Geffen Records, 1994

Live Through This was the record that launched Hole into popular rock superstardom. If you listen to it you will see why. Released in April 12, 1994, Live Through This continues to have an impact on many faithful Hole fans, even though it’s release was a long 4 years ago. Hole’s second album is filled with more composed rock melodies, unlike their debut, Pretty On The Inside. The difference between the two records is almost unbelievable.

Live Through This was recorded in fall 1993 at Triclops Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. Behind the controls were producers Sean Slade and Paul Q. Kolderie, while the final mixes of the tracks were produced by Scott Litt. The album was cut in a short five weeks, taking up most of Love's time in the late months of 1993. Courtney Love, at the time, was still under extensive media pressure, and she thought the record could of been better. To her, it didn’t reach her wanted standards.

"This record was me on three gears, I did not have a fourth gear to work with. But one of the things I’ve learned in the last year is how to write good songs."

The musical instrumental section was different from their debut record, too. Added to the gears where soft acoustic guitar, and with Kristen Pfaff’s influence, keyboards made an appearance for the first time. This is the only Hole studio record with Kristen Pfaff’s talented bass line and backing vocals.

Critics, once they listened to the record itself, explained how it was the most "anger filled records of recent years." With good knowledge of course. And good knowledgeable reviews did this record get. Rolling Stone named it one of the best records to be released in 1994. Spin and Entertainment Weekly gave it some raving reviews.

When released on April 12, 1994, Live Through This debuted on the charts at number 56, never hitting the top forty in the U.S. But in its first two weeks in record stores, the record’s total sales number was 19,000 copies 2 months later, it was slowly climbing up to 60,000 copies. At the end of the year, in December, the record went gold, selling a total of 500,000 copies. During this time, Hole was on an extensive tour through out the U.S., lined up with their new bass player, Melissa Auf der Maur, who replaced Kristen Pfaff after her death.

In April, 1995, Live Through This went platinum, selling a million copies. At last count, the album had sold up to 1.5 million copies. Only 4 singles were released from the time the album was released, which was a shame…the album had more than four potential singles to release. Songs like Asking For It and I Think That I Would Die would of been potential hits in their own right. Most of the 4 singles, or the good ones at least, were only released in the UK and Germany. Two singles, Doll Parts and Violet , hit the Top 20 in Europe, as did the album which they came from. Doll Parts was the only Hole single from Live Through This that was released in the U.S. as a cassette, with a B-side of a live version of Plump.

The Live Through This CD packaging was an clever one. On the album’s front cover is a "beauty queen", adorned with a crown, and a bouquet of flowers, smiles widely as black mascara runs down her cheeks. The true "Miss World." On the inside flap are two pictures of the band, and the their thank yous. A black and white picture of a headless doll and a teddy bear let you know which song it represents. On the back cover is a rare picture of Courtney Love as an 8-year-old, in black pants and a purple flannel shirt, looking totally innocent. Nice, colorful packaging, which was probably meant to lure records buyers to approach the album in stores.

Of all 12 tracks on the album, only 3 were filmed as music videos. They were Miss World , Doll Parts, and Violet. I have heard that a video was made for the song Softer, Softest, but I have not seen this video, so I’m not sure it even exists at all. And because all of the songs are great, here is a explanation of each of the 12 tracks, either put together through quotes I’ve read, or through the music, which obviously can explain itself without any help.

Violet--Third single from the album. This track was officially "born" on Halloween 1991. Courtney was pissed because she had just heard the entire Nevermind Nirvana album….and she knew that she could write songs as good as those. So she tried to top them. She also got a fixed lyric from a letter an old boyfriend had given her, asking her, "When you get what you want to you ever want it again, Courtney?" Her obvious answer is in the lyrics. /Go on take everything/take everything I dare you to/when I get what I want I never want it again/.

Miss World--The first song to be released from the album. This song was very melodic when it was performed on Unplugged. It is just as good on record. Courtney describes this song as the "Paul McCartney" song from Live Through This. The lyrics describe unadmitted trouble makers……/I made my bed/ I lie in it/I made my bed/I die in it/my friends/. Great song. With Eric switching from acoustic to electric guitars makes the song very pop-like.

Plump--This song was probably inspired by Courtney’s pregnancy. The lyrics say it all, "/They say I’m plump/but I throw up all the time/." Or maybe from her earlier years, when she was self described as "fat." This song sounds great live, fast or slow.

