| Bet the Sky | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1995 | |||
| Studio | Avast! Recording Company | |||
| Genre | Folk punk | |||
| Label | K [1] | |||
| Producer | Stuart Hallerman, Lois Maffeo, Calvin Johnson | |||
| Lois chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bet the Sky is an album by the American band Lois, released in 1995. [2] [3] "Shy Town" was released as a single. [4]
Brendan Canty and Heather Dunn joined Lois Maffeo for the making of Bet the Sky, which was written and recorded in Olympia, Washington. [6] [7] "Shy Town" first appeared on an EP, produced by Ian MacKaye. [8] The album opens and closes with Maffeo solo tracks. [9]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Albuquerque Tribune | A− [10] |
| AllMusic |   [11] |
Trouser Press called the album "a welcome return to acoustic wimpiness," writing that, "though it contains fewer instantly memorable songs than Lois’ other records, the album does have some of Maffeo's best lyrics ... and some beautiful, assured singing." [12] The Washington Post deemed it Lois' "craftiest album yet," writing that "such simple, sparkling tunes as 'Steal Heat' and 'Shy Town' retain the slightly punky, mostly folkie charm of the bicoastal singer's two previous long-players." [13] The Staten Island Advance considered it a "superb array of vibrant, jangly pop-punk and moody acoustic torch songs." [14]
The Philadelphia Inquirer stated that "it's a low-fi affair, with Maffeo's sharp, breezy tunes presented in simple, accessible arrangements that use folk instrumentation and slightly off-kilter rhythms." [15] The Los Angeles Times concluded that Maffeo's "off-kilter, mostly acoustic approach is compelling, avoiding the self-righteous stance or baby-doll trimmings that plague many of [Olympia's] artists." [16] Rolling Stone determined that, "cushioned by airy, evocative melodies and the simple strum of a guitar, Maffeo's songs speak in the universal language of regret." [7] The Albuquerque Tribune labeled Bet the Sky "wonderful, crunchy, rough-over-rouge punk folk." [10]
AllMusic wrote that "the opening 'Charles Atlas', a witty recasting of the wimp-turned-macho man ads from the comic books, is one of Maffeo's best songs, with a memorable hook and sing-along chorus." [11]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Charles Atlas" | |
| 2. | "Shy Town" | |
| 3. | "Cover Yr. Eyes" | |
| 4. | "Transatlantic Telephone Call" | |
| 5. | "Wrestling an Angel" | |
| 6. | "Flamer" | |
| 7. | "The Western" | |
| 8. | "Unattached" | |
| 9. | "Steal Heat" | |
| 10. | "February 15" |
Calvin Johnson is an American guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, music producer, and disc jockey. Known for his uniquely deep and droning singing voice, Johnson was a founding member of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, Dub Narcotic Sound System, The Go Team and The Halo Benders.
Fugazi was an American post-hardcore band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1986. The band consisted of guitarists and vocalists Ian MacKaye and Guy Picciotto, bassist Joe Lally, and drummer Brendan Canty. They were noted for their style-transcending music, DIY ethical stance, manner of business practice, and contempt for the music industry.
Bikini Kill is an American punk rock band formed in Olympia, Washington, in October 1990. The group originally consisted of singer and songwriter Kathleen Hanna, guitarist Billy Karren, bassist Kathi Wilcox, and drummer Tobi Vail. The band pioneered the riot grrrl movement, with feminist lyrics and fiery performances. Their music is characteristically abrasive and hardcore-influenced. After two full-length albums, several EPs and two compilations, they disbanded in 1997. The band reunited for tours in 2019 and 2022, with Erica Dawn Lyle on guitar in place of Karren.
Rites of Spring was an American punk rock band from Washington, D.C., formed in late 1983. Along with Embrace, and Beefeater, they were one of the mainstay acts of the 1985 Revolution Summer movement which took place within the Washington, D.C. hardcore punk scene.
