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Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes are an American folk punk band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The band consists of founding members Gordon Gano (guitar, lead vocals) and Brian Ritchie (bass, backing vocals), joined by multi-instrumentalist Blaise Garza (joined 2004), and drummer John Sparrow (joined 2005). Former members of the band include drummers Victor DeLorenzo (1980–1993, 2002–2013), Guy Hoffman (1993–2002), and Brian Viglione (2013–2016). Violent Femmes have released ten studio albums and 15 singles during the course of their career. The band found critical acclaim with the release of their self-titled debut album in early 1983. Featuring many of their best-known songs, including "Blister in the Sun", "Kiss Off", " Add It Up" and "Gone Daddy Gone", ''Violent Femmes'' became the band's biggest-selling album and was eventually certified platinum by the RIAA. After the release of their third album ''The Blind Leading the Naked'' (1986), the band's future was uncertain and they split ...
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Milwaukee
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is the 31st largest city in the United States, the fifth-largest city in the Midwestern United States, and the second largest city on Lake Michigan's shore behind Chicago. It is the main cultural and economic center of the Milwaukee metropolitan area, the fourth-most densely populated metropolitan area in the Midwest. Milwaukee is considered a global city, categorized as "Gamma minus" by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network, with a regional GDP of over $102 billion in 2020. Today, Milwaukee is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse cities in the U.S. However, it continues to be one of the most racially segregated, largely as a result of early-20th-century redlining. Its history was heavily influenced ...
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Blister In The Sun
"Blister in the Sun" is a song by American rock band Violent Femmes, originally released on their 1983 self-titled debut album. In 2005, it became the first English-language track to ever be allowed on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, the Republic of Ireland Irish-language radio station, after having been selected by listeners for the event. In February 2021, the song was covered by drag queen and singer Trixie Mattel for her extended play ''Full Coverage, Vol. 1''. In media The song is featured in the 17th episode of teen drama series ''My So-Called Life''. The song was also featured prominently in the 1997 film ''Grosse Pointe Blank''. John Cusack had initially requested an updated version of the song, which led to the band recording a new, slower arrangement that featured saxophones, strings and other instruments. This version of the song was dubbed "Blister 2000." However, Cusack eventually decided he wanted to include the original version of the song as well. Because the origin ...
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James Honeyman-Scott
James Honeyman-Scott (4 November 1956 – 16 June 1982) was an English rock guitarist, songwriter and founding member of the band The Pretenders. With the band, Honeyman-Scott established a reputation, in the words of AllMusic, as "one of the most original and versatile guitarists of the early-'80s new wave movement." In addition to his role as lead guitarist, Honeyman-Scott co-wrote a number of songs for the band, sang back-up vocals and played keyboards on a few tracks. The song "2000 Miles" was written for him by Chrissie Hynde and released the year after his death. Early years and musical influences Honeyman-Scott, along with Pretenders bandmates Pete Farndon (bass guitar, vocals) and Martin Chambers (drums, vocals, percussion), came from Hereford. Before joining the Pretenders, Honeyman-Scott played in several bands, including a precursor to The Enid with Robert John Godfrey, the Hawks (Kelv Wilson, bass guitar & vocals; Dave Plowman, guitar; Stan Speke, drums), The Hot ...
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Hotel Last Resort
''Hotel Last Resort'' is the tenth studio album by American rock band Violent Femmes. The album was released on July 26, 2019, by Add It Up Productions and PIAS Recordings. The cover art is a picture of the Eastlink hotel sculpture in Australia. Critical reception ''Hotel Last Resort'' received generally positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 68, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 12 reviews. Track listing Personnel * Gordon Gano – lead vocals, guitars * Brian Ritchie – acoustic bass guitar, baritone guitar, percussion, vocals * John Sparrow – drums, percussion, vocals * Blaise Garza – contrabass, baritone and sopranino saxophones; piano, harmonium, theremin, vocals * Tom Verlaine – guitar (track 6) * Stefan Janoski Stefan Janoski (born July 18, 1979) is an American professional skateboarder, artist, writer and musician, who is ...
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We Can Do Anything
''We Can Do Anything'' is the ninth studio album by U.S. band Violent Femmes, released March 4, 2016. It is the band's first studio album since 2000's ''Freak Magnet.'' “We Can Do Anything” features Boston-based drummer, Brian Viglione, best known for his work with The Dresden Dolls. Artwork The cover artwork is by Barenaked Ladies multi-instrumentalist Kevin Hearn, with whom Violent Femmes toured in 2015. Reception ''Consequence of Sound'' described the album as one that "ebbs and flows, but in the end, it has enough going for it to merit its existence". Track listing Personnel Violent Femmes * Gordon Gano – lead vocals, guitars, violin, banjo * Brian Ritchie – acoustic bass guitar, vocals * Brian Viglione – drums, percussion, vocals The Horns of Dilemma * John Sparrow – cajón * Jeff Hamilton – acoustic guitar, mandolin, 6 string banjo, ukulele, vocals, percussion * Blaise Garza – contrabass, bass, baritone and tenor saxophones * Kevin Hearn – accordio ...
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Freak Magnet
''Freak Magnet'' is a studio album by Violent Femmes, released in 2000. It contains the single "Sleepwalkin'". Originally scheduled for a 1998 release on Interscope Records, ''Freak Magnet'' was pulled when the band was dropped from the label. A reissue with live bonus tracks were released via Shout! Factory in 2005. Critical reception ''The Washington Post'' called the album "stuck in the Reagan decade," writing that "the Femmes still play punky hootenanny-rock with occasional potty-mouthed lyrics to assure frat-boy appeal." ''Exclaim!'' wrote that the Violent Femmes "tend to sound like an average band dabbling in a goofy brand of punk, save for Gordon Gano's voice, which anyone could spot a mile away." '' Paste''s Andrew Lisle wrote: "With sarcastic, solid originals like 'Happiness Is' and 'Hollywood Is High', the boys try to achieve former glory on ''Freak Magnet'', falling just short of success." ''Trouser Press'' called it "a strong return to form," writing that "the Femmes h ...
