And the sky was made of amethyst
Live Through This, the sophomore album of 90’s alternative band Hole, is easily one of the most important albums of all time, and not just because it made angry girl punk more accessible to the masses. Courtney Love has done exactly what she wanted with this album from moving to a more pop sound compared to their debut album Pretty On The Inside to addressing important personal and social issues. It’s not only a testament to girl power but Love’s talents as a songwriter and a musician. No matter what you think of Courtney Love you cannot deny that she is a queen and this album help solidify that crown’s spot on her head.
Courtney Love was already in the media spotlight when Live Through This was released just days after Kurt Cobain’s untimely death. Being the wife and now widow of a man who was seen as a voice of a generation Love was used to being given flak for riding on Cobain’s musical coattails. Anyone who listens to Live Through This can tell you this is not the case. The similarities start and end at the fact that they were both excellent 90’s alternative artists with noisy guitars. To compare their music any further would be an insult to both. This album is purely and perfectly Courtney Love in every single way.
Opening with the hit track ‘Violet’ the album takes off on a violent crash course of emotions and female turmoil. No stone is left unturned as topics ranging from self-image, depression, sexual assault, and to love and acceptance are all addressed on this album. Some snippets of Love’s own life are included in the album like the song ‘Asking For It’ which was inspired by a time when Courtney Love crowd surfed during a show in 1991 and in the process all her clothes were torn off her and the members of the crowd physically assaulted her. It’s sickening to think of such a horrible act committed by fans against an artist but it’s only added more fuel to Courtney’s fire and power. This woman has been through a lot of crap and yet she still comes out better looking and stronger than most of us. Being this strong independent woman of the 90’s Love takes a shot at the Riot Grrrl movement, which she was often wrongly associated with, as well in the closing track ‘Rock Star.’ Courtney Love herself states,
“The whole riot grrl thing is so… well, for one thing, the Women’s Studies department at Evergreen State College, where a lot of these bands come from, is notorious for being one of the worst programs in the country. It’s man-hating, and it doesn’t produce intelligent people in that field.”
The song was originally titled ‘Olympia’ named for the origin of the riot grrrl movement and the “Olympia hipsters” but was actually a replacement for the original song ‘Rock Star.’ Even though Love often openly references her own specific personal experiences in her music the songs are still relatable in a variety of different ways. The sign of a good song is that it fits each listener in their own special way. Even though there may be an exact inspiration behind the lyrics it doesn’t mean that your inspiration has to be the same thing. With this entire album it can be personalized to fit anyone’s needs and emotions.
Live Through This was released to critical acclaim and is on Rolling Stones list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and for good reason. Courtney, Eric, Kristen, and Patty brought alternative to a whole new level with the song while keeping punk noise rock roots in tact and opening the doors on a softer pop side of music as well. It’s personal yet open enough to attractive a wide range of fans. Not only as a female but also as a person this album gets me pumped to be more rock and roll. On my personal list of most important albums Live Through This is definitely in the top ten.
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