| Star | ||||
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| Released | January 25, 1993 (UK) February 2, 1993 (US) | |||
| Recorded | ||||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 50:53 | |||
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| Producer |
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| Belly chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Star | ||||
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Star is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band Belly, released on January 25, 1993.
In the 1980s and 1990s, vocalist and guitarist Tanya Donelly performed with Throwing Muses and the Breeders. After recording the latter's Safari EP in 1992, she decided to quit both bands to solely focus on her own band, Belly. Belly formed at the end of the previous year, consisting of Donelly, guitarist Thomas Gorman, bassist Fred Abong and drummer Chris Gorman. They released their debut EP Slow Dust in June 1992, produced by Gil Norton, and followed it up with the Gepetto EP in November. [2]
Along with alternative rock and jangle pop, the songs on Star also dig into "haunting", "avant" folk rock. [3] [4] Tanya Donelly was credited with pushing dream pop's boundaries by "trimming away its pretensions" while keeping its "trancy harmonies". [3] A "distinct post-punk quality" has also been seen in the music, alongside some country and Spaghetti Western influences. [5]
Star was released on January 25, 1993 and was an unexpected success. Abong departed from the group in May 1993, his role being filled by Gail Greenwood. [6] On February 21, 1994, the album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of at least 500,000 units. [7]
The single "Feed the Tree" became a number one hit on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, as well as a surprise pop hit, peaking at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the late spring of 1993. [8] [9] The music video for "Feed the Tree" was a smash buzz bin MTV hit, and was nominated for Best Alternative Video VMA and Best New Artist VMA in 1993. "Slow Dog" peaked at number 17 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in the summer of 1993, [10] while "Gepetto" peaked at number 8 in the late fall/winter of 1993, [11] as well as charting on the Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart for five weeks in the late fall/winter of 1993.
"Angel" is not a rerecording of the song of the same name that Tanya Donelly wrote with Throwing Muses for their 1989 album Hunkpapa .
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Chicago Tribune |  [12] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B [13] |
| NME | 8/10 [14] |
| Q | [15] |
| Record Collector | [16] |
| Rolling Stone | [4] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [17] |
| Slant Magazine | [5] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 6/10 [18] |
In 1994, Star was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album, while Belly were nominated for Best New Artist. The band won Best Modern Rock Act at the Boston Music Awards, while Star won the Debut Album of the Year award. [6]
All tracks are written by Tanya Donelly, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Someone to Die For" | 2:04 | |
| 2. | "Angel" | 2:58 | |
| 3. | "Dusted" | 2:48 | |
| 4. | "Every Word" | 3:33 | |
| 5. | "Gepetto" | 3:24 | |
| 6. | "Witch" | 1:35 | |
| 7. | "Slow Dog" | 4:02 | |
| 8. | "Low Red Moon" | 5:32 | |
| 9. | "Feed the Tree" | 3:29 | |
| 10. | "Full Moon, Empty Heart" | 3:02 | |
| 11. | "White Belly" |
| 3:36 |
| 12. | "Untogether" | 4:43 | |
| 13. | "Star" | 1:27 | |
| 14. | "Sad Dress" | 3:44 | |
| 15. | "Stay" | 4:56 | |
| Total length: | 50:53 | ||
Adapted from AllMusic's Credits page for Star. [19]
Additional musicians
Technical
Artwork and design
| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA) [20] | 74 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [21] | 65 |
| UK Albums (OCC) [22] | 2 |
| US Billboard 200 [23] | 59 |
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [24] | 1 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI) [25] | Silver | 60,000^ |
| United States (RIAA) [7] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
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).
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.
Jennifer Trynin, is an American singer-songwriter and author from Boston, Massachusetts.
Belly is an alternative rock band formed in Rhode Island in 1991 by Tanya Donelly. The original lineup consisted of Donelly on vocals and guitar, Fred Abong on bass, and brothers Tom and Chris Gorman on guitar and drums respectively. The band released two albums during the early 1990s alternative rock boom before breaking up in 1995. They reunited in 2016 and mounted limited tours in the United States and United Kingdom that year.
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