Posted by tim: Helen, Hi. Love you too. I'm glad this
conversation got started, although I'm not writing here anymore for personal
reasons; I kinda flipped out for a while, but I took care of what needed
taking care of and have a new band (that's working!)and a new website at
www.workbook.motime.com. I invite all lovers and haters to check it out.
Anyway, it still seems to me that a lot of people feel a disproportionate
hatred for Courtney and I can't help thinking that this would all be a
non-issue if she were a man. I mean, can you say Iggy?
Posted by
Helen: Sorry I took a while to get back to ya',
O'Baby. I wanted to wait 'till I was feeling a little better and could
think more clearly, so I could do justice to what you're saying. So you're
Aussie, eh? That's actually the other country I was thinking of with you,
but I went with England because you sound really hardcore, and I know of
a real hardcore element there. What's the underground community like in
Australia? Is there a strong grrl/feminist culture? I have a couple of
friends there, actually - one in Sydney. Beautiful country. I wish we had
your Rage TV. I really hate MTV, but it (and it's clones) are the only
source of music videos short of bootlegs, which can be a pain sometimes.
They play a smattering of good stuff, but mostly misogynist/hate, or pop
princess/boy band crap. Really, MTV is sort of horrifying in a lot of ways.
If I was easily scared, I'd be scared of it. You know, you don't strike
me as someone who is hiding behind your computer, you strike me as someone
who is using it as a platform. I'm pretty computer illiterate, but one
thing I know is that the internet is a Free Press dream. That anyone can
get out there and make a difference, and do it while sitting at home and
eating chocolate-chip, cookie-dough ice-cream.Can there be anything better,
really? ;) My computer is my weapon, my words shall be written in revolution
and I will spread Love wherever I go - Courtney Love, that is! ;) I mean
by that, that we can counteract the dumb bits of shallow sh*t that passes
for truth in pop media by just saturating forums like this with real thought.
It's a subliminal thing. You could be right about Patriarchy coming to
an end in the larger scheme of things. I really believe in people, I think
in most people's hearts they want to move in a kinder direction. But I
don't want to assume it, and do nothing either, if it's just gearing up
for another round of hate and bigotry. So I'm hopeful, but still fighting.
I'm glad you're not apologizing for being a male! I don't see why anyone
would expect you to. Pro-feminist guys are some of the most courageous,
honorable people on the earth in my opinion. Knights in shining armour,
really. Do they give you a hard time about being a feminist where you live?
I think Cobain got a lot of that while he was alive, too, and it seemed
like a major source of depression for him. I don't live in a mecca of free
feminist thought either, so I'm feeling your pain. You're right about Jackson
of course. She's more mainstream and it was a publicity stunt type of thing.
Hence the hysteria. Courtney, of course, is much more thoughtful about
her antics. She means that breast-baring to be some sort of feminist statement
(she said so once on Letterman a few years back.) It's an exercise in freedom
which I can relate to. And of course, the drama queen/exhibitionist element.
Yeah, I saw her on Letterman last week, too. It was great. I loved it after
she stripped, when she sat down, she pointed at her bo*bs, said "FCC",
and then said about that evil organization, "Is this Reagan trickle-down
economics? Is this, like, Bush trickle down?" That's Courtney for you,
she's always trying to subliminally inject mastream culture with some punk
intelligence. Of course, America is so dumb at this point, we mostly only
notice the bo*bs. Pop media is just not getting her, or conveying her brilliance.
They skip right over the message into a sort of tabloid-style reporting
of her every move. I think they're trying to create this shallow image
of "dumb, white-trash, sensation-seeking, wh*re" thing. And ironically,
she's probably the most intelligent, interesting, political female rocker
in mainstream culture, EVER. They're threatened by her - it's that witch-hunt
you were talking about, which has been going on for quite a few years now.
As she says in SOFTER, SOFTEST, "Burn the witch, bring back her head..."
I agree she's not trying to make it worse for herself, either. There's
an element of just really being out-of-control, her personality is just
naturally chaotic and extroverted. I don't think she couldn't stop if she
wanted to. Also you have a point there's an intuitive non-logic to it,
too. She sort of always knows how to abandon herself into this wildness
that is very real and raw, and on the edge of something uncomfortable,
and uncontrollable. It can make me squirm to watch her sometimes. (Which
is good.) She doesn't know how to censor _anything_. "I get a blister from
touching everyone I see." (Softer, softest again.) But that's also why
she's great, right? There's a real fire and depth to her music that comes
out of that chaos. Even though we benefit from that craziness, it's kind
of sad too, though. I'm hoping right along with you that she doesn't hurt
herself so badly she can't recover. It would be tragic to see her defeated
and all the haters dance on the grave of her dead career and ruined life.