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Rock!!!!!
''Rock!!!!!'' is an album released by Violent Femmes in 1995. It was originally released only in Australia, but is now available in the rest of the world. It features cover photography by David LaChapelle. This was the first Violent Femmes album not to chart on the ''Billboard'' 200 since 1984's '' Hallowed Ground''. Track listing Personnel * Gordon Gano – vocals, guitar, violin * Brian Ritchie – bass, vocals, guitar, organ, didgeridoo, autoharp * Guy Hoffman – drums, vocals * David Vartanian – electric piano * Bob Jennings – tenor and baritone sax, horn arrangement * Pat Basler – alto sax * Ed Spangenberg – trombone * Sigmund Snopek III Sigmund Snopek III (born 1950) is an American musician and composer. Career Snopek began his career in the late 1960s with a prog-rock band called Bloomsbury People. He has since created concept albums, pop songs, and classical compositions. A ... – mellotron * Producers – Brian Ritchie, Gordon Gano * Recording and mixing ...
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New Times (album)
''New Times'' is the sixth studio album released by Violent Femmes in 1994. It is the first album to not feature original drummer Victor DeLorenzo on drums, who had been replaced by Guy Hoffman. "Breakin' Up," a song lead singer Gordon Gano had written years before, was the lead single. Its video received minor airplay on MTV and appears on the band's DVD, ''Permanent Record - Live & Otherwise''. The album did not sell well, but featured many of the Femmes' most musically complex and lyrically inventive songs, including "4 Seasons," and concert staple "I'm Nothing." "I'm Nothing" appeared in the movie ''Bickford Shmeckler's Cool Ideas''. Track listing Personnel ;Violent Femmes * Gordon Gano – vocals (1-13), electric and acoustic guitars (1-5, 7–12), violin (8, 10), organ (13), baglama (12) * Brian Ritchie – electric bass guitar (1, 2, 4, 9, 11), acoustic bass guitar (3, 5), upright bass (6, 8, 10, 12, 13), electric guitar (3), acoustic piano (4), electric piano (11), org ...
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Why Do Birds Sing?
''Why Do Birds Sing?'' is the fifth studio album by Violent Femmes, released on April 30, 1991. It was the band's last album with original drummer Victor DeLorenzo, who left two years later to devote his time to acting, and was produced by Michael Beinhorn, best-known then for his work with the Red Hot Chili Peppers on '' Mother's Milk'' and ''The Uplift Mofo Party Plan''. The album featured the single "American Music," which rose to number 2 on ''Billboard''s Modern Rock chart during the week of May 18, 1991, and became a staple of the band's live shows. Track listing Personnel Violent Femmes * Gordon Gano – vocals, guitar * Brian Ritchie – bass, guitar, bouzouki, banjo, ukulele, mouth harp, didgeridoo, xylophone, glockenspiel, vocals * Victor DeLorenzo – drums, percussion, tranceaphone, vocals Additional musicians * Michael Beinhorn – Hammond organ on "American Music", Mellotron on "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" and "Used To Be", piano on "Do You Really Want To Hu ...
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3 (Violent Femmes Album)
''3'' is the fourth studio album by U.S. punk-folk band Violent Femmes, released in early 1989. The songs were performed by the three members of the band playing only drums, bass and guitar, with the addition of keyboards and saxophone. Critical reception ''Trouser Press'' wrote that "Gano’s songwriting and delivery have their usual odd character and some of the old passion, but the Femmes don’t seem to be making much progress or impact in any direction here." Chris Woodstra of AllMusic noted that the fans of the band's early days would "appreciate the slightly stripped-back acoustic production." The ''Los Angeles Times'' wrote that "''3'' often comes off as a pale, precious shadow of the Femmes’ 1983 debut album." ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'' deemed the album "a jumbled stylistic grab bag." Track listing Personnel * Gordon Gano – guitar, vocals * Brian Ritchie – bass guitar * Victor DeLorenzo – drums * Sigmund Snopek III – keyboards * Peter Balestrieri - bari ...
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The Blind Leading The Naked
''The Blind Leading the Naked'' is the third album by Violent Femmes. It was produced by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads and released in 1986. The title is a play on the figure of speech "the blind leading the blind." ''The Blind Leading the Naked'' was the band's first album to reach the Billboard chart, peaking at #84, and its only one to chart in Britain. Production and recording The band said Leo Kottke and Fred Frith were both persuaded to appear on the album after approaching them at their concerts. "I just went along and asked him if he'd like to come down and try something out in the studio," Ritchie said of Frith. Members of the band said they were unhappy with the choice of Harrison as producer, with Ritchie saying, "We knew Jerry and he'd seen us live and, uh, he didn't like it... And when I heard the reasons that he didn't like it, well, they were the reasons why we do like it! We didn't think he was right to produce music as weird as ours." Gano further claimed tha ...
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Recording Industry Association Of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/or distribute approximately 85% of all legally sold recorded music in the United States". RIAA is headquartered in Washington, D.C. RIAA was formed in 1952. Its original mission was to administer recording copyright fees and problems, work with trade unions, and do research relating to the record industry and government regulations. Early RIAA standards included the RIAA equalization curve, the format of the stereophonic record groove and the dimensions of 33 1/3, 45, and 78 rpm records. RIAA says its current mission includes: #to protect intellectual property rights and the First Amendment rights of artists #to perform research about the music industry #to monitor and review relevant laws, regulations, and policies Between 2001 and 202 ...
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