Pretty & Twisted (album)

Pretty & Twisted is the debut album by the American alternative rock band Pretty & Twisted, released in 1995.[2] It was the band's only album.[3][4]

Pretty & Twisted
Studio album by
Released1995
GenreAlternative rock
LabelWarner Bros. Records[1]
ProducerJohnette Napolitano

Pretty & Twisted is dedicated to Marlon Brando.[5] The album's first single was "¡Ride!", which was written with Chris Bailey.[6][7] The band supported the album by touring with the Young Dubliners.[8]

Production

The album was produced by Johnette Napolitano; it began as a solo project, with Napolitano initially recording in her home.[9][10] "Mother of Pearl" is a cover of the Roxy Music song.[11] "Come Away with Me" incorporates unrecorded lyrics written by Janis Joplin.[12][13] "Singing Is Fire" is a Charles Bukowski poem set to music; "Stranger" was written with Paul Westerberg.[10][14]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[15]
Calgary HeraldB-[16]
The Indianapolis Star[17]
Knoxville News Sentinel[18]
Los Angeles Times[19]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[20]

Trouser Press wrote that "while Pretty & Twisted simplifies things and cuts away the artsier pretensions of latter-day Concrete Blonde, it replaces them with dopier ego indulgences."[21] The Los Angeles Times thought that "there's something both Bowie-esque and Cure-like in the band's aggressively ominous atmospherics—a sound with the grit and the grace to make the edge of desperation seem like the only place to be."[19] The Hamilton Spectator declared that "Napolitano's experience certainly gives Pretty & Twisted a decided advantage as one of the better debut albums to come around in a while."[22]

The Knoxville News Sentinel determined that "for all the intrigue of the lyrics and singing, Pretty & Twisted only sporadically gets substantial instrumental support."[18] The Calgary Herald concluded that "many of these songs lay lifelessly in the cauldron, although the ones that do work roar out spitting and smoking."[16] The Indianapolis Star opined that "much of this new disc runs flat, with dark tracks bearing well-worn sentiments."[17]

AllMusic called the album "a wonderful slice of adult alternative rock that is both melodic and intelligent."[15]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Johnette Napolitano except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Highs Are Too High" 6:10
2."Mother of Pearl"Bryan Ferry5:05
3."Souvenir" 5:09
4."No Daddy No" 4:34
5."¡Ride!"Chris Bailey, Napolitano3:40
6."Train Song (Edge of Desperation)"Marc Moreland, Napolitano6:30
7."Stranger"Paul Westerberg, Napolitano2:59
8."Singing Is Fire"Charles Bukowski, Napolitano, Moreland3:11
9."Don't Take Me Down" 4:37
10."Come Away with Me"Janis Joplin, Napolitano5:55
11."Dear Marlon Brando"Moreland, Napolitano3:30
12."Billy"Moreland, Napolitano3:39
13."Watching the Water" 4:17

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the Pretty & Twisted CD album booklet.[23]

  • Johnette Napolitano – vocals (1–13), bass (1–13), keyboards (1, 5–7, 11, 13), guitars (1, 3, 9–10), beat (1, 9–10, 13), percussion (2–3, 5–6, 8–11, 13)
  • Marc Moreland – guitars (1–13), vocals (4, 11), keyboards (8)
  • Danny Montgomery – drums (2–8, 11–12)
  • Chris Bailey – guitars (5)

Production

  • Johnette Napolitano – producer, engineer
  • Earle Mankey – engineer (1–13), mixing (1–12)
  • Alex Gordon – engineer (1–13), mixing (13)
  • Sean Freehill – engineer, sampling, sequencing
  • Anne Catalano – assistant engineer
  • Danny, Jeff and Susan at Paramount – additional assistants
  • Tom Baker – mastering

Other

  • Bruce Poulsen – cover photography
  • Johnette Napolitano, Marc Moreland – additional photos
  • William Herron III – logo
  • Brigid Pearson – assemblage

References

  1. Buckley, Peter (January 21, 2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. ISBN 9781843531050 via Google Books.
  2. Pensinger, Matt (2 June 1995). "Great Beginnings: Johnette Napolitano happily sheds her Blonde roots and finds music that's Pretty & Twisted". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. AA13.
  3. "Pretty & Twisted Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic.
  4. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 509.
  5. Monk, Katherine (7 Sep 1995). "Napolitano's trademark howl takes a pretty twist". Vancouver Sun. p. C8.
  6. Weatherford, Mike (4 Aug 1995). "Simply Twisted: Getting away from L.A. and exploring the seedier side of Las Vegas". Las Vegas Review-Journal. p. 1J.
  7. Ferman, Dave (August 3, 1995). "Pretty and twisted - Johnette Napolitano has a new sound, but her Blonde roots are showing". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. LIFE & ARTS. p. 3.
  8. Matthews, Lynn (1 Sep 1995). "PRETTY & TWISTED". The Columbian. Weekend. p. 1.
  9. Rosen, Craig (Jul 15, 1995). "Napolitano makes Warner her Pretty & Twisted Nest". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 28. p. 8.
  10. Punter, Jennie (24 Aug 1995). "From the ashes of Concrete Blonde: Singer Johnette Napolitano launches brave new trio". Toronto Star. p. E10.
  11. Morse, Steve (18 Aug 1995). "Concrete Blonde singer gets moody with Pretty & Twisted". The Boston Globe. Living. p. 59.
  12. Burton, Alan (January 21, 1996). Rave on: Classic Texas Music Quotes. Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 9780896723702 via Google Books.
  13. Semon, Craig S. (17 Sep 1995). "Johnette Napolitano's new band falls short". Telegram & Gazette. Datebook. p. 9.
  14. Gonzalez, Roberto (17 Aug 1995). "PRETTY & TWISTED Pretty & Twisted". Hartford Courant. Calendar. p. 5.
  15. "Pretty & Twisted - Pretty & Twisted | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" via www.allmusic.com.
  16. McEwen, Mary-Lynn (20 Aug 1995). "NEW RELEASES". Calgary Herald. p. D2.
  17. Bacon, Scott (24 Sep 1995). "Pretty & Twisted 'Pretty & Twisted'". The Indianapolis Star. p. I6.
  18. Campbell, Chuck (8 Sep 1995). "Napolitano's new venture shares flaws with the past". Knoxville News Sentinel. Detours. p. 6.
  19. Cromelin, Richard (6 Aug 1995). "Napolitano's in Fine Form With Twisted Agenda". Los Angeles Times. Calendar. p. 60.
  20. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 264.
  21. "Concrete Blonde". Trouser Press. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  22. Krewen, Nick (24 Aug 1995). "PRETTY & TWISTED/Pretty & Twisted". The Hamilton Spectator. Ego. p. 4.
  23. Pretty & Twisted (US CD album liner notes). Pretty & Twisted. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. 9 45910-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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