L7 (album)

Last updated
L7
L7 - Self-titled Album.jpg
Studio album by
L7
Released1988
Recorded1987
Genre Punk rock
Length31:58
Label Epitaph [1]
Producer Brett Gurewitz
L7 chronology
L7
(1988)
Smell the Magic
(1990)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Spin Alternative Record Guide 4/10 [6]

L7 is the debut studio album by American rock band L7, released in 1988 by Epitaph Records. [7] [8] It demonstrates the band's punk rock origins, although there are traces of the heavier grunge sound that dominated their later work.

Contents

Production

The album was recorded in Brett Gurewitz's studio, in Hollywood, California. [9] It is the band's only album with drummer Roy Koutsky. [10]

The album's first track, "Bite the Wax Tadpole," refers to the legend that this is a Chinese transliteration of "Coca-Cola." [11]

Critical reception

Trouser Press wrote that the album "is a heady but largely inconsequential introduction; it’s all brute force and speed, grunge as a sheer sonic description." [12]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Bite the Wax Tadpole" Suzi Gardner 2:16
2."Cat-O'-Nine-Tails"Gardner2:12
3."Metal Stampede" Donita Sparks 2:25
4."Let's Rock Tonight"Gardner, Sparks3:12
5."Uncle Bob"Gardner, Sparks, Jennifer Finch, Roy Koutsky6:32
6."Snake Handler"Gardner2:29
7."Runnin' from the Law"Gardner, Sparks3:10
8."Cool Out"Sparks2:54
9."It's Not You"Gardner1:45
10."I Drink"Gardner, Sparks, Finch, Koutsky2:55
11."Ms. 45"Gardner, Sparks, Finch, Koutsky2:40
Total length:31:58

Personnel

L7
Productions

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L7 (band)</span> American punk rock band

L7 is an American all-female rock band founded in Los Angeles, California, first active from 1985 to 2001 and re-formed in 2014. Their longest standing lineup consists of Suzi Gardner, Donita Sparks, Jennifer Finch, and Dee Plakas. L7 has released seven studio albums and has toured widely in the US, Europe, Japan, Australia, and South America. "Pretend We're Dead" was heavily played on US alternative radio and entered the top 10 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart in 1992.

<i>Ignition</i> (The Offspring album) 1992 studio album by the Offspring

Ignition is the second studio album by American punk rock band the Offspring, released on October 16, 1992, by Epitaph Records. Issued during the alternative rock and grunge era, the album brought the band small success in Southern California as they started to gather a following. This success would continue to grow with their next album, Smash (1994).

<i>Ixnay on the Hombre</i> 1997 studio album by the Offspring

Ixnay on the Hombre is the fourth studio album and major label debut by American rock band the Offspring, released on February 4, 1997, by Columbia Records. After the massive commercial success of their previous album, Smash (1994), the band entered the studio in the middle of 1996 to record a new album. The title combines Pig Latin and Spanish to convey the message "fuck The Man", as in "fuck authority".

<i>Lets Go</i> (Rancid album) 1994 studio album by Rancid

Let's Go is the second studio album by the American punk rock band Rancid. It was released on June 21, 1994, through Epitaph Records and was the band's first album to feature Lars Frederiksen on guitar and vocals. The album initially achieved little mainstream success, though it appealed to the band's fanbase. However, the surprise success of punk rock bands such as The Offspring, Green Day and Bad Religion in the mid-1990s brought forth more mainstream interest in Let's Go, and it peaked at number 97 on the Billboard 200. "Salvation" was released to alternative radio on February 3, 1995.

<i>Generator</i> (Bad Religion album) 1992 studio album by Bad Religion

Generator is the sixth studio album by the punk rock band Bad Religion. Although the album was completed in the spring of 1991, it was not released until 1992; the band was not happy with the artwork and packaging, and went through several ideas that were eventually scrapped. Generator was the band's first release with drummer Bobby Schayer, who replaced Pete Finestone during the Against the Grain tour.

<i>Suffer</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Bad Religion

Suffer is the third album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released on the Californian independent record label Epitaph Records on September 8, 1988. It was the first album that was both released and distributed by the label. Following the release of the EP Back to the Known (1985), Bad Religion went on a temporary hiatus, then reunited with its original members and went to work on their first full-length studio album in five years.

<i>The New America</i> 2000 studio album by Bad Religion

The New America is the eleventh studio album by punk band Bad Religion. It was released in 2000 and is their last album on Atlantic Records.

