It's hard to believe that 18 years has passed since this album was released. Much less 18 years since Kurt Cobain died. Now you know we can't talk about LTT without bringing up Kurt. Now I don't believe those stupid conspiracies about Kurt writing this album. This stuff doesn't really sound like lyrics from "In Utero" or "Nevermind" or even "Bleach" for that matter, in my opinion. And we all know "Violet" and "Doll Parts" were both written before she dated Kurt; in fact, "Violet" was written after her stint with Smashing Pumpkins frontman, Billy Corgan. But believe it or not, Courtney listened to Nirvana, she heard Kurt play his music while at home and on the road and both Kurt & Courtney pretty much had the same taste in music. So it's understandable to think that Kurt wrote "Live Through This", however I beg to differ.
Hole had released one record previously. The raw, dirty, "rough all around", "Pretty on the Inside". And with all intents and purposes, it sounds totally different than "Live Through This" and many early Hole fans in 1994 didn't want to accept this new, poppy, soft, clean grunge, if you will, that was "Live Through This". It was like a transition from Nirvana to Foo Fighters, very noticeable, very crazy, and you can tell Courtney struggled to find a sound or an edge that suited her very well. And I believe she still struggled with it for many years.
Now mind you, "Live Through This" is a great, fantastic album. One of my favorites of all time. In this album, Courtney still has her rough edge, like in the first Hole album. That raspy, grungy voice of her's is still as prevalent in 1994 as it was in 1991. But the sound of ecstasy "Sonic Youth like" guitars or the "Sub Pop sound" of the late 80s and early 90s that was POTI was now being replaced by a "Nevermind" like, DGC sound; dirty but not as rough around the edges. "Live Through This" is no "post grunge" album by no means. And it's not lacking any common ground that was found in grunge or 90's alternative rock albums. But you can tell, pop influences were surrounded a lot more in this record. And I enjoy pop, not today's pop but you catch my drift.
"Live Through This" was released April 12, 1994; four days after the lead singer, Courtney Love's husband Kurt Cobain of Nirvana committed suicide in Seattle.
The album starts with a revenge-y number, "Violet" which as pointed out before, was written about Courtney and Billy Corgan's relationship before Courtney married Kurt. This song along with two other songs on this album were popular on modern rock radio and MTV in 94 and 95 along with "Doll Parts" and "Miss World". "Violet" is your typical Courtney Love song ("When I get what I want/I never want it again") but still a masterpiece at best. It's a great intro for what's to come on the album.
Next we have "Miss World". We know every girl, at least once in her life, have had self image issues. This is exactly what this song touches on. The perfect outlet for any girl (or guy for that matter) to relate to in some way. The lyrics alone give you goosebumps for anyone feeling like they wanted to die in their own skin ("I'm Miss World/Somebody kill me/Kill me pills/No one cares").
After the somber tone of "Miss World", we walk into "Plump". One of my favorite tracks on this record. "Plump" touches on weight issues and bulimia ("They say I'm plump/but I throw up all the time"). At first glance, Courtney Love knows exactly what it's like to be on the dark side of girldom. And she already had a rough life; abandonment from parents, drug abuse and working as a stripper and becoming a D-rated movie star in the late 80s.
"Asking For It" was written about an incident that happened in the early 90's at a Hole concert; where Courtney was almost raped.
"We had just gotten off tour with Mudhoney, and I decided to stage-dive. I was wearing a dress and I didn't realize what I was engendering in the audience. It was a huge audience and they were kind of going ape-s**t. So I just dove off the stage, and suddenly, it was like my dress was being torn off of me, my underwear was being torn off of me, people were putting their fingers inside of me and grabbing my breasts really hard, screaming things in my ears like "pu**y-wh**e-c**t". When I got back onstage I was naked. I felt like Karen Finley. But the worst thing of all was that I saw a photograph of it later. Someone took a picture of me right when this was happening, and I had this big smile on my face like I was pretending it wasn't happening. So later I wrote a song called "Asking For It" based on the whole experience. I can't compare it to rape because it's not the same. But in a way it was. I was raped by an audience, figuratively, literally, and yet, was I asking for it?" - Courtney Love.
"Jennifer's Body" is a juicy number. It's like a scene out of a thriller movie, really puts you in the shoes of a torture/murder victim. In fact, yes, the 2009 film of the same name starring Megan Fox, is based loosely on this song. And "Violet" is featured in the end credits of the movie, according to the Wikipedia article. The producer is a huge fan of Hole.
