Last Splash | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 30, 1993 | |||
Recorded | 1990–93 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 39:38 | |||
Label | 4AD/Elektra Records | |||
Producer |
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The Breeders chronology | ||||
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Singles from Last Splash | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 86/100 [3] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [4] |
Blender | [5] |
Chicago Tribune | [6] |
Entertainment Weekly | A− [7] |
NME | 6/10 [8] |
Pitchfork | 9.0/10 [9] |
Rolling Stone | [10] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [11] |
Spin | 9/10 [12] |
The Village Voice | A− [13] |
Last Splash is the second album by American alternative rock band the Breeders, released on August 30, 1993. Originally formed as a side project for Pixies bassist Kim Deal, the Breeders quickly became her primary recording outlet. Last Splash peaked at number 33 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and by June 1994, the album had been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments in excess of one million units.
The title of the album is taken from a lyric from its lead single, "Cannonball". The video for "Cannonball" was directed by Spike Jonze and Kim Gordon, and the video for the album's second single "Divine Hammer" was directed by Jonze, Gordon and Richard Kern.
A looped guitar sample of "S.O.S." was used by the English electronic music band the Prodigy in their 1996 hit single "Firestarter". A sample from "I Just Wanna Get Along" was used in another track by the Prodigy called "World's on Fire" from the Invaders Must Die album.
In 2003, Pitchfork listed the album at number 64 on their list of the Top 100 Albums of the 1990s. [14] In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked the album number 293 in their revised list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (after not including it in the original 2003 list or the 2012 revision). [15]
On May 13, 2013, 4AD released LSXX, a deluxe 20th anniversary version of the album, [16] and on September 22, 2023, 4AD released Last Splash (30th Anniversary Original Analog Edition), [17] with additional tracks "Go Man Go" and "Divine Mascis".
Last Splash has been seen as one of alternative rock's "most enduring masterpieces", [9] as well as indie rock, [18] noise pop [6] [9] and "effervescent" pop rock. [12]
It is also considered "wildly", "willingly" experimental, [14] [19] sporting art rock textures, "pure", "twisted" pop, and Hawaiian surf music. [20] [21] The latter genre is seen in the "tiki bar twang" of "No Aloha" and the "gonzo" surf rock of instrumental "Flipside". [20] [22] "I Just Wanna Get Along" takes on "spiky" pop-punk, [4] while cover "Drivin' on 9" pulls in acoustic and country sounds. [12] [22]
Last Splash is regarded as one of the most iconic albums in early '90s alternative rock. Dubbed one of its "most enduring masterpieces", [9] it's been praised for "perfectly encapsulat[ing] all that was great and wonderful" about the genre's explosion in that era. [23] Nashville Scene 's Sean L. Maloney saw Splash both "[distill] the zeitgeist into perfect alt-pop nuggets", but also serve as "the last gasp of alternative music as an actual alternative to the mainstream". [24] The Quietus ' Emily Mackay considered it "a key album" for the genre's mainstream crossover. [8]
In a retrospective review of it 20 years on, Stereogum 's Tom Breihan called it "a warm, homemade, deeply and consciously odd" record. [18]
Publication | Country | Type | List | Year | Rank | Ref. |
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United States | Decade-end | Top 100 Favorite Records of the 1990s | 2003 | 64 | ||
The 50 Best Rock Albums of the '90s | 2021 | 46 | ||||
The 90 Greatest Albums Of The '90s | 39 | |||||
Treble | 91 Essential Alternative Rock Albums of the '90s | 2023 | -- | |||
All-time | Top 101-200 Albums of All time | 2004 | 162 | |||
Women Who Rock: The 50 Greatest Albums of All Time | 2012 | 49 | ||||
2020 | 293 | |||||
United Kingdom | The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time | 2013 | 200 | |||
United States | The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women | 2017 | 144 | |||
The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time | 2024 | 122 | ||||
"--" indicates an unordered list. |
All tracks are written by Kim Deal, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "New Year" | 1:56 | |
2. | "Cannonball" | 3:33 | |
3. | "Invisible Man" | 2:48 | |
4. | "No Aloha" | 2:07 | |
5. | "Roi" | 4:11 | |
6. | "Do You Love Me Now?" |
| 3:01 |
7. | "Flipside" | 1:59 | |
8. | "I Just Wanna Get Along" |
| 1:44 |
9. | "Mad Lucas" | 4:36 | |
10. | "Divine Hammer" | 2:41 | |
11. | "S.O.S." | 1:31 | |
12. | "Hag" | 2:55 | |
13. | "Saints" | 2:32 | |
14. | "Drivin' on 9" |
| 3:22 |
15. | "Roi (Reprise)" | 0:42 |
There are two versions of LSXX: a 3-CD package and a 7-disc vinyl set. [33] The CD and vinyl formats have the same track listings.
