that seems to be about Frances and the removal of her from the Cobain's custody. Its another song full of emotion and desperation with beautiful melodies and lyrics. The next song is Gutless, a song which is worth listening to if just to hear Courtney screaming the title is a completly desperate manner. The last song is rockstar (or olympia), in my opinion they should have left the original rockstar on the album, but in the circumstances I suppose it was a good idea to take it off. That said, Olympia finishes the album nicely, and is a good end to a brilliant album. If you are even entertaining the thought of buying the album I would urge you to do so, you won't regret it. Buy it, give it a few listens, then appreciate it!
Kickass!! April 18, 2007
M. Eccles (Northeast, u.k)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I own all of hole's albums and singles and i have to say that of all of them 'Live through this' has to be my favourite. The songs were written in that period not long before Kurt Cobain's suicide and alot of the lyrics are inspiring yet also straight from Courtney's struggling soul. Although i think 'Celebrity Skin' is also an awesome album, i think it was alot more poppy and the majority of the songs on it were co-written by Billy Corgan and honestly i think Courtney's lyrics are good enough without his influence. Basically just buy this album cos it kicks all ass! oh and my favourite song on the album has to be 'Miss World' or 'Violet'. :P
i lived through this..... September 18, 2003
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
When a friend handed me a copy of this album like most i was cynical, oh no Kurt Cobains widow not another Nirvana wannabe band. However I was pleasently suprised. This is a fine grunge/rock album but with a pop sensibility. Courtney's voice is able to morph from raw screaming in 'violet' to a broken gentleness in 'doll parts'. Courtney shines lyrically- she's empathatic, observant, spiteful and witty all in one.The highlights of this album are 'violet', 'miss world' and 'doll parts'.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 16
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