Asking For It-- This song came about after Courtney attempted to stage dive at a 1993 Hole show. Once in the audience, she was clawed at and bruised, and as she returned to the stage she was very pissed. Also, it refers to the media’s view of her, and how she got through it. The lyrics, once again, do not hide any personal feelings, "/She was asking for it/did she ask you twice?/If you live through this with me I swear that I will die for you/." Great acoustic and bass lines on this song. The bass line is one of those that sticks in your head long after the song is finished. Probably, this is one of the best songs of the album, if not THE best.

Jennifer’s Body--This track, including Asking For It, is the only song on the album on which Dave Grohl played the drums. He was kindly thanked by the band for this in the liner notes. It’s obvious, the drumming is faster and very Grohl style. Patty must of had a few sick days. This is one of the most uptempo, happy guitar riff of the whole album. Not HAPPY, but uptempo and catchy. Lyrics are a puzzle here. "/you found pieces of Jennifer’s body/just relax/just relax/just go to sleep/now you’re mine/" Courtney described it as a song about "being tied up and liking it." Ok.

Doll Parts-- Second single from Live Through This.Everyone knows this song. A song about broken dolls and all the parts of a doll’s body. This song was inspired by the famous novel, "Valley Of the Dolls" and was written in late 1991. The lyrics are almost depressing"/yeah they really want you and I do too/someday you will ache like I ache/" over and over. Great acoustic Hole song.

Credit In The Straight World--This is the only cover song of this record. It was written by Stuart Moxham. Courtney picked it for the album I’m sure because of the honest drug factor in the lyrics, "Look a dealer in the eye/I’ve got some credit in the STRAIGHT world/you will die/" etc. This song strangely starts out with the intro to another Hole song, "Old Age". Hole just had to put their two cents in I guess.

Softer, Softest--Fourth and final single to be taken from Live Through This. This song is so soft and slow, it’s almost like a ballad, in rock music standards. Inspired by her kid friends calling her "P-Girl" in school, Courtney adds the lyric, "/pee girl gets the belt/the old milk turns to cream/" The song picks up the pace with electric guitars before the end of the song, with a little of Courtney’s famous screaming. This song leaves you clueless about what kind of tempo the next track will be.

She Walks On Me--This is the fastest, loudest, and scream filled song on the album. It almost sounds like it should be on Pretty On The Inside. It truly reflects that all of Hole’s "POTI" days are not totally over….reflecting their older work. The same chords over and over, but with a certain melodic structure. Some of the lyrics inbetween the screaming give your heart a chance to relax, but only for a second. "/I shut my mouth with you more/I got to use the rest of you more/." A pure punk song, if you like Hole’s earlier work.

I Think That I Would Die--This song is the one with the clever keyboards and guitar riffs. It was obviously inspired by the time when Courtney’s baby was taken out of her custody. The lyrics, once again, tell all "/I want my baby/ who took my baby/I want my baby/it’s not yours/FUCK YOU!/." Good song, it should’ve been a single. It was also not totally written by Courtney and Eric. It was a collaboration between enemy/friend Kat Bjallad, of Babes In Toyland.

Gutless-- This track was mixed by REM producer Scott Litt. Great song with a great starting guitar riff. The lyrics describe a person who "dissed" Courtney in 1993 and when they had refused to confront her, "/gutless/you’re gutless/you’re undressed/." The disser was most likely a male.

Rock Star--This song is really called "Olympia", the real song of Rock Star is a much catchier and pop-like song. The original version of Rock Star has parodies of song lyrics from The Lemonheads. The band and Geffen Company were afraid on confronting legal action, so the song was withdrawl from the finished album. But the album artwork had already been done, so it was too late to change the 12th track’s name. "Olympia" is a flip of the finger from Courtney to her school "buddies" there. Or so she has quoted. The lyrics state "/I went to school in Olympia/and everyone’s the same/and so were you in Olympia/we even fucked the same/." The song suddenly stops near the end with a "surprised" Courtney stating, "No, we’re not done." But by now the album is done, with Courtney sweetly saying "Good-bye, Good-night", while the album fades out. Patty says something in the background before the fading, but I couldn’t make it out.

Email: frankie_82@yahoo.com