I hope she has it in her to still fight back. (Y'all can help the cause
by buying the awesome America's Sweetheart, people!) Anyway, it's really
fun talking to you here, O'Baby, but I would love it if you'd email me
too. I think it's kind of rude of me to keep talking away here, since I've
probably taken up too much space already. I'd like to hear more of what
you have to say, though. I dig your positive passion and you have a lot
of interesting thoughts rattling around in your head. My email address
is: heidihopippi@yahoo.com Email me K, because I love you man! (And you
too, Tim, for writing such a brilliant review and inspiring such a great
conversation.)
Posted by
Helen: Getting back to you soon O'Baby...
Posted by
O'Baby: You're right about it's better to rise
than fade away. Rise above things, but it's all too easy to hide - usually
behind one's computer - which is an improvement on just fading away. And
a more alt/indie version of mtv? - we have a program in Australia (yeah,
that's where I'm from) called Rage which airs a really wide variety of
music videos - quite a bit of alt/indie stuff. And maybe you've guessed
that since I do have pro-feminist views and that I was a bit shy about
divulging my gender that yes, I'm male - I don't apologize for it. And
I also don't apologize for supporting women's rights and a move to a more
balanced world (we've got a long way to go) and maybe I got a little carried
away when I said the patriarchy was near it's end but on the hand maybe
it is approaching it's twilight years - it's hard to tell. Big picture
issues are always hard call. I think on some social issues Australia is
a bit more advanced - there's always been a strong left wing element here
(altho at the moment we have a very right wing government) and in certain
ways feminism has always been a bit more advanced here. Something to do
with Germaine Greer - maybe, I don't know? Anyway, I always liked Hole
'cause I liked the music, thought they rocked and Courtney's a really interesting
and charismatic person. Which of course brings us back to ol' Corky and
her most recent adventures over the past week or so. (Did you see her on
David Letterman?) Personally, I think she knows what she's doing - in so
far as she's probably decided to let herself go into free-fall (maybe as
a kind of coping mechanism). I don't think she's crazy, but she is very
narcissistic and the whole thing could be a kind of free-fall everyone
and everything can go to hell ego trip. There's no doubt that there's a
"witch-hunt" on for her but I disagree with people who are saying she's
making it worse for herself - something tells me there's a kind of intuitive
non-logic to what she's doing (and to her life in general) - she doesn't
do things by the old rules (the "male/patriarchal" rules). Oh, and I think
the reason that Janet Jackson caused such a furore, and I could be wrong,
but didn't it happen at some big sporting event televised to millions around
the world? And also Ms. Jackson is a lot more mainstream. Also Courtney
has a sort of philosophy behind her breast-baring - the point being that
they're just breasts and it's men that made them into something taboo.
But also I think she does it because she's an exhibitionist - but it's
also very Courtney to have some kind of idea or philosophy behind what
she's doing - even flashing! Anyway I hope she gets thru all the sh!t she's
going thru - it's almost the 10th anniversary of Cobain's death. Personally,
I feel she will pull thru - C.L. is pretty tough and she's smart and always
lands on her feet.
Posted by
Helen: Looking forward to your return O'Baby!
I'm feeling a symbiotic, mind-meld thing with you. One of my favorite Courtney
quotes: "Don't be bitter and mean because you don't fit in, it's a GIFT,
you don't have the herd instinct. You can read Niechtze and understand
it. Only dumb people are happy."-Courtney Love
Posted by
Helen: There's no "evidence" circumstantial,
or otherwise. It's just a bunch of bullsh*t like those people who think
they see the Virgin Mary in pancakes, or trees, or whatever. You stare
at something long enough, you think there's a pattern there - usually the
pattern you secretly want to see. People just want to believe it on some
level, is all. Most celebrities don't seriously pursue suing tabloid-journalists
to "protect their name" because it's a waste of time and money. It just
ends up making them look paranoid. The burden of proof does not lie with
the victim of rumours and allegations, but with the accusors. Innocent
until proven guilty an' all that. If people were expected to defend themselves
from every accusation and rumour spread about them, then they'd be forever
rushing around trying to prove innocence to their enemies. And even an
average celebrity has plenty of those, so it would take a long while. There's
more evidence to suggest Kurt killed himself than any other theory, so
why not go with common sense, is my philosophy. I won't be putting any
energy into reading the conspiracy theories, just because I think that
sh*t is shallow and spiritually bereft and best avoided.(It also makes
me snooze. I knew a guy once who was always going on about some bizarre
theory he had about John Lennon's murder and it never failed to make me
want to sleep. Once, when he was going on about it, I got up and left the
room, hoping that he'd get the hint. When I came back, he was still talking
about the Masonic Templar Lodge, or some god*mn thing, like I'd never even
left.) Anyway, he was a decent guy in other respects, he just had this
jones for "mysteries" and "theories." So hey, I can live with it if people
want to make that tabloid crap a hobby, as long as it doesn't get too crazy/serious.You
know what would be cool, though? Not if you "ate crow", but if you just
changed your mind and decided to jump over to the Love Zone and be a defender
instead of tabloid-conspiracy guy. Just for the hell of it. Just to be
put some energy into something positive instead of suspicious. You'd be
my total hero, if you did that. You ever see Rushmore? In the movie, Max
has tried for a long time, and finally succeeded, to get Latin taken of
his school curiculum, because he thinks it's a dead language. Then he meets
someone who, without even trying, convinces him Latin is "the language
of love," so he immediately does an about face and dedicates himself to
getting Latin reinstated. Just for the hell of it. Just because he can.
