


From the Label LIMBO's fearlessly clean production style lays bare Hersh's singular songwriting gift, exposing the song bodies she still describes as "big, live things that have more to do with themselves than with my brain." Like UNIVERSITY, LIMBO was recorded by the band and engineer Trina Shoemaker at Daniel Lanois' New Orleans studio, Kingsway. On LIMBO, intermittent blasts of buzzy lead guitar and grace notes by cellist Martin McCarrack add depth to the mix without burying it. Straight-ahead beats and bass lines gracefully keep pace alongside rushes of masterful, mostly clean-toned guitar. This is an album full of subtle shifts and sudden sharp turns. A seamless flow of time changes in "Tar Kissers" bends the song's spaghetti-western overtones into more sophisticated dimensions. The sexy/psychedelic title track, introduced by the jarring metallic clang of an electric cello, seduces with a trippy sense of danger. The tuneful pop of "Ruthie's Knocking" surges with harmonic Beatlesque crescendos, veiling the subtle threats within ("Don't look in the mirror/or he'll look back at you"). "Freeloader" gallops along like a swaggering cowboy ("I don't hear, I don't hear/ I'm a freethinker"), veering into flamenco-tinged bridges and a moody Spanish epilogue. "Tango" is a heady spin of menacing sexuality; "Serene," a gentle 3/4 strum touched off by an exquisitely melancholy string part, is as comfortable as a recurring dream. LIMBO's striking cover art features exclusive drawings by Gilbert Hernandez of "Love & Rockets" comics fame. LIMBO is a strange place, alternately heavy and weightless, somewhere between heaven and hell. The sound of it is pure; it tells the truth. "I don't think the specifics of any truth matter very much," says Hersh. "The sound will resonate in that part of you that tells the truth." Review: Have loved this cd for fourteen years... - I confess to being one of the faithful followers of Kristin Hersh. I own all of her albums whether they are solo albums or one of her bands. Even some that I don't really like. I have traveled the country to see her, been a member of her website, etc. This is the album that made me such a devoted fan. I listened to it (and occasionally University and The Real Ramona) all through college. Of all of her albums, this remains my favorite. Even in 2010, fourteen years later, it sounds great. It stands up to time better than any of the other Throwing Muses albums. It is raw (Tar Kissers), it is at times incredibly beautiful (Serene or White Bikini Sand). It is my favorite album. Review: Kristen Hersh should be a huge star . . . - Throwing Muses - Limbo (1996) . . . but the popular music world is full of shallow, plasticky dreck and the Muses will forever remain a relatively underground band for those with discriminating tastes in rock. And let it be known that LIMBO does indeed rock. The album has a brash attitude that I love and it comes through in Hersh's fantastically raw riffage as well as her unique voice. It also has a sweet, soft side. The songs largely concern characters who are living a certain rough & tumble lifestyle - the "limbo" of the title - which can easily be interpreted as a druggie's way of life. Some characters are desperate, but many are recklessly carefree. There are other tunes dealing with relationships and lovers that are stunning and gorgeous. I can see how some fans may prefer the Muses of old that they know and love, but I think their albums have generally gotten better and better over time (which says a lot since they were very good when they first started in their teens). I love that early stuff, but later albums like RED HEAVEN rock harder and naturally have more confidence and maturity. LIMBO has got to be one of their best and may even be their masterpiece.
| ASIN | B0000009QJ |
| Best Sellers Rank | #40,780 in CDs & Vinyl ( See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl ) #846 in Indie Rock #4,235 in Alternative Rock (CDs & Vinyl) #17,153 in Pop (CDs & Vinyl) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (31) |
| Date First Available | December 13, 2006 |
| Label | Rykodisc |
| Manufacturer | Rykodisc |
| Number of discs | 1 |
| Product Dimensions | 5.5 x 4.94 x 0.45 inches; 3.54 ounces |
J**Y
Have loved this cd for fourteen years...
I confess to being one of the faithful followers of Kristin Hersh. I own all of her albums whether they are solo albums or one of her bands. Even some that I don't really like. I have traveled the country to see her, been a member of her website, etc. This is the album that made me such a devoted fan. I listened to it (and occasionally University and The Real Ramona) all through college. Of all of her albums, this remains my favorite. Even in 2010, fourteen years later, it sounds great. It stands up to time better than any of the other Throwing Muses albums. It is raw (Tar Kissers), it is at times incredibly beautiful (Serene or White Bikini Sand). It is my favorite album.
R**A
Kristen Hersh should be a huge star . . .
Throwing Muses - Limbo (1996) . . . but the popular music world is full of shallow, plasticky dreck and the Muses will forever remain a relatively underground band for those with discriminating tastes in rock. And let it be known that LIMBO does indeed rock. The album has a brash attitude that I love and it comes through in Hersh's fantastically raw riffage as well as her unique voice. It also has a sweet, soft side. The songs largely concern characters who are living a certain rough & tumble lifestyle - the "limbo" of the title - which can easily be interpreted as a druggie's way of life. Some characters are desperate, but many are recklessly carefree. There are other tunes dealing with relationships and lovers that are stunning and gorgeous. I can see how some fans may prefer the Muses of old that they know and love, but I think their albums have generally gotten better and better over time (which says a lot since they were very good when they first started in their teens). I love that early stuff, but later albums like RED HEAVEN rock harder and naturally have more confidence and maturity. LIMBO has got to be one of their best and may even be their masterpiece.
L**E
Fantastic ... album
I love this album. It was the first that I bought by the Muses, and I haven't looked back. Some of their other work is a little less poppy, so this is a great to "break your self in" Highly recommend it. 4 stars cause it aint up there with Sgt Peppers, but a must have for a rock fan.
G**A
Great CD from a great band
The Throwing Muses were one of those rare bands who could do no wrong.
J**N
Nice Limbo!
Limbo is both an awesome ablum AND song; I never tire of it. This is one of TM's best in my opinion. Listen to it over and over, and you'll discern just how much this album RULES--lyrically, musically, and generally. It's fantastic art made of pure grit and energy.
B**)
an interesting experience
Throwing Muses, with the quite talented Kristin Hersh, is one of my favorite bands, but this album didn't strike the same inner-chord University chimes with me. What can I say, maybe I'm just tired of only seeing album reviews by people who absolutely adore the album they are writing about. Limbo is very good, perhaps some of their tightest sounding music, but it doesn't have the same raw intensity of University or their earlier work. But don't let me discourage you...I own all of the Muses cds and all of Hersh's solo work. All are worth the listen.
T**S
One of their best but underappreciated
Limbo doesn't get enough credit in the TM catalog but it's one of their best, start to finish, and definitely worth getting for any fan or casual listener exploring this group a bit deeper. Limbo has some poppy bangers, as much as any TM album (Ruthie, Shark) and some moody acoustic numbers with reverb and layering like University. They also drift into the heavy power chord grinders that have come to dominate their later 2000s work. The album is transitional and you can hear all the different flavors of the band, past and future, in different doses here which is why I really like it. It was self produced and released by the band I think and it didn't really hit the airwaves and mtv scene, which was dying at the time anyways, but this should have been a bigger album and def has a place in the TM canon. It's not on a lot of the streaming services so buy it!
J**.
Está en perfectas condiciones. Muy recomendable. Magnífico cd de los throwing muses. Tiene un buen sonido y un buen precio
A**R
excellent well worth the buy.
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