Caroline Records, 1995

This is not a full length album obviously, it is a 6 track EP. It was a leftover Caroline contract left over from when before Hole signed to Geffen Records. So they had to fullfill the "contract." The result is a collection of 6 songs, all of them taken from bootleg recordings. All except 3 songs are covers. They took place at a John Peel Session in Novemeber 1991, and the others are live or studio. This EP, of course got reviews, because the cover art caught the attention of the media.

The cover is a picture of two outthrust wrists on a white tile bathroom floor that have been slashed by a razor, but are healing, apparently after a suicide attempt. A classic Courtney Love masterpiece of art. According to Canadian music channel MuchMusic, the concept of the art was chosen in 1992, two years prior to Kurt Cobain's suicide. The inside sleeve has 1991 promotional band shots in black and white with Caroline Rue and Jill Emery. On the inside flap Courtney "generously" lifts her shirt up, revealing her stomach by a few inches. Typical pose. The rest of the band are in black, all seriously looking at the camera. Four of the songs, "Violet," "Forming/Hot Chocolate Boy," "Drown Soda," and "Doll Parts" all appear on a Hole 7" called "Holier Than Thou." This vinyl record was limited of only 600 pressings world-wide.

The songs themselves are true "early Hole" performances, sloppy but also great in their own right.

Over The Edge--This is the only studio recording on this EP. Recorded by Brian Foxworthy in March 1992, this cover song was put on a collaboration album dedicated to Greg Sage and the Wipers, who wrote the song. Lyrics are true Greg Sage "/don't do the things you do, don't have to oblige you/make choices on my own/don't buy the shit they sell/im hanging on a ledge/push straight over the edge/."

Pale Blue Eyes-This is a outdoor live track from a show at The Whiskey, February 11, 1992, recorded by Carlos Nunez. Good song and lyrics, it was written by Lou Reed. Now I finally understood what she was saying. "/linger on pale blue eyes/."

Drown Soda--This track was recorded at the 4 song set John Peel BBC Radio session, Nov. 1991. Classic "old Hole", if you please. Courtney does not hesitate to scream her head off on this recording.

Doll Parts--This was one of the "newer" songs of Hole back then, again recorded for the BBC session. Recorded with no drum help, it is mellow and very un-Hole like, at least back then. This would shed light on Courtney's developing songwriting skills for the near future.

Violet--This track, recorded for the BBC session, is another LTT song. This is the song that bridged the gap between the "POTI" days and the "LTT" days. Though it sounds not as polished as it did 2 years later. Loud and screaming guitars dominate this entire track and of course, Love's harsh vocals. But the songwriting skill was showing through.

Forming/Hot Chocolate Boy--With the two songs continuing one after another, these songs end up on the 6th track together. From the BBC session once again, "Forming" was written by The Germs, and "Hot Chocolate Boy" was written by Beat Happening. Forming is actually 2nd, with it's untranslatable lyrics, thanks to Courtney. The first "song" is understandable, the second is screaming screaming screaming...

This EP is only a short 18 minutes long, so it doesn't kill you to go through it with an open mind. The cover photo keeps you awake.

Email: frankie_82@yahoo.com