Red Heaven

Red Heaven
Studio album by
Throwing Muses
Released1992
RecordedJanuary–May 1992
Studio
GenreAlternative rock[1]
Length39:56
Label4AD, Sire, Warner Bros.
ProducerThrowing Muses, Steve Boyer
Throwing Muses chronology
The Real Ramona
(1991) 		Red Heaven
(1992) 		University
(1995)

Red Heaven is a studio album by the American band Throwing Muses, released in 1992.[2][3] It peaked at number 13 on the UK Albums Chart.[4] Throwing Muses promoted the album by touring with the Flaming Lips.[5] "Firepile" was released as a single.[6]

Production

The album was produced by Throwing Muses and Steve Boyer.[7] It was the band's first album after the departure of Tanya Donelly.[8] Bob Mould sings a duet with Kristin Hersh on "Dio".[9] Hersh played a Kramer guitar on many of the songs.[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Calgary HeraldC[12]
Chicago Tribune[8]
The Indianapolis Star[13]

The Calgary Herald opined that "Kristin Hersh's angry and powerful lyrics are silenced by sterile and emotionless music."[12] The Orlando Sentinel noted that "the slow, creepy 'Carnival Wig' is an eerie cross between John Lurie's soundtrack work and Nick Cave-style blues."[14] The Indianapolis Star wrote: "Despair, loneliness and anger seep through these songs, but catching a precise meaning in Hersh's opaque lyrics is like trying to snatch up a tadpole in a muddy creek."[13]

NME named it the 38th best album of 1992.[15]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Kristin Hersh

No.TitleLength
1."Furious"3:52
2."Firepile"3:11
3."Dio"2:51
4."Dirty Water"3:37
5."Stroll"0:58
6."Pearl"5:36
7."Summer St."2:16
8."Vic"1:08
9."Backroad"3:48
10."The Visit"3:48
11."Dovey"0:55
12."Rosetta Stone"3:31
13."Carnival Wig"4:11
UK limited edition bonus CD: Live at Maxwell's Hoboken
No.TitleLength
1."Juno"2:48
2."Marriage Tree"2:51
3."Pearl"4:01
4."Stand Up / Dovey / Mexican Women"3:40
5."Run Letter"3:14
6."Soap & Water"2:28
7."Rabbits Dying"3:55
8."Cry Baby Cry"3:16
9."Counting Backwards / Handsome Woman"4:25
10."Take"4:58
11."Soul Soldier"3:13
12."Bea"4:09
13."Delicate Cutters"4:41

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

Throwing Muses

Additional musicians

  • Leslie Langston – bass guitar
  • Bob Mould – vocals on "Dio"

Technical personnel

  • Throwing Muses – production
  • Steve Boyer – production, engineering
  • Paul Q. Kolderie – production assistance
  • Artie Smith – production assistance
  • Victor Deyglio – engineering assistance
  • Howie Weinberg – mastering
  • Christine Cano – package design, front cover artwork
  • Kristin Hersh – front cover artwork
  • David Narcizo – handwritten lyrics
  • Michael Lavine – band photography

Charts

Chart Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[4] 13

References

  1. ^ Sullivan, Jim (14 Dec 1992). "Muses hit the mark with mix of rage and reflection". Living. The Boston Globe. p. 38.
  2. ^ Boehm, Mike (13 Aug 1992). "Down Two But Tougher Than Ever". OC Live. Los Angeles Times. p. 8.
  3. ^ "The week ahead". Features. The Guardian. 3 Sep 1992.
  4. ^ a b "Throwing Muses". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  5. ^ Condran, Ed (24 Oct 1992). "Throwing Muses: More Would Have Been More". The Morning Call. p. A72.
  6. ^ Robins, Wayne (10 Dec 1992). "The Secret Heart of Kristin Hersh". Part II. Newsday. p. 86.
  7. ^ "Red Heaven by Throwing Muses". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 37. Sep 12, 1992. p. 48.
  8. ^ a b Caro, Mark (8 Oct 1992). "Throwing Muses Red Heaven". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  9. ^ "Overthrown Muses; Zippy Flaming Lips". The Washington Post. 23 Oct 1992. p. N16.
  10. ^ Ransom, Kevin (Jan 1993). "Throwing Muses". Guitar Player. 27 (1): 15.
  11. ^ Phares, Heather. "Red Heaven - Throwing Muses". AllMusic. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  12. ^ a b Alberts, Sheldon (16 Aug 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C2.
  13. ^ a b Hall, Steve (30 Oct 1992). "Throwing Muses Red Heaven". The Indianapolis Star. p. D5.
  14. ^ Gettelman, Parry (4 Sep 1992). "Throwing Muses". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 6.
  15. ^ "Albums And Tracks Of The Year: 1992". NME. October 10, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2018.