In a Doghouse
One of the best bands of the 1980s and the first American band to be signed to the prestigious British record label 4AD, the Throwing Muses' 1986 self-titled debut and their follow-up EP,Chains Changed, were never released in the United States. Consequently, the Muses early influence on the burgeoning alternative-rock scene was felt in ripples rather than waves. Rereleased and repackaged by Rykodisc in 1998,In a Doghousecompiles the stunning glory and horror ofThrowing Muses,Chains Changed, the group's self-released demo tape,Doghouse, and new recordings of five early songs by guiding museKristin Hersh. Furious, potent, and raw, these recordings showcase Hersh's unique musical vision filtered through a lens of motherhood and mania.In a Doghousealso features songwriting contributions from Hersh's half-sister, Tanya Donelly, who quit the Muses to join theBreedersand then formed her own band,Belly. Both songwriters utilized unsettling time signatures, anxious lyrics, and airtight performances from their band mates to create the sound of teenage girls bursting into womanhood. A must-have album for fans ofHole,Sleater-Kinney, and evenFiona Apple.--Shawn Stewart