Cut You

Last updated
Cut You
Cut You.album.jpg
Studio album by
Penelope Houston
Released1996
Genre Alternative rock
Label Reprise [1]
Producer Penelope Houston, Jeffrey Wood
Penelope Houston chronology
Crazy Baby
(1994)		Cut You
(1996)		Tongue
(1998)

Cut You is an album by the American musician Penelope Houston, released in 1996. [2] [3] It is a mixture of rerecorded older songs and new songs. [4] Cut You was Houston's major label debut; many of her previous albums had been available only in Germany. [5] [6] Houston promoted the album with North American and European tours. [7]

Contents

Production

Signed to Reprise Records by her old acquaintance Howie Klein, Houston composed six new songs, while adding more instrumentation to her rerecorded older ones. [8] The album was produced by Houston and Jeffrey Wood. [9] Reprise asked Houston to withdraw "Cut You"; she instead made it the title track. [10] "Secret Sign" is about a run-in with a ex's new girlfriend. [11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [13]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [14]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [9]

No Depression thought that Houston's songs "tend to involve many nameless, spiritually wiped-out characters captured in moments of particular drama ... instead of telling the whole story as a traditional folksinger might, Houston is more of a tour guide." [4] Trouser Press deemed the album "a solid cross-section of her material ... the playing and recording quality are absolutely vibrant and Houston sings as wonderfully as ever." [15] The Chicago Tribune concluded that Houston "goes well beyond empowerment, penning lyrics as smart as they are wicked." [13] The Los Angeles Times wrote that "'Locket' glides along to a Latin-tinged beat while the title track, with its light country twang and darkly comic lyric, evokes a vindictive, post-punk incarnation of Patsy Cline." [14]

Tulsa World stated that "the songs are built around intricate lyrical jabs and worldly insights." [16] The Washington Post determined that "what's most impressive about Cut You is Houston's vivid depictions of women who are attempting to square their reality with sometimes fading desires and dreams." [17] Rolling Stone opined that "Houston ties it together with gossamer vocals and lyrics that invert the accusations of punk." [18] The Boston Globe called the album "mature rock with punk roots, soft songs with sting." [19]

AllMusic wrote that the album "offers proof that Houston helped pioneer the melodic-yet-hard-hitting alternative rock currently mined by such performers as Liz Phair and Aimee Mann." [12]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Secret Sign" 
2."Sweetheart" 
3."Scratch" 
4."Locket" 
5."Fuzzy Throne" 
6."Ride" 
7."Harry Dean" 
8."Waiting Room" 
9."Qualities of Mercy" 
10."Fall Back" 
11."Pull" 
12."Glad I'm a Girl" 
13."White Out" 
14."Cut You" 

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penelope Houston</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1958)

Penelope Houston is an American singer-songwriter best known as the singer for the San Francisco-based punk rock band the Avengers. She was raised in Seattle. In the mid-1970s she attended Fairhaven College in Bellingham, Washington. In 1977, Houston moved to San Francisco, attended the San Francisco Art Institute, and shortly after became the lead singer and songwriter for the Avengers. That band released one album, their eponymous debut in 1983.

<i>Just Fred</i> 1996 studio album by Fred Schneider

Just Fred is the second solo album by the American musician Fred Schneider, released in 1996. Its first single was "Bulldozer". Schneider promoted the album by playing shows with his band, the Slobs.

<i>Songs for the Terrestrially Challenged</i> 1995 studio album by Speaking Canaries

Songs For The Terrestrially Challenged is an album by Pittsburgh's The(e) Speaking Canaries, released in 1995. It is the first Speaking Canaries album to be released on compact disc, and the first to see worldwide distribution; therefore, it has often been erroneously attributed as The(e) Speaking Canaries' debut album. Songs For The Terrestrially Challenged is notable for its long songs, its long total running time, and its multiple album versions.

<i>Gilded Stars and Zealous Hearts</i> 1996 studio album by Velocity Girl

Gilded Stars and Zealous Hearts is the third, and final, studio album by indie rock band Velocity Girl. It was released in 1996 on Sub Pop.

<i>Beyond the Valley...</i> 2000 studio album by The Queers

Beyond The Valley... is an album by pop-punk band The Queers. It was released in 2000 via Hopeless Records.

<i>Star Maps</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Possum Dixon

Star Maps is the second studio album by American alternative rock band Possum Dixon. It was released in 1996 on Interscope Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">X-teens</span> American pop group

X-teens was an American new wave rock band formed in Durham, North Carolina in 1979 and often identified as part of the North Carolina punk/new wave scene of the 1980s. After disbanding in 1985, the members went on to form other bands, such as 4 Who Dared, Land of Giants and Money vs. People.

<i>Ruby Red</i> (Dambuilders album) 1995 studio album by the Dambuilders

Ruby Red is an album by the American band the Dambuilders, released in 1995. It was the band's first major label album of completely new material.

