I have only just got into Courtney Love's 90s grunge riot grrrl band Hole but I love them already. Despite Courtney's many downfalls, she's had a lot over the years, you can't argue with her song writing prowess. Live Through This is a masterpiece. It manages to embody all of the primal rage of a young woman without sounding forced. Just listen to Jennifer's Body or Miss World and you'll know what i'm talking about. I've heard the rumours that Kurt Cobain actually wrote the album and Courtney had nothing to do with it but if you actually listened to the album you could tell Kurt had nothing to do with it. Only a woman could write that deeply about the female experience.
As good as Live Through This is the song of the month is not actually from that album. The Song of the Month is Best Sunday Dress which was written way back when Courtney was hanging round with Kat Bjelland of Babes In Toyland but only released years later as a b-side, of all things, on Celebrity Skin.
I love this song for many reasons. The darkly seductive riffs are quite PJ Harvey-esque; something Love many have added later as she has stated many times that she is a big fan of Harvey's. I just can't resist the simply beautiful line that Love rips apart 'WATCHING YOU BURN...AHH AHH.
The MTV unplugged version is pretty cool too.
Before I listened to Love's songs I had little to no respect for her. I believed the rumours. She was a drug addict, hung onto her husband's talent, was a failed feminist and all round bag of crazy. While some of those rumours may be true, well all of them are probably true to some extent, you can't deny she was, scratch that, IS talented. She is an admirable character. We could do with a few more girls like her ripping it up, flashing their knickers and generally not giving a fuck.
Love ya Court
Hole- Best Sunday Dress
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