Kristin Hersh: Learn To Sing Like A Star

Elly Roberts reviews

Kristin Hersh: Learn To Sing Like A Star
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4ADCover

  • January 2007
  • Rating: 2/10

After 10 years and 15 albums, Kristin Hersh still hasn’t made the grade.

It’s no wonder. And this album will do little to alter things. PerhapsKristin Hersh should take her own advice – as the title advocates.

Clearly she is unable to sing, and when she does, there’s a distinct likenessto, yes, Welsh chanteuse Cerys Matthews, only on a bad day. Trying to findredeeming qualities is, well, very difficult, as the most of the songs arepretty dire. None of these possess any kind of radio friendliness, (obviouslyit’s not her agenda) so how she intends to hit the big time is beyond me.

Hersh tries to make an impression from the off, with avalanche – like InShock, which I still am. Nerve Endings’ heavy violin has somedelightful moments, though the singing sucks. It’s soon followed by some heavystring arrangements, only to be killed off by lousy singing and monstrousGoth Rock riffs on Day Glo, which might be wrongly titled as this isthe one that touches the nerve endings. This is the most grating song I’veever heard, and that’s really saying something.

Thankfully, some respite on 29 seconds worth of Christian Hearse, but its all too short, unfortunately. What this acoustic interlude is all about,I don’t know. Surprisingly, Ice is a neat acoustic-string ballad, butyet again Matthews (Catatonia) comes to mind. So far, Under The Guncomes as the best. Acoustic leads and later heavy riffs make this almostbearable.


The first piano interlude with echoed guitar (Piano 1) seems ratherpointless, as is the later reprise (Piano 2). Inbetween Sugar Babyrises and falls with equal mediocrity, and as a track goes nowhere. Follower,Peggy Lee shifts along at a steady pace, with great strings droppingin here and there to give it a much needed boost.

Weakest track on the album is the insipid ballad Vertigo. Cacophonyraises its ugly head once more on the power-house rocker Winterand surprise, surprise, ‘Catatonia’ pops up again, in disguise. Wild Vanillais basically another nothing track. And guess what? So is The Thin Man.

As an album, it lacks – soul, depth, creativity, and above all class.

There are better, much better, out there not making it.

Back to the drawing board, again, Miss Hersh.


The full list of tracks included are :

1. In Shock
2. Nerve Endings
3. Day Glo
4. Christian Hearse
5. Ice
6. Under The Gun
7. Piano 1
8. Sugar Baby
9. Peggy Lee
10. Piano 2
11. Vertigo
12. Winter
13. Wild Vanilla
14. The Thin Man

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