Red Heaven

Last updated
Red Heaven
ThrowingMusesRedHeaven.JPG
Studio album by
Released1992
RecordedJanuary–May 1992
Studio
Genre Alternative rock [1]
Length39:56
Label 4AD, Sire, Warner Bros.
Producer Throwing Muses, Steve Boyer
Throwing Muses chronology
The Real Ramona
(1991)
Red Heaven
(1992)
University
(1995)

Red Heaven is a studio album by the American band Throwing Muses, released in 1992. [2] [3] It peaked at number 13 on the UK Albums Chart. [4] Throwing Muses promoted the album by touring with the Flaming Lips. [5] "Firepile" was released as a single. [6]

Contents

Production

The album was produced by Throwing Muses and Steve Boyer. [7] It was the band's first album after the departure of Tanya Donelly. [8] Bob Mould sings a duet with Kristin Hersh on "Dio". [9] Hersh played a Kramer guitar on many of the songs. [10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Calgary Herald C [12]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [8]
The Indianapolis Star Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [13]

The Calgary Herald opined that "Kristin Hersh's angry and powerful lyrics are silenced by sterile and emotionless music." [12] The Orlando Sentinel noted that "the slow, creepy 'Carnival Wig' is an eerie cross between John Lurie's soundtrack work and Nick Cave-style blues." [14] The Indianapolis Star wrote: "Despair, loneliness and anger seep through these songs, but catching a precise meaning in Hersh's opaque lyrics is like trying to snatch up a tadpole in a muddy creek." [13]

NME named it the 38th best album of 1992. [15]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Kristin Hersh

No.TitleLength
1."Furious"3:52
2."Firepile"3:11
3."Dio"2:51
4."Dirty Water"3:37
5."Stroll"0:58
6."Pearl"5:36
7."Summer St."2:16
8."Vic"1:08
9."Backroad"3:48
10."The Visit"3:48
11."Dovey"0:55
12."Rosetta Stone"3:31
13."Carnival Wig"4:11
UK limited edition bonus CD: Live at Maxwell's Hoboken
No.TitleLength
1."Juno"2:48
2."Marriage Tree"2:51
3."Pearl"4:01
4."Stand Up / Dovey / Mexican Women"3:40
5."Run Letter"3:14
6."Soap & Water"2:28
7."Rabbits Dying"3:55
8."Cry Baby Cry"3:16
9."Counting Backwards / Handsome Woman"4:25
10."Take"4:58
11."Soul Soldier"3:13
12."Bea"4:09
13."Delicate Cutters"4:41

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

Throwing Muses

Additional musicians

Technical personnel

Charts

ChartPeak
position
UK Albums (OCC) [4] 13

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Throwing Muses</span> American alternative rock band

Throwing Muses are an American alternative rock band formed in 1981 in Newport, Rhode Island, United States, that toured and recorded extensively until 1997, when its members began concentrating more on other projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristin Hersh</span> American musician

Martha Kristin Hersh is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter known for her solo work and with her rock bands Throwing Muses and 50FootWave. She has released eleven solo albums. Her guitar work and composition style ranges from jaggedly dissonant to traditional folk. Hersh's lyrics have a stream-of-consciousness style, reflecting her personal experiences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">50 Foot Wave</span> American alternative rock band

50FOOTWAVE is an American alternative rock band, formed in 2003. The band is fronted by Kristin Hersh, who writes the group's songs with collaborative efforts from the other group members in composing and arranging the music. The group's name is a reference to both an illustration and the term for the 50-foot sound wave of the lowest F tone audible to the human ear. The band sometimes abbreviates its name as L'~, using the Roman numeral for 50.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanya Donelly</span> American musician

Tanya Donelly is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist based in New England. She came to prominence as a co-founder of the band Throwing Muses with her step-sister Kristin Hersh. Donelly went on to co-form the alternative rock band The Breeders alongside Kim Deal in 1989, before leaving to front her own band Belly in 1991. By the late 1990s, she settled into a solo recording career, working largely with musicians connected to the Boston music scene.

<i>At War with the Mystics</i> 2006 studio album by the Flaming Lips

At War with the Mystics is the eleventh studio album by American rock band the Flaming Lips, released on April 3, 2006, by Warner Bros. Records. The album is more guitar-driven and features more politically themed lyrics than the band's previous two albums The Soft Bulletin (1999) and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002).

David John Narcizo is an American musician and graphic designer, primarily known for his work as the longtime drummer for Throwing Muses.

Lakuna was an electronic instrumental project begun by drummer David Narcizo after Throwing Muses first split up following their 1996 Limbo album. Lakuna first released a 12-inch called So Happy and then a 1999 full-length album called Castle of Crime. Narcizo provided drums, drum programming, and keyboards on all the tracks. The album's guest musicians included Bernard Georges on bass, Kristin Hersh on guitar loops, Belly's Tom Gorman on bass, Melissa "Misi" Narcizo on piano and keyboards, and Frank Gardner on bass and bass synthesizer. Narcizo employed tape loops and samples from obscure, vintage music to achieve the album's ambient-styled instrumental sounds. Lakuna recorded on the 4AD and Throwing Music labels.

