Star (Belly album)

In the 1980s and 1990s, vocalist and guitarist Tanya Donelly performed with Throwing Muses and the Breeders. After recording the latter's Safari EP in 1992, she decided to quit both bands to solely focus on her own band, Belly. Belly formed at the end of the previous year, consisting of Donelly, guitarist Thomas Gorman, bassist Fred Absong and drummer Chris Gorman. They released their debut EP Slow Dust in June 1992, produced by Gil Norton, and followed it up with the Gepetto EP in November.[2]

Along with alternative rock and jangle pop, the songs on Star also dig into "haunting", "avant" folk rock.[3][4] Tanya Donelly was credited with pushing dream pop's boundaries by "trimming away its pretensions" while keeping its "trancy harmonies".[3] A "distinct post-punk quality" has also been seen in the music, alongside some country and Spaghetti Western influences.[5]

Star was released on January 25, 1993 and was an unexpected success. Absong departed from the group in May 1993, his role being filled by Gail Greenwood.[6] On February 21, 1994, the album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of at least 500,000 units.[7]

The single "Feed the Tree" became a number one hit on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, as well as a surprise pop hit, peaking at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the late spring of 1993.[8][9] The music video for "Feed the Tree" was a smash buzz bin MTV hit, and was nominated for Best Alternative Video VMA and Best New Artist VMA in 1993. "Slow Dog" peaked at number 17 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in the summer of 1993,[10] while "Gepetto" peaked at number 8 in the late fall/winter of 1993,[11] as well as charting on the Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart for five weeks in the late fall/winter of 1993.

"Angel" is not a rerecording of the song of the same name that Tanya Donelly wrote with Throwing Muses for their 1989 album Hunkpapa.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Chicago Tribune	[12]
Entertainment Weekly	B[13]
NME	8/10[14]
Q	[15]
Record Collector	[16]
Rolling Stone	[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[17]
Slant Magazine	[5]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	6/10[18]

In 1994, Star was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album, while Belly were nominated for Best New Artist. The band won Best Modern Rock Act at the Boston Music Awards, while Star won the Debut Album of the Year award.[6]

Adapted from AllMusic's Credits page for Star.[19]

Belly

• Tanya Donelly – vocals, guitar
• Fred Abong – bass
• Chris Gorman – drums, percussion
• Thomas Gorman – guitar, organ

Additional musicians

• Chick Graining – guitar, slide guitar, vocals

Technical

• Belly – production
• Tracy Chisholm – engineering, production
• Gil Norton – production

Artwork and design

• Chris Bigg – design
• Chris Gorman – photography

Citations

Sources

• Star at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)