'Mono' is just the beginning; the angry yell before she gets even. 'America's Sweetheart' is the confession of a woman gone mad, gone Les Paul shopping and gone hunting for celebrity endorsing songwriters. Her honesty's still apparent since she was last seen, having her parts waxed in print and humping donald duck ('I've got pills for my coochie coz I'm sore'). She's still a Pamela Des Barres novel wrapped up in a life of Jackie O black tie dinners. While her peers were growing tired of a lifetime of overdoses and plaid, she found the next generation of Ramones schtick beating punks, shagged them with the Bono talk and taught them the words to 'Sheena Is A Punk Rocker'.
'America's Sweetheart''s polished tone perfectly complements her own scraggy zeitgeist; the Linda Perry pop sheen comfortably sits next to the dirty hooker feuding rock pomp. 'Sunset Strip' throws up the catchiest refrain Courtney's ever sung ('Oh, Rock Star Pop Star, Everybody Dies') and swallows the 70s tourbus skank of 'All The Drugs' in a world where Marilyn Manson learnt from 'Exile On Main Street' era Stones rather than Annie Lennox and The Eurythmics.
She's learnt how to play Jimmy Page, the same way Kurt wrote 'Aero Zeppelin', swapping Seattle brown for California red.
She can write a four beat love song to piss on The Knack ('Uncool') and she can still recite the 'Pretty On The Inside' songbook.
And she still knows how to use the 'Teen Spirit' hook to piss off the Smashing Pumpkin fans.
But 'America's Sweetheart' is still more 'Celebrity Skin' than anything; it's still Hole setting out to live in a world complete with Michael Stipe mainstream credibility and homosexual xanex parties.
The 45 minutes of vinyl deserving Courtney loving ends like the movie made to accompany her dirrty death disco existence; a lemonhead trashing ballad of 'Doll Parts' proportion.
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
It's like saying that East Enders is stupid because it's all made up.
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
get a life yourself!!
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Plus her face is fast becoming more botoxed and plastic each photoshoot i see.
how R'n'R.
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Re: Surgery- who gives a fuck!! "i am so real i am beyond fuck"...make some money treat yourself! god knows courtney's spent aeons looking and acting like a beautiful mess...and i bet everyone thought she needed to sort out the way she looked then too and gave her enuff shit over it...shame she didnt turn into a lovely gwyneth paltrow...all nice and conservative like a nice wifey...sigh...apron and all....
its also such a shame about these fucking bitches who decided to "hang on" longer than they're needed. yeah girls really need to realise they're good for a record then get the picture and sod off once they've done the cover of maxim. Heaven forbid a WOMAN lasting more than ten years in the music industry!!! And god a woman over 25 aswell!! It's a good thing we got rid of Nina Simone the other year--but then again she was black and loveable in a nice old way....aww bless her....
being real's all in the fucking mind.....
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Just about every great record ever, had more than the sum of the people holding the mic's imagination, specialism and creation gone into it. Producers make a huge difference. Once upon a time A&R kept things in check. Managers. People whose second opinions and external ears make suggestions, all go into a record. As do things read in books, things heard on other records.
Courtney wanted to create a record with the pop suss someone of her status needs. How does one person, with so much anticipation, and so much exageration, ever hope to acheive that without (ab)using someone elses talents?
At least she is honest about the co-writes. And it's better than all these bands who just steal other peoples ideas and call 'em their own. This isn't cheating, it's using what you've got and having the ability to know when to ask for help, rather than possibily letting yourself down. Genius is about theiving - from Robin Hood through Grokster.
RnR is breathing again - here lies thee proof.
Hanging on, because you can, is punk rock.
Did anyone respect Joe Strummer any less because he was older?
Or Tom Waits?
Or Pj Harvey?
Is it better to burn out or keep stoking the flames, with beauty, dignity and hard lessons learnt?
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
it's the album that should have been made in that transitional period between LTT and CS. raw and cathartic but still wish the appealable edge - which, lets face it, has to be there to sell records to those who are curious. (be them pop fans, rock fans, nirvana fans... whatever.)
the thing i like about courtney is that she has maintained curiousity and has evolved musically. from POTI to LTT there was a huge difference, and with every cd she has grown and grown, AS is no different. and hey, everyone likes a good sing-along happy-go-lucky song.. at least she isn't afraid of the critics (and hey there are TONS of them) to explore both her angry aggressive side but also her love of a good pop song.
blah blah blah... the cd is amazing, basically.