<i>Rancid</i> (1993 album) 1993 studio album by Rancid

Rancid is the debut studio album by the American punk rock band Rancid. It was released on May 10, 1993, through Epitaph Records.

<i>S&M Airlines</i> 1989 studio album by NOFX

S&M Airlines is the second studio album by the American punk rock band NOFX. It was released on September 5, 1989, through Epitaph Records. It was also the group's first release on Epitaph. A music video was made for the title track. The album was recorded and mixed in only six days at Westbeach Recorders. Bad Religion's Greg Graffin and Brett Gurewitz appear on the final track, a cover of the Fleetwood Mac song "Go Your Own Way". They also did harmonies on a few other songs. Bassist/singer, Fat Mike considers it to be the first real NOFX album. It was heavily inspired by Bad Religion and Rich Kids on LSD, and showed the band moving more towards a melodic and metallic sound. The album sold 3,500 copies upon its release.

<i>Ribbed</i> 1991 studio album by NOFX

Ribbed is the third studio album by the American punk rock band NOFX, released in 1991 through Epitaph Records. It was their last album to feature Steve Kidwiler on guitar; he was replaced by El Hefe. Ribbed is also the last NOFX album produced by Brett Gurewitz, who also produced their first two Epitaph albums. The album sold 8,000 copies upon its release.

<i>Bricks Are Heavy</i> 1992 studio album by L7

Bricks Are Heavy is the third studio album by American rock band L7, released on April 14, 1992, by Slash Records. The album peaked at number 160 on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the Heatseekers Albums chart. As of June 2000, Bricks Are Heavy has sold 327,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

<i>Hungry for Stink</i> 1994 studio album by L7

Hungry for Stink is the fourth studio album by L7, released in July 1994 by Slash Records. The album peaked at number 117 on the Billboard 200 chart, as well as number 2 on the Heatseekers Albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donita Sparks</span> American singer and guitarist

Donita Sparks is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter most notable for being the co-founder of the band L7. Sparks also initiated, performed, and released original material with her solo project, the band Donita Sparks and the Stellar Moments.

<i>Smell the Magic</i> 1990 studio album by L7

Smell the Magic is the second studio album by American rock band L7, released in 1990 by Sub Pop. Originally issued as a 12" EP containing only the first six songs, it was reissued on CD in July 1991, expanded to album length with three more tracks: "Packin' a Rod," "Just Like Me," and "American Society." The opening track "Shove" was released as the band's first single.

<i>Slap-Happy</i> 1999 studio album by L7

Slap-Happy is the sixth studio album by the American rock band L7. It was released on August 24, 1999, by Bong Load Records in collaboration with Wax Tadpole Records, an independent record label that the band formed after being dropped by Reprise Records in 1997. L7 recorded the album as a trio formed by founding members Donita Sparks and Suzi Gardner, and longtime drummer Demetra Plakas, following the departure of bassist Gail Greenwood. It was made with a low budget and produced by the band and their friend Brian Haught.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suzi Gardner</span> American musician and creative director (born 1960)

Suzanne Gardner is an American musician and creative director best known for being a guitarist, vocalist, and co-founder of the punk rock band L7.

This is the discography for the American rock band L7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everglade (song)</span> 1992 single by L7

"Everglade" is a song by the American all-female rock group L7. It was released as a single in support of their third album Bricks Are Heavy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shove (song)</span> 1990 single by L7

"Shove" is a 1990 song by all-female rock band L7, from the album Smell the Magic. The cover photo was shot by notable music photographer Charles Peterson.

<i>Scatter the Rats</i> 2019 studio album by L7

Scatter the Rats is a studio album by American rock band L7, released on May 3, 2019 through Blackheart Records. It is the band's first album in almost 20 years, following the band's 2014 reunion. It has received positive reviews.

References

  1. Records, Epitaph. "L7 - L7" via epitaph.com.
  2. Huey, Steve. "L7 – L7". Allmusic . Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  3. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 48.
  4. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 698.
  5. Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide . New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p.  500. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone l7 album guide.
  6. Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. p. 231.
  7. "L7 | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  8. "L7 biography". The Great Rock Bible.
  9. Niesel, Jeff. "L7's Donita Sparks Talks About Why the Hard Rock Band 'Came Back to Bitch'". Cleveland Scene.
  10. Buckley, Peter (November 7, 2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. ISBN   9781843531050 via Google Books.
  11. "Bite the Wax Tadpole". Snopes.com.
  12. "L7". Trouser Press. Retrieved 7 November 2020.