| Nemesisters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1995 | |||
| Recorded | Late 1994–early 1995 | |||
| Studio | AmRep Studios, Minneapolis, Minnesota | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal | |||
| Length | 55:54 | |||
| Label | Reprise | |||
| Producer | Tim Mac | |||
| Babes in Toyland chronology | ||||
| ||||
Nemesisters is the third and final studio album recorded by Babes in Toyland. It was produced by Tim Mac, and released in 1995 by Reprise Records.
The album was recorded under engineer and producer Tim Mac at AmRep Studios in Minneapolis, Minnesota. [1] Unlike on the group's previous releases, they opted to record together to capture a "live band" sound; on their previous release, Fontanelle , bassist Maureen Herman had recorded her bass tracks separately from vocalist-guitarist Kat Bjelland and drummer Lori Barbero. [1] The recordings were split into two different sessions. [1] Portions of the album had been written while the band was on tour in Europe. [1] In a March 1995 interview with Barbero, she said the band would likely "be working on the album until Christmas." [1]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Chicago Tribune | [3] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B [4] |
| Kerrang! | [5] |
| Rolling Stone | [6] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [7] |
| Spin | 4/10 [8] |
Tom Sinclair of Entertainment Weekly wrote of the album: "Believe it or not, these Minneapolis ragecore queens have toned down their maximum-stridency shtick a tad, delivering an album that at times actually skirts power pop (check out "Sweet ’69"). The result is still fairly punishing, but there’s a reward for listeners who stick it out to the last cut: a killer version of Sister Sledge’s "We Are Family." [4] Lorraine Ali of Spin wrote: "With Nemesisters, Babes in Toyland's molten core seems to have somewhat solidified; this album ultimately lacks the conviction, depth, and even direction of its predecessors." [8]
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic noted that "most of the raw, slashing guitars of their early records are gone, replaced by a pulsing, plodding grind that never catches fire ... the majority of the album is simply dull, recycled riffs and rhythms, and that is hard to forgive." [2]
All tracks are written by Babes in Toyland, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hello" | 4:45 | |
| 2. | "Oh Yeah!" | 3:16 | |
| 3. | "Drivin'" | 3:17 | |
| 4. | "Sweet '69" | 4:05 | |
| 5. | "Surd" | 4:43 | |
| 6. | "22" | 3:15 | |
| 7. | "Ariel" | 4:24 | |
| 8. | "Killer on the Road" | 4:02 | |
| 9. | "Middle Man" | 4:46 | |
| 10. | "Memory" | 3:43 | |
| 11. | "S.F.W." | 3:59 | |
| 12. | "All by Myself" | Eric Carmen, Sergei Rachmaninoff | 4:37 |
| 13. | "Deep Song" |
| 2:45 |
| 14. | "We Are Family" | 4:11 |
| Year | Single | Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Sweet '69" | Modern Rock Tracks | 37 |
| "We Are Family" | Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 22 |
Babes in Toyland was an American rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, formed in 1987. The band was founded by vocalist and guitarist Kat Bjelland, along with drummer Lori Barbero and bassist Michelle Leon, who was later replaced by Maureen Herman in 1992.
Fontanelle is the second studio album by the American punk rock band Babes in Toyland, released on August 11, 1992, by Reprise Records. It was the band's first release on a major label, and their first recording to feature Maureen Herman on bass.
Katherine Lynne Bjelland is an American musician. She rose to prominence as the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter of the alternative rock band Babes in Toyland, which she formed in 1987. She has been noted for her unusual vocal style alternately consisting of shrill screams, whispering, and speaking in tongues, as well as for her guitar playing style, which incorporates "jagged" tones with "psychotic rockabilly rhythms".
Maureen Herman is an American musician and writer. She rose to prominence as the second bassist of the alternative rock band Babes in Toyland, which she joined in 1992, replacing original bassist Michelle Leon. After Herman quit the band in 1996, she became a writer and remained out of the public light for several years. In 2015, she reunited with Babes in Toyland and embarked on an international tour before she was fired later that year.
