Love doesn't conquer all
Courtney Love's first solo release America's Sweetheart is music to few people's ears.
Jennifer Falcetano
Issue date: 4/2/04 Section: Local Music
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Now that she has removed herself from Hole and released her first official solo album, I feel sorry for her. Her songs resemble a car crash and her vocal rasp can often be characterized as ugly and dreadful. At times she seems to be screaming rather than singing, and is often off key as she declares, "I'm overrated, desecrated, still somehow illuminated. I know I've got a screw loose." Here, I would have to agree with her.
With all the hype about her in the news she still shines as the bad girl of music, and yes, she definitely is overrated. If I had not been able to get this album for free I would never have listened to it. I feel that I am more obtuse now that I've listened to the entirety of the album. She sings, "they say that rock is dead and it's probably true." I concur with this statement. If she continues to put out records, rock will die.
Her lyrics are nothing to laugh at; in fact, they're often nothing at all, frequently repeating one or two syllable words over and over and over again. "Oi oi oi, gabba gabba, gabba gabba hey." Now if that's not music then I don't know what is. But to give her some credit, I'm sure if I listened to this album several hundred times I would be capable to find something worth while. However, most should not be willing to give it that much time and to those who do, I pity you.
 Media Credit: famousbabes.com Sweetheart or sour note?: Courtney Love |
According to some, her voice and sound can be compared to Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks; I would beg to differ. To equate Love's off-key, sandpaper rough voice to the likes of Joplin and Nicks is appalling. Although their voices may not have the best sound quality, at least they are capable of creating decent music, unlike Love, who howls into the microphone and often talks instead of sings.
The music uses basic power chords and reverts back to primitive rock format. Her words are unintelligible and she massacres Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in her rendition of "I'll Do Anything." She relies on slurs and rough vocals to get her point across. Throughout the album she maintains the same sound, angry and insane. Stating that, "if you want what's pure you gotta come to me now." If I want what's pure, I'm going to go back to the Beatles, not Courtney Love.
Love clearly lets her anger out in this new album, ranting about her love for drugs and self mutilation. As supporting as I am for her need for therapy, I am unwilling to pay for it. But I will give her some credit. Only when she lets go of the screaming and rage and actually sings, is when she is worthy of America's ears.
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