Hole - Celebrity Skin

When last we saw Courtney Love, she was performing on the silver screen and posing for Versace, a far cry from her formative days stumbling across stages wearing ripped thrift-store clothing. But Love's Hollywood transformation is just the latest in her crusade for adoration, whatever the environment. And Celebrity Skin is just the latest manifestation of that obsession. Instead of screaming in rage over a muscular din of power chords, Love sings in a restrained, melodic alto voice; the band matches the euphony with rhythms and hooks that draw from such mainstream acts as Fleetwood Mac, the Go-Go's, and, of course, Smashing Pumpkins, whose frontman, Billy Corgan, cowrote five songs. What makes Celebrity Skin more than another good rock album, however, is Love's lyrics, which remain confessional and scathing, addressing such topics as physical abuse ("Hit So Hard"), drugs ("Use Once and Destroy"), the music industry ("Awful," "Boys on the Radio"), and her late husband's suicide ("Reasons to Be Beautiful"). If nothing else, Celebrity Skin is proof to all the skeptics that superstars have feelings, too. --Jon Wiederhorn Amazon.com

excellent album

This is the first Courtney Love led band album I have purchased and I shall be coming back for more. Album begins with rock anthem Celebrity Skin, and varies between melodic rhythms such as Heaven Tonight and rocking beats. The lyrics sway between strong emotions such as anger and relief at survival, it gives one hope that no matter how bad a situation is things will always improve eventually. Its contagious. Highly recommend it. June 29, 2008

Courtney Polished

This is a pop-polished version of "Live Through This". It doesn't have the strength or the grit. The songs are decent, you can enjoy them in all of their pop glory, but this CD doesn't have the solid realism of its predecessor. June 10, 2008

One of the best ever

This album should be owned by anyone interested in modern rock. It is absolutely stunning and withstands any number of listenings. I don't care what the songs are about topically -- they're passionately performed and perfectly presented. You won't be disappointed. May 18, 2008

CELEBRTITY SKIN

IT'S A GREAT CLASSIC CD BY HOLE TO BAD THEIR ARE NOT TOGETER IT GREAT WOMEN
ROCK GROUP February 24, 2008

Temporarily Grown Up

Celebrity Skin. For me, (and most people who know me would never suspect that I ever listened to this much less own it, but I do,) is a very good commercial Rock Album, with songs from a woman who had finally grown up, but still alienated.

The tunesmithing, vocals and musicianship, all show a huge amount of maturity over earlier outings for Hole, and this remains my favorite, as I have to be in the right mood to appreciate the older stuff, but I still do, albeit rarely.

It is too bad (to me) that the flack Ms. Love received as being a sell out for making a more mature and more commercial CD resulted in her going back to the teen-age anger by the time "America's Sweetheart" came out, which just comes across as an angry middle aged woman who doesn't get it. But here in "Celebrity Skin" the raw emotions are tempered with well crafted music, and ironically pretty vocals.

I hope that one day Ms. Love may grow up for good and all and make this kind of album again.

But that's just me
September 7, 2007

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