Description
Kristin Hersh – Hips & Makers – Cassette
Kristin Hersh’s Hips and Makers, released on January 24, 1994, by 4AD Records, is a deeply personal and emotionally charged debut solo album. Known for her work with the alternative rock band Throwing Muses, Hersh took a more introspective and acoustic approach on this album, creating a stark contrast to her band’s electric intensity. With its raw, minimalist arrangements and confessional lyrics, Hips and Makers captures Hersh’s unique ability to convey vulnerability and strength through her music.
Unlike the complex, layered sound of Throwing Muses, Hips and Makers is predominantly acoustic, with Hersh’s guitar and voice at the forefront. The album’s production, handled by Lorna Doom and Joe Henry, emphasizes simplicity, allowing Hersh’s songwriting and emotive vocal delivery to take center stage. The arrangements are sparse yet hauntingly beautiful, incorporating occasional strings and piano to enhance the emotional weight of the songs.
Thematically, the album explores themes of heartbreak, mental health, motherhood, and self-discovery. Hersh’s lyrics are deeply poetic and introspective, often drawing from personal experiences and reflecting her struggles with bipolar disorder. Tracks like “Your Ghost,” featuring backing vocals by Michael Stipe of R.E.M., and “Me and My Charms” exemplify the album’s delicate balance of melancholy and catharsis.
Track Listing:
“Your Ghost” – 3:16
A haunting duet with Michael Stipe, it’s one of Hersh’s most iconic songs, blending ethereal vocals with an aching melody.
“Beestung” – 3:12
A poignant, minimalist track that conveys vulnerability and raw emotion.
“Teeth” – 3:14
A darker, more intense song with cryptic lyrics and a brooding atmosphere.
“Sundrops” – 2:48
A lighter, introspective piece that balances fragility with hope.
“Strings” – 4:29
A deeply introspective song featuring delicate guitar work and Hersh’s evocative vocal delivery.
“Delicate Cutters” – 3:58
One of the album’s most intense tracks, exploring themes of loss and longing with aching beauty.
“A Loon” – 3:46
A melancholic ballad that evokes a sense of quiet introspection.
“Velvet Days” – 3:16
A haunting piece that juxtaposes Hersh’s raw vocals with gentle instrumentation.
“Close Your Eyes” – 4:14
A lullaby-like song that reflects themes of comfort and vulnerability.
“Me and My Charms” – 4:14
A standout track exploring the complexity of relationships and self-worth, delivered with haunting sincerity.
“Cuckoo” – 2:34
A brief but emotionally potent track with an almost nursery-rhyme quality.
“Hips and Makers” – 2:45
The title track is a fitting closer, capturing the essence of the album’s introspective tone.
Hips and Makers received widespread critical acclaim upon its release. Critics praised Hersh’s vulnerability and the album’s stark, intimate production. “Your Ghost” became a standout single, gaining airplay and drawing attention to Hersh’s solo work. Many lauded the album as a bold departure from her work with Throwing Muses, highlighting her growth as a songwriter and artist.
The album’s success extended beyond critical acclaim, resonating with listeners who connected to its emotional honesty. Hips and Makers is often regarded as a landmark album in the 1990s singer-songwriter movement, influencing artists who sought to merge confessional lyrics with minimalist arrangements.
If you enjoy the introspective and acoustic stylings of artists like PJ Harvey, Nick Drake, or Tori Amos, Hips and Makers is essential listening. It’s an album that captures the essence of raw, emotional storytelling, cementing Kristin Hersh’s place as one of the most compelling voices in alternative music.
Warner Bros Records 45413
Brand new, never played and still sealed in plastic but promo cut in spine
Track Listing
1. Your Ghost – (with Michael Stipe)
2. Beestung
3. Teeth
4. Sundrops
5. Sparky
6. Houdini Blues
7. Loon, A
8. Velvet Days
9. Close Your Eyes
10. Me And My Charms
11. Tuesday Night
12. Letter
13. Lurch
14. Cuckoo
15. Hips And Makers
