| Pretty & Twisted | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | 1995 |
| Genre | Alternative rock |
| Label | Warner Bros. [1] |
| Producer | Johnette Napolitano |
Pretty & Twisted is the debut album by the American band Pretty & Twisted, released in 1995. [2] It was the band's only album. [3] [4]
Pretty & Twisted is dedicated to Marlon Brando. [5] The album's first single was "¡Ride!", which was written with Chris Bailey. [6] [7] The band supported the album by touring with the Young Dubliners. [8]
The album was produced by Johnette Napolitano; it began as a solo project, with Napolitano initially recording in her home. [9] [10] "Mother of Pearl" is a cover of the Roxy Music song. [11] "Come Away with Me" incorporates unrecorded lyrics written by Janis Joplin. [12] [13] "Singing Is Fire" is a Charles Bukowski poem set to music; "Stranger" was written with Paul Westerberg. [10] [14]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [15] |
| Calgary Herald | B− [16] |
| The Indianapolis Star |  [17] |
| Knoxville News Sentinel | [18] |
| Los Angeles Times | [19] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [20] |
Trouser Press wrote that, "while Pretty & Twisted simplifies things and cuts away the artsier pretensions of latter-day Concrete Blonde, it replaces them with dopier ego indulgences." [21] The Los Angeles Times thought that "there's something both Bowie-esque and Cure-like in the band's aggressively ominous atmospherics—a sound with the grit and the grace to make the edge of desperation seem like the only place to be." [19] The Hamilton Spectator declared that "Napolitano's experience certainly gives Pretty & Twisted a decided advantage as one of the better debut albums to come around in a while." [22]
The Knoxville News Sentinel determined that, "for all the intrigue of the lyrics and singing, Pretty & Twisted only sporadically gets substantial instrumental support." [18] The Calgary Herald concluded that "many of these songs lay lifelessly in the cauldron, although the ones that do work roar out spitting and smoking." [16] The Indianapolis Star opined that "much of this new disc runs flat, with dark tracks bearing well-worn sentiments." [17]
AllMusic called the album "a wonderful slice of adult alternative rock that is both melodic and intelligent." [15]
All tracks are written by Johnette Napolitano except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Highs Are Too High" | 6:10 | |
| 2. | "Mother of Pearl" | Bryan Ferry | 5:05 |
| 3. | "Souvenir" | 5:09 | |
| 4. | "No Daddy No" | 4:34 | |
| 5. | "¡Ride!" | Chris Bailey, Napolitano | 3:40 |
| 6. | "Train Song (Edge of Desperation)" | Marc Moreland, Napolitano | 6:30 |
| 7. | "Stranger" | Paul Westerberg, Napolitano | 2:59 |
| 8. | "Singing Is Fire" | Charles Bukowski, Napolitano, Moreland | 3:11 |
| 9. | "Don't Take Me Down" | 4:37 | |
| 10. | "Come Away with Me" | Janis Joplin, Napolitano | 5:55 |
| 11. | "Dear Marlon Brando" | Moreland, Napolitano | 3:30 |
| 12. | "Billy" | Moreland, Napolitano | 3:39 |
| 13. | "Watching the Water" | 4:17 |
Credits are adapted from the Pretty & Twisted CD album booklet. [23]
Production
Other
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