The vinyl set contains the following vinyl:
The track listing below is for the 3-CD set. All songs are by Kim Deal except where noted.
Disc 1 – Last Splash
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Do You Love Me Now?" (previously released on "Safari" EP) | Kim Deal, Kelley Deal | |
2. | "Don't Call Home" (previously released on "Safari" EP) | Kim Deal, John Murphy | |
3. | "Safari" (previously released on "Safari" EP) | ||
4. | "So Sad About Us" (previously released on "Safari" EP) | Pete Townshend | |
5. | "Cro-Aloha" (previously released on the "Cannonball" single) | ||
6. | "Lord of the Thighs" (previously released on the "Cannonball" single) | Steven Tyler | |
7. | "900" (previously released on the "Cannonball" single) | Josephine Wiggs | |
8. | "Divine Hammer (Single Version)" (previously released on the "Divine Hammer" single) | ||
9. | "Hoverin'" (previously released on the "Divine Hammer" single) | Kim Deal, John Murphy | |
10. | "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)" (previously released on the "Divine Hammer" single) | Hank Williams | |
11. | "Do You Love Me Now Jr?" (previously released on the "Divine Hammer" single) | Kim Deal, Kelley Deal | |
12. | "Head to Toe" (previously released on the "Head to Toe" EP) | Josephine Wiggs | |
13. | "Shocker in Gloomtown" (previously released on the "Head to Toe" EP) | Robert Pollard | |
14. | "Freed Pig" (Sebadoh cover previously released on the "Head to Toe" EP) | Lou Barlow | |
15. | "Saints (Head to Toe Version)" (Last Splash demo, November 1992) | ||
16. | "New Year" (Last Splash demo, November 1992) | 2:04 | |
17. | "Grunggae" (Last Splash demo, November 1992) | 2:34 | |
18. | "Invisible Man" (Last Splash demo, previously released on the "13 Year Itch" 4AD compilation CD) | 2:44 | |
19. | "No Aloha" (Last Splash demo, November 1992) | 2:34 | |
20. | "I Just Wanna Get Along" (Last Splash demo, November 1992) | Kim Deal, Kelley Deal | 1:41 |
21. | "Mad Lucas" (Last Splash demo, November 1992) | 2:29 | |
22. | "S.O.S." (Last Splash demo, November 1992) | 1:37 | |
23. | "Saints" (Last Splash demo, November 1992) | 2:10 | |
24. | "900" (Last Splash demo, November 1992) | Josephine Wiggs | 3:15 |
25. | "Iris (Live Version)" (previously released on the No Alternative compilation) | 3:44 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Shocker in Gloomtown" (Live in Stockholm) | Robert Pollard | 2:20 |
2. | "New Year" (Live in Stockholm) | 2:05 | |
3. | "Hellbound" (Live in Stockholm) | 2:24 | |
4. | "Saints" (Live in Stockholm) | 2:31 | |
5. | "Hag" (Live in Stockholm) | 3:44 | |
6. | "I Just Wanna Get Along" (Live in Stockholm) | Kim Deal, Kelley Deal | 1:52 |
7. | "S.O.S." (Live in Stockholm) | 1:44 | |
8. | "Roi" (Live in Stockholm) | 2:35 | |
9. | "Head to Toe" (Live in Stockholm) | Josephine Wiggs | 2:18 |
10. | "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" (Live in Stockholm) | John Lennon, Paul McCartney | 2:28 |
11. | "Cannonball" (Live in Stockholm) | 3:49 | |
12. | "Invisible Man" (Live in Stockholm) | 2:50 | |
13. | "Doe" (Live in Stockholm) | Kim Deal, Ray Halliday | 2:39 |
14. | "Drivin' on 9" (Live in Stockholm) | Dom Leone, Steve Hickoff | 3:55 |
15. | "Don't Call Home" (Live in Stockholm) | Kim Deal, John Murphy | 3:20 |
16. | "Limehouse" (Live in Stockholm) | 1:52 | |
17. | "No Aloha" (BBC Session) | 2:26 | |
18. | "Flipside" (BBC Session) | 1:58 | |
19. | "Divine Hammer" (BBC Session) | 2:36 | |
20. | "Hag" (BBC Session) | 2:33 |
The Breeders
Artwork
Additional musicians