That's godd*amn cool. Highly reccommend that movie, by the way. The soundtrack
kicks ass, Bill Murray is a revelation, and Max is unquestionably a beautiful
punk nerd. OK, as fun as this has all been, I've had the flu for the past
four days, haven't got much sleep and I need to go medicate myself and
go to bed or my brain will be so fried, I'll start thinking the masonic
lodge that offed Lennon, killed Cobain, where he's now resurrected and
living with Elvis in Idaho. That's my own conspiracy theory. I'm gonna
put up a website any day now. ;) So LB, truce accepted. Don't torture me
with any more tabloid sh*t K? I already feel near death, I don't need something
to push me over the edge.
Posted by
LithiumBliss: Oh, and please read "Who Killed Kurt Cobain?"
by Ian Halperin and Max Wallace. It covers the whole Grant thing, and everything
since. Ian and Max find in the end just like I do, that there is no concrete
evidence tying it to Courtney, but there are definite unanswered questions.
Somebody killed Kurt. If it wasn't a hit from Courtney, I told you what
I'll do. In fact I will post on every forum I have accused her on to eat
my crow. Ball's in her court.
Posted by
LithiumBliss: Yes, Helen, it's time for a truce. But
not before I get in my last shot. :-) Any insults and accusations have
been directed at Ms. Love, not you personally. OK, so I kid a bit, but
I mean you no venom personally. Yes, I did make the remark you so love
to quote that the smoking gun is not there to convict her. But you forget
to add my next line. It's the circumstantial evidence that points to Love.
Her actions after the fact. Of course there is sexism in rock, only a blind
man could see differently. That's all Poison, Warrant, and Dave-era VH
were about. I'm not denying sexism in rock, but then again, I don't support
it. Women who can actually make good music should be respected. Our opinion
on Courtney's music differs. I don't think people here, or any other forum
I've visited, or in my real-life conversations, hate Courtney because she
is a woman rocker who pushes the envelope. Everyone I know who hates her
either hates her music, or thinks she had Kurt offed. I will say this one
more time: if Courtney is truly innocent, then I sincerely wish she would
take Grant to court. Didn't Tom Cruise win money from tabloids who printed
stories that he was a faggot? If she has nothing to hide, she should fight
to clear her name. I leave you with this promise: if she does sue Grant
and comes out clean, I will rush to the music store and purchase "Live
Through This". I highly doubt it will happen though. PEACE OUT.
Posted by
Helen: You think my message has no meat, LB?
This coming from someone whose main message comes from a tabloid journalist
spouting a point of view that you said yourself was false? I can prove
there's sexism in rock just by pointing to eminem, who's come right out
and said he hates women, and is now the media darling of MTV, or to the
rapes at Woodstock. Or the fact that none of my legitimate questions about
female rockers in the media were answered by you, or any of the other Courtney-haters
here. And I'm not a troll now, I assure you. This review was put up on
Courtney's site and the fans filtering in from there are quite real. Since
being outed, I've only posted as Helen, I swear it. And it can be proven
by the computer-genius types that run this thing, I'm sure. Also, I'd like
to say that your talk with me has degraded into insults and accusations.
Unless you have anything interesting and halfway respectful to say, let's
call it a day at this point.
Posted by
LithiumBliss: Oops. *typo alert* That's "banging her
WITHOUT the double hat". You've got to watch out for AIDS with those junkies.
Posted by
LithiumBliss: Of course it's in fun. It has been a long
time here since I've done battle with a worthy troll. This sure beats those
"LiNkIn P4rK iZ tHa BeZt!!!1" idiots. Yes, you're a mighty troll, but your
message has no meat to it. And the only way I'd be scared of Courtney is
if: a) I was insanely intoxicated enough to consider banging her with the
double jimmyhat, or b) if I was her husband and didn't want to do Lollapalooza.
