| Pretty & Twisted | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | 1995 |
| Genre | Alternative rock |
| Label | Warner Bros.[1] |
| Producer | Johnette Napolitano |
Pretty & Twisted is the debut album by the American band Pretty & Twisted, released in 1995.[2] It was the band's only album.[3][4]
Pretty & Twisted is dedicated to Marlon Brando.[5] The album's first single was "¡Ride!", which was written with Chris Bailey.[6][7] The band supported the album by touring with the Young Dubliners.[8]
Production
The album was produced by Johnette Napolitano; it began as a solo project, with Napolitano initially recording in her home.[9][10] "Mother of Pearl" is a cover of the Roxy Music song.[11] "Come Away with Me" incorporates unrecorded lyrics written by Janis Joplin.[12][13] "Singing Is Fire" is a Charles Bukowski poem set to music; "Stranger" was written with Paul Westerberg.[10][14]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [15] |
| Calgary Herald | B−[16] |
| The Indianapolis Star |  [17] |
| Knoxville News Sentinel | [18] |
| Los Angeles Times | [19] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [20] |
Trouser Press wrote that, "while Pretty & Twisted simplifies things and cuts away the artsier pretensions of latter-day Concrete Blonde, it replaces them with dopier ego indulgences."[21] The Los Angeles Times thought that "there's something both Bowie-esque and Cure-like in the band's aggressively ominous atmospherics—a sound with the grit and the grace to make the edge of desperation seem like the only place to be."[19] The Hamilton Spectator declared that "Napolitano's experience certainly gives Pretty & Twisted a decided advantage as one of the better debut albums to come around in a while."[22]
The Knoxville News Sentinel determined that, "for all the intrigue of the lyrics and singing, Pretty & Twisted only sporadically gets substantial instrumental support."[18] The Calgary Herald concluded that "many of these songs lay lifelessly in the cauldron, although the ones that do work roar out spitting and smoking."[16] The Indianapolis Star opined that "much of this new disc runs flat, with dark tracks bearing well-worn sentiments."[17]
AllMusic called the album "a wonderful slice of adult alternative rock that is both melodic and intelligent."[15]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Johnette Napolitano except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Highs Are Too High" | 6:10 | |
| 2. | "Mother of Pearl" | Bryan Ferry | 5:05 |
| 3. | "Souvenir" | 5:09 | |
| 4. | "No Daddy No" | 4:34 | |
| 5. | "¡Ride!" | Chris Bailey, Napolitano | 3:40 |
| 6. | "Train Song (Edge of Desperation)" | Marc Moreland, Napolitano | 6:30 |
| 7. | "Stranger" | Paul Westerberg, Napolitano | 2:59 |
| 8. | "Singing Is Fire" | Charles Bukowski, Napolitano, Moreland | 3:11 |
| 9. | "Don't Take Me Down" | 4:37 | |
| 10. | "Come Away with Me" | Janis Joplin, Napolitano | 5:55 |
| 11. | "Dear Marlon Brando" | Moreland, Napolitano | 3:30 |
| 12. | "Billy" | Moreland, Napolitano | 3:39 |
| 13. | "Watching the Water" | 4:17 |
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the Pretty & Twisted CD album booklet.[23]
- Johnette Napolitano – vocals (1–13), bass (1–13), keyboards (1, 5–7, 11, 13), guitars (1, 3, 9–10), beat (1, 9–10, 13), percussion (2–3, 5–6, 8–11, 13)
- Marc Moreland – guitars (1–13), vocals (4, 11), keyboards (8)
- Danny Montgomery – drums (2–8, 11–12)
- Chris Bailey – guitars (5)
Production
- Johnette Napolitano – producer, engineer
- Earle Mankey – engineer (1–13), mixing (1–12)
- Alex Gordon – engineer (1–13), mixing (13)
- Sean Freehill – engineer, sampling, sequencing
- Anne Catalano – assistant engineer
- Danny, Jeff and Susan at Paramount – additional assistants
- Tom Baker – mastering
Other
- Bruce Poulsen – cover photography
- Johnette Napolitano, Marc Moreland – additional photos
- William Herron III – logo
- Brigid Pearson – assemblage
References
- ^ Buckley, Peter (January 21, 2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. ISBN 9781843531050.
- ^ Pensinger, Matt (2 June 1995). "Great Beginnings: Johnette Napolitano happily sheds her Blonde roots and finds music that's Pretty & Twisted". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. AA13.
- ^ "Pretty & Twisted Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 509.
- ^ Monk, Katherine (7 Sep 1995). "Napolitano's trademark howl takes a pretty twist". Vancouver Sun. p. C8.
- ^ Weatherford, Mike (4 Aug 1995). "Simply Twisted: Getting away from L.A. and exploring the seedier side of Las Vegas". Las Vegas Review-Journal. p. 1J.
- ^ Ferman, Dave (August 3, 1995). "Pretty and twisted – Johnette Napolitano has a new sound, but her Blonde roots are showing". Life & Arts. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 3.
- ^ Matthews, Lynn (1 Sep 1995). "Pretty & Twisted". Weekend. The Columbian. p. 1.
- ^ Rosen, Craig (Jul 15, 1995). "Napolitano makes Warner her Pretty & Twisted Nest". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 28. p. 8.
- ^ a b Punter, Jennie (24 Aug 1995). "From the ashes of Concrete Blonde: Singer Johnette Napolitano launches brave new trio". Toronto Star. p. E10.
- ^ Morse, Steve (18 Aug 1995). "Concrete Blonde singer gets moody with Pretty & Twisted". Living. The Boston Globe. p. 59.
- ^ Burton, Alan (January 21, 1996). Rave on: Classic Texas Music Quotes. Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 9780896723702.
- ^ Semon, Craig S. (17 Sep 1995). "Johnette Napolitano's new band falls short". Datebook. Telegram & Gazette. p. 9.
- ^ Gonzalez, Roberto (17 Aug 1995). "Pretty & Twisted: Pretty & Twisted". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 5.
- ^ a b "Pretty & Twisted". AllMusic.
- ^ a b McEwen, Mary-Lynn (20 Aug 1995). "New Releases". Calgary Herald. p. D2.
- ^ a b Bacon, Scott (24 Sep 1995). "Pretty & Twisted 'Pretty & Twisted'". The Indianapolis Star. p. I6.
- ^ a b Campbell, Chuck (8 Sep 1995). "Napolitano's new venture shares flaws with the past". Detours. Knoxville News Sentinel. p. 6.
- ^ a b Cromelin, Richard (6 Aug 1995). "Napolitano's in Fine Form with Twisted Agenda". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 60.
- ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 264.
- ^ "Concrete Blonde". Trouser Press. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
- ^ Krewen, Nick (24 Aug 1995). "Pretty & Twisted/Pretty & Twisted". Ego. The Hamilton Spectator. p. 4.
- ^ Pretty & Twisted (US CD album liner notes). Pretty & Twisted. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. 9 45910-2.
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This page was last edited on 11 April 2024, at 17:04