"Doll Parts" is one of the more popular songs by Hole. Written before Courtney and Kurt were dating, Courtney tries her best to be with Kurt. Sending heart shaped boxes (sound familiar?) and miniature toys, candies, and flowers. All to get no answer from Kurt. So as a result, "Doll Parts" was written. The structure of the sound, the pain is A+ and you can feel it in every breath Courtney takes. To top it off, the wailing of Courtney exclaiming "Someday you will ache like I ache" instantly puts your heart, body, soul and not to mention, your eyes, on total meltdown. Courtney does a fine job of transferring her pain, anguish, angst, as well as rage and hatred against the world into the ears of the listeners. And allows others to feel like they're in Courtney's life for 40 minutes or so.
"Credit in the Straight World" is an old cover from Young Marble Giants. The original sounds very hipster-ish, almost punk, and acoustic as such. But add Courtney's raspy flair, the guitars of Kristen Pfaff and Eric Erlandson and the banging of Patty Schemel's beats, and you've got yourself a grungy/very 90's number. Hole makes this their own with their punk roots and charm.
"Softer. Softest" is like "Doll Parts" Part 2; starting right where it left off. Courtney expresses her hatred for pee girls and sour milk; it's goosebump worthy. The tone, the mentality of "Doll Parts" are still intact in this song. Water works are all up in this record. Don't be surprised if you need a Kleenex or two.
"She Walks On Me" is an ode to early/post punk. Back when the Ramones, Sex Pistols and The Wipers made themselves at home. This is where Courtney still proves to her listeners, she still hasn't lost her early Hole roots... yet! She still has her edge, but she's growing up from her babydoll days. But yet somehow, she was still comfortable with it in 1993 and 1994. It's definitely a punk song, for sure, with plenty of fast riffs and screams to make you get up and bang your head!
"I Think I Would Die" is possibly my favorite on this record. It's definitely the song for rebellious teenagers, faced with being forced to fit in with the conformity of high school kids. Forced to wear the same clothes as the preps, listen to the same music as the other kids, that kind of thing. An already good song, the F-U makes this song 10 times better! It was the cherry on top of an already delicious ice cream sundae! The Hole crew is at their best here!
"Gutless" is a step down from the last track, but still great in it's own right. It's contradictory and very Nirvana like. Like a track off of "In Utero" except instead of Kurt, we have Mrs. Cobain in his place.
The final track is labelled as "Rockstar", however, the track is really called, "Olympia". The reason? Courtney wrote Rockstar, before the death of Kurt. Included is a verse that goes "How'd you like to be Nirvana/I guess you'd rather die". Courtney thought it would be in bad taste, as Kurt died 4 days before the record was released. And opted to replace the song with another one that didn't make the cut. However, since labels, sleeves, and CD's were already manufactured, many people believe "Olympia" is actually called "Rockstar", but don't let it fool you.
But "Olympia" touches on life as a teenager growing up in Olympia, Washington in the 80's; where everyone knew the music scenes of Washington, wore the same clothes, talked the same, acted the same, you catch my drift. A punk song about the grunge scene? Way better than the original, proposed track in it's place! It should've been the first choice, but hey, we're not complaining now are we?
So in a nutshell, "Live Through This" is one of those records that defined the 90's. And inspired many future musicians. It's possibly Hole's best record, according to critics and fans.
After the album was released, however, Courtney wasn't relishing in the success of the record, due to the death of her husband and soon went downhill. And bassist, Kristen Pfaff died in the summer of 1994 from a heroin overdose and was replaced by Melissa Auf Der Maur. Who stayed with the band until 1999. As a result, Courtney's heroin addiction returned, she relied on the booze once more. Most of the time while on tour for the record, she was often high or drunk and slurring the vocals and causing scenes with fans and even went off on someone that threw water at her and screamed out she killed Kurt.
In 1995, at the MTV VMA's, she threw her compact at Madonna (which was very hilarious, I must admit), got on stage to perform, nonetheless, drunk as a skunk. And by the end of the night, flashed her lady parts to the press and was eventually drug out of the red carpet, passed out, by her fellow bandmates.
Although Courtney seemed to be going the same route as her husband, she turned herself around. And in 1996, starred in the film, "The People Vs. Larry Flynt" and released the "post grungy" record, "Celebrity Skin" in 1998.
So should you buy this record, if you don't already have it? Why of course you should have it! You would have to have no life to not have this masterpiece of a record. However, don't hold me accountable when you start bawling like a baby when you hear "Doll Parts" **
