Why Do Birds Sing? | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 30, 1991 | |||
Recorded | 1990 | |||
Genre | Folk rock [1] | |||
Length | 42:20 | |||
Label | Reprise | |||
Producer | Violent Femmes, Michael Beinhorn | |||
Violent Femmes chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
New Noise Magazine | [3] |
Pitchfork | [4] |
Why Do Birds Sing? is the fifth studio album by Violent Femmes, released on April 30, 1991. It was the band's last album with original drummer Victor DeLorenzo, who left two years later to devote his time to acting, and was produced by Michael Beinhorn, best-known then for his work with the Red Hot Chili Peppers on Mother's Milk and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan .
The album featured the single "American Music," which rose to number 2 on Billboard's Modern Rock chart during the week of May 18, 1991, [5] and became a staple of the band's live shows.
All tracks are written by Gordon Gano, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "American Music" | 3:49 | |
2. | "Out the Window" | 2:52 | |
3. | "Look Like That" | 2:45 | |
4. | "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" | George O'Dowd, Mikey Craig, Roy Hay, Jon Moss, Gano | 4:50 |
5. | "Hey Nonny Nonny" | Shepard Tonie, Gano | 4:34 |
6. | "Used to Be" | 3:38 | |
7. | "Girl Trouble" | 2:57 | |
8. | "He Likes Me" | 3:07 | |
9. | "Life is a Scream" | 1:54 | |
10. | "Flamingo Baby" | 2:37 | |
11. | "Lack of Knowledge" | 1:54 | |
12. | "More Money Tonight" | 3:58 | |
13. | "I'm Free" | 3:25 |
Chart (1991) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA) [6] | 26 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [7] | 67 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [8] | 31 |
US Billboard 200 [9] | 141 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [10] | Gold | 35,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
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