Spanking Machine is the debut studio album by American punk rock band Babes in Toyland, released on April 16, 1990.
Katastrophy Wife was an American rock band formed by Kat Bjelland and her former husband Glen Mattson in 1998. Bjelland also fronted the punk rock band Babes in Toyland between 1987 and 2001. The band currently consists of Bjelland on lead vocals and guitar and her boyfriend, Adrian Johnson, on drums. The band released two albums, Amusia (2001) and All Kneel (2004). A third album was due for release in 2008, but was later cancelled. In May 2014, a 10th anniversary reissue of All Kneel was released as part of Record Store Day. In 2015 Kat Bjelland joined fellow Babes in Toyland band member Lori Barbero and new bass player, Clara Salyer in a reunion tour.
To Mother is the first EP by American punk band Babes in Toyland, released July 1, 1991 by Twin/Tone Records. It consists of outtakes from their previous release, Spanking Machine, which were re-recorded and produced by John Loder in London in 1990.
The BBC John Peel Sessions, 1990–1992 is an expanded version of the earlier release, The Peel Sessions by Babes in Toyland. It was produced by James Birt Whistle and released on 27 November 2001 by Cherry Red Records, which was also responsible for releasing Babes In Toyland's first live album, Minneapolism.
Painkillers is the second EP by American alternative rock band Babes in Toyland, released in June 1993. It consists of outtakes from their second studio album, Fontanelle (1992), as well as a 34-minute single-track live recording of the band's April 1992 performance at CBGB in New York City.
Dystopia is a compilation album consisting of earlier albums, Spanking Machine, To Mother, and the Handsome & Gretel single recorded by Babes in Toyland. It was released in 1994 by Insipid Records.
Lived is the first compilation of the trilogy released by Babes in Toyland. It was produced by Tim Mac, and released May 2000 by Almafame.
Devil is the second compilation of the trilogy released by Babes in Toyland. It was produced by Tim Mac, and released May 2000 by Almafame.
"Dust Cake Boy" is the first single by Babes in Toyland from their debut album, Spanking Machine. It was released on black 7" vinyl and features the final version of the song, along with an earlier version of the song "Spit to See the Shine" as a b-side, which was later released on the 1991 EP, To Mother.
Viled is the third compilation of the trilogy released by Babes in Toyland. The previous two were Lived and Devil. Viled was produced by Tim Mac, and released May 2000 by Almafame.
"Bruise Violet" is the third single by American alternative rock band Babes in Toyland and the second single from their 1992 album Fontanelle. It was released on purple 7" vinyl and features early or not produced versions of the song.
"Sweet '69" is a song by Babes in Toyland, released in 1995. B-sides, "S.F.W." and "Swamp Pussy", are live recordings from the Danish Roskilde Festival in 1994 by Radiomafia. "Sweet '69" is the first single by Babes in Toyland to get a lot of radio airplay in the US, reaching #37 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart. The single also peaked at #173 on the UK's Official Singles Chart. The song is unique in its extensive use of melodic cowbells by drummer Lori Barbero. An accompanying video was also released.
The Best of Babes In Toyland and Kat Bjelland is a CD/DVD compilation featuring songs by Babes in Toyland and Kat Bjelland's other projects, including her work in Crunt, Katastrophy Wife, and Pagan Babies. It was released in 2004 by WEA International in the United Kingdom.
Babes in Toyland was an American punk rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1987. The band was formed by Oregon native Kat Bjelland, with Lori Barbero (drums) and Michelle Leon (bass), who was later replaced by Maureen Herman in 1992. Courtney Love had a brief stint in the band in 1987 as a bass player before being kicked out and forming Hole in 1989.
"House" is the second single by American punk band Babes in Toyland. Released by Sub Pop Records and limited to 3,500 copies, 1,500 were released on black vinyl for the Sub Pop Singles Club, and the remaining 2,000 on special gold (yellow) vinyl. This is the band's first non-album single. It features the b-side "Arriba."
"Handsome and Gretel" is the third single by American punk band Babes in Toyland. It was released on 7" vinyl, and its songs later appeared on the band's second studio album, Fontanelle.