Production
Singles
| Certifications
|
The Breeders are an American alternative rock band based in Dayton, Ohio, consisting of members Kim Deal, her twin sister Kelley Deal, Josephine Wiggs and Jim Macpherson (drums).
Kimberley Ann Deal is an American musician. She was the original bassist and co-vocalist in the alternative rock band Pixies from 1986 to 1993 and 2004 to 2013, and is the frontwoman of the Breeders, which she formed in 1989.
Bossanova is the third studio album by American alternative rock band Pixies. It was released on August 13, 1990, by English independent record label 4AD in the United Kingdom and by Elektra Records in the United States. Because of 4AD's independent status, major label Elektra handled distribution in the USA.
Trompe le Monde is the fourth studio album by the American alternative rock band Pixies, released on September 23, 1991 on 4AD in the United Kingdom and on September 24, 1991, on Elektra Records in the United States. Recorded in Burbank, California, Paris and London, the album was produced by Gil Norton, and was Pixies' final studio album before their break-up two years later. There would be no Pixies' albums of new material for 23 years after Trompe le Monde.
Weezer is the debut studio album by the American rock band Weezer, released on May 10, 1994, by DGC Records. It was produced by Ric Ocasek of the Cars.
Pod is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band the Breeders, released by 4AD records on May 29, 1990. Engineered by Steve Albini, the album features band leader Kim Deal on vocals and guitar, Josephine Wiggs on bass, Britt Walford on drums, and Tanya Donelly on guitar. Albini's production prioritized sound over technical accomplishment; the final takes favor the band's spontaneous live "in studio" performances.
Pacer is the only album by the Amps, led by Kim Deal. It was released in October 1995. The album was recorded as a side project to Kim Deal's group the Breeders. She recruited new musicians and naming the group the Amps, recorded Pacer at several studios in the US and Ireland, with different engineers, including Steve Albini, Bryce Goggin, and John Agnello.
Title TK is the third studio album by American alternative rock band the Breeders, released on May 20 and 21, 2002 by 4AD in the United Kingdom and Elektra Records in the United States, and on May 10 by P-Vine Records in Japan. The album—whose name means "title to come" in journalistic shorthand—generated three singles: "Off You", "Huffer", and "Son of Three". Title TK reached the top 100 in France, Germany, the UK, and Australia, and number 130 in the US.
Miranda Cordelia Susan Josephine Wiggs, simply known as Josephine Wiggs, is an English multi-instrumentalist rock musician, best known for her work as bassist in the alternative rock bands The Breeders and The Perfect Disaster. She has also formed multiple side-projects, including her own bands Honey Tongue, The Josephine Wiggs Experience, and Dusty Trails.
"Cannonball" is a song by American alternative rock band the Breeders from their second studio album, Last Splash (1993). It was released as a single on August 9, 1993, on 4AD and Elektra Records, reaching No. 44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 40 on the UK Singles Chart. In November 1993, the single was released in France, where it charted for 30 weeks, peaking at No. 8. The song demo was originally called "Grunggae" as it merged "island riffs and grunge". This demo was later included in the 20th anniversary re-release of the album LSXX.