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
You must say it almost has a pop punk edge to it, very appealing for the young 'uns. I'll stick to LTT and her husband.
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
It's just thickshit stupidity. It doesn't matter who writes a tune, who co-wrote it, who the producer is, who supplies your bass strings, where you buy pizza from, it simply doesn't matter a fuck. The only thing that matters is the quality of the music produced. So what if she plays around with Linda Perry or Bernie Taupin? Just review the music produced at the end. It's not a bad album, it's going through my speakers right now. I readily admit that I can't think of anything more boring than listening a rich widow talking about her life but that's no reason to damn her. It's probably true that the 'anticipation' around this record is majoritorially PR-created anticipation and not any great fan clamour for new material.
Sideline: Sean, do you consider Courtney Love to be a genius? It almost feels like you're saying it's OK to crib from other sources as long as you're honest about the source. And what do you consider COurtney's status to be?
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
She's not quite up there on a Micheal Jackson level, but that isn't the point.
Would I consider Jonny Rotten a genius? Would I consider Conor Oberst a genius?Would I consider Charlie from Busted a genius? Genius is all in the eye of the beholder. Does it matter who I consider to be a genius?
The record will fire some rockets of excitement and inspiration into the music world, and that is exactly what we all need. End story.
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
It doesn't matter whom you consider a genius, what matters is the criteria that you apply when giving out such plaudits as that criteria will be the determining factor as to whether you look vaguely rational for giving out such plaudits or an absolute prick. To apply genius status to someone based on their ability to get in the tabloids and manipulating the media seems pretty damn tawdry and ultimately as facile as the argument given by some people about Pop Idol ie. they must be the best because they sell the most records... to say that Courtney is self-made is absurd. Do you really think that she would have gotten so much attention had Kurt never existed? I agree she has taken control of one side of her but it's ludicrous to say that she's self-made and that her late husband's visibility in the media didn't help her immensely. Try a comparison with another blonde master of media manipulation, the late Princess of Wales, who surely wouldn't have made it into the papers quite so much had she remained Lady Diana Spencer. You say that Michael Jackson is a self-made icon like her: fucking nonsense, the man's musical career was (and still is) inspirational to millions. How can you compare his musical ouevre to that of Courtney, whose last semi-decent album was a decade ago? Has she come up with her 'Off The Wall' yet? No she hasn't.
But hey, this is the fun of it. We can discuss Courtney for what and who she is or isn't because it's ultimately way more exciting than talking about her music, yes?
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
The only reason courtney is so hated is because she was married to kurt cobain, how dare she have a carrer of her own? wasnt that what people were accusing her of being a NANCY SPUNGEN.
Face it the album is not bad
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
both pretty fucking dislikeable characters really.
and yet i love her so.
am VERY much looking forward to hearing this album.
x
gen
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
"..Well, anyone who gives a toss about rock n roll, and largely the only person left in the world who personifies it as such."
That's true if you believe that rock n' roll can only be stupid and airbrushed and that a hellraiser image is more important than the actual music. Rock n' roll is also about life and vitality ie. something more than just Sunset Strip, drug ingestion and fucking.
But of course, we should respect her for who she is and not ever suggest that she's a publicity hungry lady at all. Comparing her to Dylan in any way in absolutely ludicrous.
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1484748/20040202/love_courtney.jhtml?headlines=true
Peter, do you really know any guy who would consider Courtney to be a wank fantasy?
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Yes. Plenty. And that's just in Stoke Newington.
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Presumably the Stoke Newington translation guide for tourists left out the sections based around 'quality control'.
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Courtney is the greatest thing in Mock 'n Roll.