<i>Thats What Love Songs Often Do</i> 1995 studio album by Fig Dish

That's What Love Songs Often Do is an album by the American band Fig Dish, released in 1995. "Seeds" and "Bury Me" were released as singles. That's What Love Songs Often Do was a commercial disappointment. The band supported it with a North American tour.

<i>Are You Going to Eat That</i> 1995 studio album by Hazel

Are You Going to Eat That is an album by the American band Hazel, released in 1995. The band supported the album by touring with Veruca Salt. "Blank Florida" was released as a single.

<i>Murk Time Cruiser</i> 1995 studio album by aMiniature

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.

<i>Un "Sung Stories"</i> 1986 studio album by Phil Alvin

Un "Sung Stories" is the first solo album by the American musician Phil Alvin, released in 1986. Alvin supported the album with a North American tour. He then returned to his graduate studies in mathematics.

<i>Powerful Pain Relief</i> 1995 studio album by Love Jones

Powerful Pain Relief is the second album by the American band Love Jones, released in 1995. The band was considered part of the mid-1990s "Cocktail Nation" trend of retro cocktail lounge groups.

<i>Selling the Sizzle!</i> 1996 studio album by the Smugglers

Selling the Sizzle! is an album by the Canadian band the Smugglers, released in 1996. "Especially You" was the first single.

<i>Electric Juices</i> 1996 studio album by Fuzzy

Electric Juices is the second album by the American band Fuzzy, released in 1996.

<i>Massive Blur</i> 1993 studio album by Melissa Ferrick

Massive Blur is the debut album by the American musician Melissa Ferrick, released in 1993. Ferrick supported the album by opening for Marc Cohn on a North American tour.

<i>Dragstrip Riot</i> (album) 1991 studio album by the Flesh Eaters

Dragstrip Riot is an album by the American band the Flesh Eaters, released in 1991. It was their first studio album since 1983's A Hard Road to Follow. They supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Me. Me. Me.</i> 1995 studio album by Air Miami

Me. Me. Me. is the only album by the American indie rock band Air Miami, released in 1995. It was recorded after the breakup of Unrest, the former band of guitarist Mark Robinson and bassist Bridget Cross. The band promoted the album with a North American tour that included shows with Throwing Muses.

<i>Five Ways of Disappearing</i> 1995 studio album by Kendra Smith

Five Ways of Disappearing is an album by the American musician Kendra Smith, released in 1995. It marked a full-album return to music for Smith, who for much of the 1990s had been tending to her northern California organic farm. Smith did not do a lot of promotion for the album, and chose not to tour nationally behind it.

<i>...finally</i> 1996 studio album by Too Much Joy

...finally is an album by the American band Too Much Joy, released in 1996. Its first single was "The Kids Don't Understand".

References

  1. ↑ "Penelope Houston Cut You". CMJ New Music Monthly. CMJ Network, Inc. April 30, 1996. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Penelope Houston Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2021-09-30. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  3. ↑ "Penelope Houston's Cut You Due in '96". MTV News. Archived from the original on 2021-09-30. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  4. 1 2 "Penelope Houston – Cut You". No Depression. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  5. ↑ Semon, Craig S. (2 June 1996). "Penelope Houston looks at breakups, betrayals". Datebook. Telegram & Gazette. p. 8.
  6. ↑ "The Accidental Punk". SF Weekly. February 24, 1999. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  7. ↑ Bessman, Jim (Mar 27, 1999). "Punk-rock veteran Penelope Houston lets loose 'Tongue' on Reprise". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 13. pp. 16, 20.
  8. ↑ Borzillo, Carrie (Mar 2, 1996). "Cutting Through". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 9. p. 18.
  9. 1 2 MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 562.
  10. ↑ "The Great Avenger". Arts & Entertainment. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 24 May 1996. p. 18.
  11. ↑ Semon, Craig S. (2 June 1996). "Penelope Houston looks at breakups, betrayals". Datebook. Telegram & Gazette. p. 8.
  12. 1 2 "Cut You". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2021-09-30. Retrieved 2021-09-30– via www.allmusic.com.
  13. 1 2 Webber, Brad (27 June 1996). "Penelope Houston Cut You". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  14. 1 2 Masuo, Sandy (28 Apr 1996). "In Brief". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 66.
  15. ↑ "Penelope Houston". Trouser Press. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  16. ↑ "Penelope Houston Cut You". Tulsa World. 3 May 1996. Archived from the original on 2021-09-30. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  17. ↑ "Four Angry Women". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  18. ↑ Farber, Jim (Apr 4, 1996). "Recording — Cut You by Penelope Houston". Rolling Stone. No. 731. p. 62.
  19. ↑ Sullivan, Jim (8 Feb 1996). "Penelope Houston Cut You". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 30.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.