<i>The Real Ramona</i> 1991 studio album by Throwing Muses

The Real Ramona is the fourth studio album by Throwing Muses, released in 1991. It peaked at number 26 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Hips and Makers</i> 1994 studio album by Kristin Hersh

Hips and Makers is the debut solo album by Kristin Hersh, best known as the primary singer and songwriter of the band Throwing Muses. The album was released by 4AD in the UK on January 24, 1994, and by Sire Records in the US on February 1, 1994. In contrast to Hersh's rock-oriented work with Throwing Muses, the album is primarily acoustic, with Hersh usually playing unaccompanied. Other credited musicians include Jane Scarpantoni on cello and Michael Stipe of R.E.M., who sings backing vocals on the opening track, "Your Ghost." In addition to Hersh's own material, the album features a cover of the traditional song "The Cuckoo".

<i>Hunkpapa</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Throwing Muses

Hunkpapa is the third studio album by Throwing Muses, released in 1989. It peaked at number 59 on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bright Yellow Gun</span> 1994 single by Throwing Muses

"Bright Yellow Gun" is the only single by Throwing Muses from their 1995 album University. An accompanying video was also made directed by Kevin Kerslake.

<i>House Tornado</i> 1988 studio album by Throwing Muses

House Tornado is the second studio album by the alternative rock band Throwing Muses. Produced by Gary Smith and engineered by Paul Q. Kolderie, it was recorded at Fort Apache Studios in Cambridge, MA. The album was released in 1988 internationally on the 4AD label, except in the United States, where it was released by Sire Records. Sire used a different album cover for its release, as the label was putting a strong promotional push behind the band, and label executives favored a picture of the band over the collage featured on the 4AD release.

<i>Throwing Muses</i> (1986 album) 1986 studio album by Throwing Muses

Throwing Muses is the 1986 debut album of the band Throwing Muses, released on British independent label 4AD. This was the first album by an American band to be released on 4AD, which had concentrated primarily on British-based acts up to this point. The release marked a shift in the label's direction; a year later 4AD would sign Pixies based in part on the band's connection to Throwing Muses, and by the mid-1990s much of the label's roster was made up of American bands.

<i>Throwing Muses</i> (2003 album) 2003 studio album by Throwing Muses

Throwing Muses is the eighth studio album by the alternative rock band Throwing Muses. It was recorded over three weekends and released simultaneously with Kristin Hersh's solo record The Grotto on 17 March 2003. The album features Bernard Georges on bass and David Narcizo on drums as well as original bandmate Tanya Donelly on backing vocals.

<i>Sky Motel</i> 1999 studio album by Kristin Hersh

Sky Motel is the fourth studio album by the American musician Kristin Hersh, released in 1999.

<i>Limbo</i> (Throwing Muses album) 1996 studio album by Throwing Muses

Limbo is the seventh studio album by the American alternative rock band Throwing Muses, released on Rykodisc in 1996. It was recorded at the New Orleans studio where the band had recorded University. Following a tour for the album, Throwing Muses were dissolved, with Kristin Hersh continuing her solo career and David Narcizo and Bernard Georges working on several personal and music projects including Hersh's. The album, engineered by Trina Shoemaker, also features cellist Martin McCarrick and Robert Rust on piano.

<i>Chains Changed</i> 1987 EP by Throwing Muses

Chains Changed is an EP recording by Throwing Muses, released in 1987.

<i>The Fat Skier</i> 1987 studio album by Throwing Muses

The Fat Skier is a mini-LP by Throwing Muses, released on 6 July 1987 on the 4AD label in the UK and licensed to Sire Records in the US. It played at 33 ⅓ RPM on the A-side and at 45 RPM on the B-side. It reached number two in the Independent Albums Chart in the UK.

<i>Purgatory/Paradise</i> 2013 studio album by Throwing Muses

Purgatory/Paradise is the ninth studio album by Throwing Muses. The album was released in the form of a book containing song lyrics, artwork and a code to download additional music. The album was named after Purgatory Road and Paradise Avenue, two roads that intersect in Middletown, Rhode Island.

<i>Sun Racket</i> 2020 studio album by Throwing Muses

Sun Racket is the tenth studio album by American alternative rock band Throwing Muses. The album was released on Fire Records on September 4, 2020, and has received positive reviews from critics.

References

  1. Sullivan, Jim (14 Dec 1992). "Muses hit the mark with mix of rage and reflection". Living. The Boston Globe. p. 38.
  2. Boehm, Mike (13 Aug 1992). "Down Two But Tougher Than Ever". OC Live. Los Angeles Times. p. 8.
  3. "The week ahead". Features. The Guardian. 3 Sep 1992.
  4. 1 2 "Throwing Muses". Official Charts Company . Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  5. Condran, Ed (24 Oct 1992). "Throwing Muses: More Would Have Been More". The Morning Call. p. A72.
  6. Robins, Wayne (10 Dec 1992). "The Secret Heart of Kristin Hersh". Part II. Newsday. p. 86.
  7. "Red Heaven by Throwing Muses". Billboard. 104 (37): 48. Sep 12, 1992.
  8. 1 2 Caro, Mark (8 Oct 1992). "Throwing Muses Red Heaven". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  9. "Overthrown Muses; Zippy Flaming Lips". The Washington Post. 23 Oct 1992. p. N16.
  10. Ransom, Kevin (Jan 1993). "Throwing Muses". Guitar Player. 27 (1): 15.
  11. Phares, Heather. "Red Heaven - Throwing Muses". AllMusic . Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  12. 1 2 Alberts, Sheldon (16 Aug 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C2.
  13. 1 2 Hall, Steve (30 Oct 1992). "Throwing Muses Red Heaven". The Indianapolis Star. p. D5.
  14. Gettelman, Parry (4 Sep 1992). "Throwing Muses". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 6.
  15. "Albums And Tracks Of The Year: 1992". NME . October 10, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2018.