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Uh-huh, of course it's institutional sexism that makes me think Courtney's shit. Remind me to destroy all my PJ Harvey records along with my Kim Deal adoration too. Now you don't like the Distillers so all good credit to you. The simple thing is that Courtney hasn't been involved with a semi-decent record since Live Through This was released nearly a decade ago and is way more famed for her tabloid moments than any musical endeavour. Many pro-Courtney people are the same people who'd say that Liam Gallagher was a Neanderthal tabloid licking lunkhead. What's worse: someone who is a bit dumb acting up or someone who does possess intelligence making themselves look stupid? I don't think Courtney's an evil psycho Cobain murdering bitchqueen from hell, she's clearly got some intelligence up there, I just don't think she's worthy of any huge musical attention. Anyhow, anything she can do to promote this album will be inferior to Janet Jackson's clever Superbowl act.
Sexist Male Geek Pig of Ontario.xx
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
It seems like it's an American way of doing things to take potshots at any woman who is a little feisty and headstrong. Take the current case against Martha Stewart for alleged insider trading, the media has gone on serious attack mode with her despite her crimes being less substantial than those high up within Enron. She's suffered the same way that Yoko did and most of it is undeserved. As I said elsewhere, she is a difficult lady to work with, both male and female collaborators/potential collaborators from Billy Corgan to Kathleen Hanna have had problems with her so I don't think it's just a 'men have problems with Courtney' thing. The album's not bad, I had my first listen to it yesterday afternoon after work and it's OK in a pop-punk way. It's not exactly my cup of tea as hearing a rich lady talking about her life isn't something that touches my heart and head and, as the dear Moz sang, says nothing to me about my life but it's not a festering piece of shit. I still stand by my comments on the Mono single ie. that Avril Lavigne does that whole pop rock thing far better.
Ciao!
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Courtney Love is not one hundredth of the artist or the woman that Yoko Ono is.
The difference is yoko was an artist before she met John, whereas Courtney has never been an artist, either before or after Kurt.
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
If anyone can get their hands on a copy, watch the video of Sonic Youth's "The Year That Punk Broke". It's a tour video from their 1991 European tour featuring a pre-Teen Spirit famous Nirvana and one very shy acting Courtney Love, at that time playing with Babes in Toyland. Even with MTV cameras around, she acts in a manner that would surprise many who only know her as that crwazee rock lady. It's that image of Courtney that should balance against her wild tabloid image. She is an artist but an artist who has lived off of reputation rather than her body of work. She's difficult to work with, that much is clear. Anyone who says she pisses just men off clearly forgets the bad words Melissa Auf Der Maur had to say about her as well as one true woman of rock who does have a musical body of work, Kathleen Hanna.
Lennon may have produced the best 'solo Beatle' work, mainly because he's hardly faced with great competition. Personally I prefer George Harrison's stuff but never mind...
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Looking forward to the Auf Der Maur album a whole lot more. From what I've heard that sounds very special.
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
What Courtney should have been
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Far more looking forward to the Auf Der Maur album. What I've heard sounds very special.
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
I also don't like the way everyone justifies her every musical action by aid of the cringe-worthy "rock and roll" tag. It's an image, people: I'm not going to be so trite as to suggest that her "contributions to pop culture", no matter if you think they exist or not, are completely worthless, but surely calling her "rock'n'roll" doesn't make the music any better?
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Was a hard ,strong and rocking Cd ..Courtney Love did well on this one..As she does on all her recordings ..For a chick pushing 40 .. She rocks and truely is the Queen of Grunge
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Thanks for a fab website DiS, but where are the DOGS!?
Step on.
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Keep on rockin' courtney!
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
With Celebrity Skin, her voice was packed too tightly into the mix, but on this record it sounds too separate. Which is annoying and the main bad point. A lot of the songs are great, though. As NME said, it sounds kinda derivative, but in an adrenaline-packed, purposeful way.
Put it this way: if you like Courtney's Hole stuff lots, you'll probably grow into this one and learn to love it, but unfortunately I can't see it winning over many new fans from scratch. It's very much what we've come to expect from her - the unexpected.
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Upon hearing the single I reached for the nearest sharp instrument and sideways head-banged it into my skull.
Auf Der Maur is far superior. Ok, it's an obvious comparison, but I think a fair one.
Re: Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Melissa's sounds like a really average, middle of the road, rock album and this doesn't.