Self-Titled Summer | Throwing Muses (1986, US)

Our next Self-Titled Summer spotlight is on number 771 on The List, submitted by @puffer. Here’s a quick rundown:

• Point of origin(s): This group originated in 1981 as a Rhode Island high school band called “Kristin Hersh and the Muses”, with said Kristin Hersh and her half-sister Tanya Donelly both on vocals and guitars, plus bassist Elaine Adamedes and drummer Becca Blumen. David Narcizo then took over the drum kit (sans cymbals) when Blumen left, and, in 1984, the group self-released their debut EP under the name Throwing Muses. Adamedes then left and Leslie Langston joined. In 1985, the Muses released an untitled demo that led to them being the first American band signed to British label 4AD. Their (technically not self-titled but untitled) debut LP is the album we look at here, which features reworkings of 6 of the 10 demo tracks (and was produced by Gil Norton, who would later produce 3 of the 5 good [i.e., Kim Deal] Pixies albums, and at least a handful of other albums you probably know). All songs were written by Hersh except for “Green”, which was written by Donelly.
• Tasting notes: Raw alt rock/post-punk, moments of Jello Biafra-/”Rock Lobster”-ish vocals, no-holds-barred debut
• Standout track: “Call Me”, “Green”, “Hate My Way”, “Vicky’s Box”
• Where are they now?: After 2 more EPs and 2 more studio albums, the Muses lineup started to change. First Langston left in 1990 and was replaced by Fred Abong, and then, after the release of their 4th studio album in 1991, Donelly and Abong left (Donelly had co-formed The Breeders with Kim Deal in 1989, and then left both bands at this time to start Belly, who Abong joined). Bernard Georges stepped in on bass, and the group continued as a trio for a few years/albums until 1997, when Hersh went to further pursue her solo work (her debut Hips and Makers, was released in 1994 between Muses albums). The group reformed around 2002 and have since put out another handful of albums. Their 11th studio album, Moonlight Concessions, was released just this March, and they have an Australia/New Zealand tour for it coming up in December.
• Side note/Spoilers (seeing as we haven’t yet got to this band that’s also on The List): Throwing Muses is partially responsible for the Pixies, as Pixies were first noticed by Gary Smith – producer of Throwing Muses’ demo and later House Tornado (1988) and Hunkpapa (1989) – while playing as the opener for a Muses show (in 1986?). Smith produced the Pixies’ demo (recorded in 1987), and they were then also signed to 4AD because of the Muses connection. Smith then also produced Pixies’ debut, Come On Pilgrim (1987), and the band was the opener for the Muses’ (1988?) tour of House Tornado. The more you know…
• Websites: Bandcamp, Kristin Hersch’s website, Wikipedia

Happy listening!

• There doesn’t seem to be a legit link to this album for some reason, so:
  • YT: Throwing Muses – Throwing Muses
  • IA: Throwing Muses – Throwing Muses
• Discogs: Throwing Muses – Throwing Muses

#1980s #4AD #altRock #KristinHersh #ListenToThis #music #musicDiscovery #postPunk #TanyaDonelly #ThrowingMuses