"Divine Hammer" is a song by American alternative rock band the Breeders, released as the second single from their second album, Last Splash (1993), in October 1993.
The discography of American alternative rock band The Breeders consists of five studio albums, one live album, three extended plays, ten singles and twelve music videos. Kim Deal, then-bassist of American alternative rock band the Pixies, formed The Breeders as a side-project with Tanya Donelly, guitarist of American alternative rock band Throwing Muses. After recording a demo tape, The Breeders signed to the English independent record label 4AD in 1989. Their debut studio album Pod was released in May 1990, but was not commercially successful. After the revival of the Pixies and Throwing Muses in 1990, The Breeders became mostly inactive until the Pixies' breakup in 1993. With a new lineup, The Breeders released their Safari EP in 1992, followed by their second studio album Last Splash in 1993. Last Splash was The Breeders' most successful album; it peaked at number 33 on the United States Billboard 200 and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1994. The album spawned the band's most successful single, "Cannonball". The single peaked at number 44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number two on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
Head to Toe is an extended play (EP) by American alternative rock band the Breeders. It was released in July 1994 on Elektra Records and 4AD, peaking at number 68 on the UK Singles Chart. The EP contains a cover of Guided by Voices' "Shocker in Gloomtown," which helped ignite interest in the band. It also contains a cover of Sebadoh's "Freed Pig", a song written by Lou Barlow about former Dinosaur Jr bandmate J Mascis.
High Violet is the fifth studio album by The National, which was released on May 10, 2010, in Europe and on May 11, 2010, in North America via 4AD. The band produced the album themselves, assisted by Peter Katis with whom they worked on their previous albums Alligator and Boxer at their own studio in Brooklyn, New York, and at Katis' Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The sculpture on the album cover was created by artist Mark Fox, and is called The Binding Force.
Halcyon Digest is the fifth studio album by American indie rock band Deerhunter. It was released September 27, 2010 to universal critical acclaim. It was the band's first album distributed solely by 4AD worldwide The album was produced by the band and Ben H. Allen, and was recorded at Chase Park Transduction studios in Athens, Georgia with engineer David Barbe. The final track, "He Would Have Laughed" was recorded separately by Bradford Cox at Notown Sound in Marietta, Georgia and is a tribute to Jay Reatard.
Trouble Will Find Me is the sixth studio album by American indie rock band the National, released on May 17, 2013, on 4AD.
The American alternative rock band the Breeders played a tour of thirteen concerts in the central and western United States in September 2014. After the group's "classic" lineup reunited in 2013 for a tour commemorating the 20th anniversary of Last Splash, they began working on new material. Ahead of opening for Neutral Milk Hotel at the Hollywood Bowl, they planned a tour leading up to this show, using the opportunity to practice recent compositions that would appear on their 2018 album All Nerve.
Head Carrier is the sixth studio album by the American alternative rock band the Pixies, released on September 30, 2016 on Pixiesmusic and PIAS. Produced by Tom Dalgety, and recorded at RAK Studios in London, the album is the first to feature new band member Paz Lenchantin on bass guitar, who joined the band in 2014 to tour in support of its previous album, Indie Cindy.
All Nerve is the fifth full-length studio album by American alternative rock band the Breeders, released on March 2, 2018, 10 years after their previous album Mountain Battles (2008). A Stereogum article in June 2016 reported that the band was recording new material at their Ohio studio and in October 2017 they released the first single from the album titled "Wait in the Car". 4AD announced on January 9, 2018, that the new album would be made available on March 2, 2018, and released the album's second single, All Nerve on the same day. The album also marks the band's first in 25 years with their Last Splash lineup. Courtney Barnett guests on one song on the album; "Howl at the Summit".
The LSXX Tour was a series of sixty concerts by the Breeders in 2013 to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the release of their 1993 album Last Splash.
Last Splash thrust the Breeders...into the surf-grunge sunshine.