Pretty & Twisted (album)

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Pretty & Twisted
Studio album by
Pretty & Twisted
Released1995
GenreAlternative rock
LabelWarner Bros.[1]
ProducerJohnette 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[edit]

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[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[15]
Calgary HeraldB−[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[edit]

All tracks are written by Johnette Napolitano except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Highs Are Too High" 6:10
2."Mother of Pearl"Bryan Ferry5:05
3."Souvenir" 5:09
4."No Daddy No" 4:34
5."¡Ride!"Chris Bailey, Napolitano3:40
6."Train Song (Edge of Desperation)"Marc Moreland, Napolitano6:30
7."Stranger"Paul Westerberg, Napolitano2:59
8."Singing Is Fire"Charles Bukowski, Napolitano, Moreland3:11
9."Don't Take Me Down" 4:37
10."Come Away with Me"Janis Joplin, Napolitano5:55
11."Dear Marlon Brando"Moreland, Napolitano3:30
12."Billy"Moreland, Napolitano3:39
13."Watching the Water" 4:17

Personnel[edit]

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[edit]

  1. ^ Buckley, Peter (January 21, 2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. ISBN 9781843531050.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Pretty & Twisted Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic.
  4. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 509.
  5. ^ Monk, Katherine (7 Sep 1995). "Napolitano's trademark howl takes a pretty twist". Vancouver Sun. p. C8.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Matthews, Lynn (1 Sep 1995). "Pretty & Twisted". Weekend. The Columbian. p. 1.
  9. ^ Rosen, Craig (Jul 15, 1995). "Napolitano makes Warner her Pretty & Twisted Nest". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 28. p. 8.
  10. ^ a b Punter, Jennie (24 Aug 1995). "From the ashes of Concrete Blonde: Singer Johnette Napolitano launches brave new trio". Toronto Star. p. E10.
  11. ^ Morse, Steve (18 Aug 1995). "Concrete Blonde singer gets moody with Pretty & Twisted". Living. The Boston Globe. p. 59.
  12. ^ Burton, Alan (January 21, 1996). Rave on: Classic Texas Music Quotes. Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 9780896723702.
  13. ^ Semon, Craig S. (17 Sep 1995). "Johnette Napolitano's new band falls short". Datebook. Telegram & Gazette. p. 9.
  14. ^ Gonzalez, Roberto (17 Aug 1995). "Pretty & Twisted: Pretty & Twisted". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 5.
  15. ^ a b "Pretty & Twisted". AllMusic.
  16. ^ a b McEwen, Mary-Lynn (20 Aug 1995). "New Releases". Calgary Herald. p. D2.
  17. ^ a b Bacon, Scott (24 Sep 1995). "Pretty & Twisted 'Pretty & Twisted'". The Indianapolis Star. p. I6.
  18. ^ a b Campbell, Chuck (8 Sep 1995). "Napolitano's new venture shares flaws with the past". Detours. Knoxville News Sentinel. p. 6.
  19. ^ a b Cromelin, Richard (6 Aug 1995). "Napolitano's in Fine Form with Twisted Agenda". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 60.
  20. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 264.
  21. ^ "Concrete Blonde". Trouser Press. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  22. ^ Krewen, Nick (24 Aug 1995). "Pretty & Twisted/Pretty & Twisted". Ego. The Hamilton Spectator. p. 4.
  23. ^ Pretty & Twisted (US CD album liner notes). Pretty & Twisted. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. 9 45910-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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