Softer? Possibly. Overproduced? Maybe. Sell-out? Most likely.
But who honestly cares about that anymore?!?
Celebrity Skin is a 12-track lush rock experience. From the opening riffs and first lyrics of "Oh, make me over," I knew this wasn't going to be the same Hole of 1994's Live Through This. Courtney and the band have evolved quite a bit. This CD is less Seattle than SoCal, and every song reminds the listener of this fact.
While Love's voice isn't perfect, it adds a quirkiness and realness to this highly stylized and produced CD. The album itself is balanced and crisp, and I guarantee those expecting another grunged out CD will probably be disappointed, yet no one can deny that Love has written some catchy tunes about beauty, falsity, egotism, and women.
"Celebrity Skin"
This is one of my favorite tracks on the CD, and it was the one with the most MTV/radio play (with the possible exception of "Malibu").
The song's ironic lyrics (yep, irony rears its ugly head just about everywhere nowadays, huh?) reflect Love's own issues with self-image, the media, and of course her much publicized "sell-out" designer makeover.
You want a part of me
Well, I'm not selling cheap
No, I'm not selling cheap
Eleven bucks at Best Buy isn't exactly expensive, but nonetheless, on to the next song . . .
"Awful"
This song seems to be a self-loathing and self-deprecating anthem to, yet again, Love's commercialism and embracement of pop music. Or maybe this song really is calling the teen wannabe punks stupid. I don't know, but it has a nice beat.
You've got your youth
Don't waste your money
Yeah, it's awful
I was punk!
Now I'm just stupid!
I'm so awful
"Hit So Hard"
Music critics and fans have pointed out the Kurt Cobain references in this song. Love probably is (and how couldn't she?) referencing Cobain in places, but I don't find this fact intriguing or helpful to this song. This is one of my least favorite tracks. It's rather repetitious and bland.
Put me up above the boy
The one I love I should destroy
My sweet tooth has burned a hole
Forget about it all
"Malibu"
This is my second favorite song on this CD, even though its purpose is nothing but California rock lite.
Hey hey, I'm gonna follow you
Oh baby, fly away, yeah, to Malibu
Oceans of angels
Oceans of stars
Down by the sea is where you drown your scars
"Reasons to Be Beautiful"
Yet another song relating to Cobain, Love even rephrases parts of his suicide note and packages them into lyrics. I could do without this song.
And they say in the end
You'll get better just like them
And they steal your heart away
When the fire goes out you better learn to fake
It's better to rise than fade away
"Northern Star"
This song is an acoustic ballad with a dramatic build-up through percussion. Even though it's a pop ballad, I still like it a lot. Love seems most honest in this song, and it reveals more about her than anything else on Celebrity Skin.
And they paid, I cry and cry for you
Ghosts that haunt you with their sorrow
I cried 'cause you were doomed
Praying to the wound that swallows all that's cold and cruel
Can you see the trees, charity and gratitude?
They run to the pines
It's black in here, blot out the sun and run to the pines
Our misery runs wild and free
And I knew the fire and the ashes of his grace
"Playing Your Song"
Now, this song is a direct reference to those who profited from Cobain's suicide. I see it, you see it, Love wants us to see it. The few songs like this on Skin ("Northern Star" being another) keep it from being pure pop.
Hey you, you're way ahead of me
You're drunk on apathy
You burned right out
Hey you, you're just a cripple now
We sell for millions now
They sold you out
"Petals"
"Petals" is poetic, and it's a nice ending to the CD.
All the lilies bloomed and blossomed
Wilted and they're shivering
I can't stop their withering
Oh, this world is a war
Tear the petals off of you
And make you tell the truth
Tear the petals off of you
Tear the petals off of you
And make you tell the truth
Tear the petals off of you
Tear the petals off of you
And make you tell the truth
Tear the petals off of you
---
Overall, this effort is/was probably disheartening to those who knew grunge was over but still didn't want to believe it fully. I can deal with Hole's pop because some of the lyrics are much more well-crafted than standard radio fare. Celebrity Skin has several flaws, but I can listen to it on repeat.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.