K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington founded in 1982. Artists on the label included early releases by Beck, Modest Mouse and Built to Spill. The record label has been called "key to the development of independent music" since the 1980s.
End Hits is the fifth studio album by American post-hardcore band Fugazi, released on April 28, 1998, by Dischord Records. It was recorded at Inner Ear Studios from March 1997 to September 1997 and produced by the band and Don Zientara, and saw the band continuing with and expanding upon the in-studio experimentation of their previous album Red Medicine (1995). Due to the title, rumors began circulating at the time that it was to be their last release.
Dub Narcotic Sound System (D.N.S.S.) is an Olympia, Washington based indie-funk musical group founded by Calvin Johnson, signed to K Records.
The port city of Olympia, Washington, has been a center of post-hardcore, anti-folk, and other youth-oriented musical genres since the late 1970s. Before this period, Olympia's The Fleetwoods had several Billboard chart successes between 1959 and 1963. Olympia saw a rise in feminism in the music industry, where artists commonly addressed rape, domestic abuse, sexuality, racism, patriarchy, classism, anarchism, and female empowerment in their songs. It was a center for the riot grrrl movement of the early 1990s, which featured Bikini Kill and Bratmobile.
Steady Diet of Nothing is the second studio album by American post-hardcore band Fugazi, released in July 1991 by Dischord Records. Although a persistent rumor alleges that the title is an allusion to a quote by the late American stand-up comedian Bill Hicks, the album title predates the Hicks quote by several years and was actually thought up by bassist Joe Lally.
Lois Maffeo is an American musician and writer who lives in Olympia, Washington. She has been closely involved with and influenced many independent musicians, especially in the 1990s-era Olympia, Seattle and Washington, D.C. music scenes.
"Spanish Bombs" is a song by English punk rock band The Clash, with principal vocals by Joe Strummer and additional vocals by Mick Jones. It was written by Strummer and recorded for the band's 1979 album London Calling.
Red Medicine is the fourth studio album by the American post-hardcore band Fugazi, released on June 12, 1995, by Dischord Records. It is the band's most commercially successful album, peaking at number 126 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number 18 on the UK Albums Chart.
Body of Song is the sixth solo album from punk/indie/alternative rock veteran Bob Mould. It is his first studio album under his own name since 2002's controversial Modulate.
Fugazi, also known as the EP 7 Songs, is the debut eponymous release by the American post-hardcore band Fugazi. As with subsequent release Margin Walker, Guy Picciotto did not contribute guitar to this record; all guitar was performed by Ian MacKaye. It was originally recorded in June 1988 and released in November 1988 on vinyl and again in 1989 on the compilation release 13 Songs along with the following EP Margin Walker. The photo used for the album cover was taken on June 30, 1988 at Maxwell's in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Margin Walker is the second EP by the American post-hardcore band Fugazi. It was originally released in June 1989 on vinyl and again in the same year on the compilation release 13 Songs along with the debut EP Fugazi. The 12" vinyl went out of print, but was remastered and reissued by Dischord Records in October 2009.
Weeville is an album by New Zealand band Tall Dwarfs, released in 1990. It was the band's first album, after almost a decade of EP-only releases.
Amy Farina is an American musician who is the drummer and singer in the indie rock duo The Evens, which includes her husband, Ian MacKaye.
Home is the second studio album by the American band Deep Blue Something. It was released by RainMaker Records in 1994, and rereleased on Interscope in 1995. The band supported the album by touring with Duran Duran.
Mudbird Shivers is an album by Dutch punk/experimental band The Ex. The album prominently features vocals by guest musician Han Buhrs, who also plays a number of different instruments on the recording. It was released the same year as The Ex's entirely instrumental improv album Instant.
Murk Time Cruiser is the second album by the American band aMiniature. It was released in 1995. The band promoted the album by touring with Seam, Versus, and Venus Cures All, bands, like aMiniature, that included Asian-American members.