Kristin Hersh - Murder, Misery and Then Goodnight

Long before gangsta rap reared its bloody skull, there was the murder ballad--a deadly strain of folk music in which feral behavior was chronicled with matter-of-fact directness. Throwing Muses founder Kristin Hersh grew up hearing her parents sing Appalachian songs of death and damnation and, curiously, dusts off those antique tunes now that she's a mother. The tense, spinsterish American cousin of Nick Cave's Murder Ballads concept album, Murder, Misery and Then Goodnight offers up an assortment of vaguely familiar numbers ("Pretty Polly," "I Will Never Marry," "Banks of the Ohio") that are somehow simultaneously lulling and creepy. To her credit, Hersh remains true to herself and her repertoire, essaying the likes of "Down in the Willow Garden" and "Poor Ellen Smith" with a minimum of fuss. One can almost imagine her mopping up spilled blood in the pantry before she moves on to her daily dusting. --Steven Stolder Amazon.com

First impressions

They say first impressions are usually the best ones. I tend to dissagree most of the time but today I'm gonna go with it. I'm listening to this CD at the moment and the first thing that struck me was the seeming sweetness of the melodies. Then as the lyrics started seeping in, disturbing visions made me smile. One reviewer mentioned Tim Burton and I indeed feel he/she has a point. There's something magically twisted about this. Twisted and Humorous.

All in all a wonderfully dark and sweet CD. Sorta like Nursery Rhymes for adults.

Not for everyone since it's rather disturbing, but if you like dark humor definately get this.

-Richard "go to sleep, go to sleep little baby..." May 17, 2000

Kristin's Murder is A Winner

Kristin Hersh has been able to reach me spiritually more than any other artist...and believe me, I am quite a music afficianado! This CD is such a delight and something that I enjoy sharing with my own kids. I can also share this with my mom, who likes blues mostly, my step-father who palys in a bluegrass band, and my grandfather, who listens to old traditional gosepl hymns. They each recognized a tune from this collection. It really is a great pick! I love you, Kristin! April 15, 2000

Flawless

This is the by far the most cherished CD I have bought in a long time.

Kristin Hersh is, as ever, enchanting... her love for her kids touching and sweet. I am mesmerized with each and every note.

(And, if you've ever heard your dad or someone you love sing songs like this, you will feel like you've been given a really great gift.) April 13, 2000

Kristin loves these tunes & so do I.......

I knew Kristin had this album in her when she recorded "The Coo Coo," one of the most mysterious of so-called "mountain" songs. It will not do to complain that Kristin is not authentic, not Appalachian. That's the kind of snobbery folkies have been handing out ever since Dylan went electric. These are called folk songs because they belong to the folk. My mom, a reasonably sophisticated girl from Jersey sang a few of these songs to me when I was a baby-o. Kristin obviously loves these timeless tunes & so do I.

Bob Rixon, WFMU-FM September 4, 1999

Better than her solo stuff

I liked this better than her solo stuff (and most of the Throwing Muses, too). She doesn't try too hard to recreate the exact sound of old folk records. The accent isn't too bad and at least she has a legitimate claim to it unlike LA-woman Gillian Welch. Having her son sing on "Mama's Gonna Buy" comes dangerously close to cloyingness and there are too many 'murder ballads' but the music and her singing are great. August 31, 1999

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