Send Courtney over. There won't be any intercourse, but there will be interrogation.
Posted by O'Baby: I am definately not Helen and Helen is
not O'Baby. When I've got the time and inspiration I'll get back to you
soon Helen.
Posted by
Helen: LB, that guy aG can vouch for the fact
that I'm not "cloning myself," since he has a mysterious computer way of
checking. Maybe it just p*sses you off that you're not outnumbering me
anymore and I actually have an ally. I notice that when you lose an argument,
you go right into the insults as if that itself had some sort of intellectual
power. You seem like the type of person who would believe in the hate crap
you do. I've been decent to you, but you've been insulting, hateful and
hysterically angry. This isn't personal, it's supposed to be fun. Relax
already, scary Courtney's not coming to get you, hon.
Posted by
LithiumBliss: Stop cloning yourself. I hope this is
just a case of cyber-schizophrenia and not the real thing. At least I hope
you can take solace in the fact that though you are obviously unbalanced
mentally, Courtney is much worse off. Consider this: perhaps this new wave
of Courtney misbehavior is in fact her swan song. 10 years is a long time
to be eaten on the inside (pun intended) by guilt.
Posted by
Helen: No problem O'Baby, glad to throw some
love your way. I'm feeling those lyrics, too. Classic Courtney, she's always
been able to speak for the misfits, the people who've felt out-of-place
- not quite accepted by the masses.You can tell that she's been to that
humiliated place and back, more than a few times. I've been there too,
that's for sure. (I was the "pee-girl" in school, no question.) The great
thing about her is she lives in this really raw, open way, where nothing
is censored, or held back and humiliation is bound to happen. And she never
let's people make her feel shame for that, she just rises and keeps fighting.
What is it she said on Celebrity Skin? "It's better to Rise than fade away."
Hell yeah, baby! That's what makes her a warrior - an amazon. Nothing beats
her down. I read the Loder interview, too. He does seem to think that she's
about to keel over any minute and die. Yeah pessimistic, but I think the
article was mostly positive in another way. He's recognizing her genius,
and my thing is, that anyone in mainstream culture who will throw respect
to Ms. Love, is doing a good thing. I double your sentiments about evil
MTV. Or as I like to call it now - eminem TV. It is one of the greatest
evils of western civilization. And I mean that only slightly sarcastically.
I think we need a sort of alternative PBS-like, indie-rock version of that,
but that's another topic. I guess you never did mention your gender, I
was getting a sista vibe from ya' for some reason. So do you mind divulging?
I'm a hardcore feminist, and even I knee-jerk sexism sometimes. You're
right, it's more-so an American phenomenon - we're raised like robots to
think that way. You pegged me so easily on that one digression and it's
true. I'd agree that Europe is way more advanced in that area. There's
a strong redneck element here that permeates U.S. culture and politics.
I mean look at Bush, for christ' sake. It's embarassing. Are you from England?
It seems to me that there's a better punk-friendly vibe there in a lot
of ways, that is much less ruthless with meaningful female artists than
we are here in the U.S. Courtney gets better press there. Anyway, I think
the reason Americans never fully embraced bands like SK, Hole and L7, is
because of the openly feminist politics that were coming out of that grrl
culture. That's really hard for the redneck/fratboy element that controls
pop culture here to swallow. In the nineties the media was telling us that
we no longer needed feminism, that we'd won the fight and we could all
go home now. While some of us in grrl culture were laughing, that whole
"politically incorrect" right-wing, propaganda thing took off and feminism
became mostly a dirty word in mainstream culture. So Courtney with her
aggressive, chaotic personality, and SK and Bikini Kill with their hardcore
politics weren't exactly greeted with glee. The only reason that Courtney's
still around in mainstream culture is that she just refuses to let them
shut her up, or shut her down. She's such a fighter she never stops raising
hell, and she's got enough charisma that she manages to keep a fan base
even when the press surrounding her is extremely negative. God bless Courtney,
man, she's the saviour of grrl rock, in my opinion. You're right, the fact
that she scares the f*ck out of the acronym element is a supremely good
thing. Long live Queen Love! (And hey, it's funny that Courtney's been
doing that breast-baring thing for ages and when Jackson does it, there's
this furor over it. Maybe they're afraid to take on Ms. Love. She'd kick
their ass. ;) Hey, I sure do hope you're right about the christian patriarchy
winding down. It's hard for me to believe sometimes out here in the redneck
prairies where I live. Generally, I judge American politics, by how much
glee my sexist, racist family are feeling about it. Right now they're pretty
happy. I have about five breakdownettes a day. ;) But if we're attempting
to create a matriarchy or amazon nation with this Courtney revolution,
I'm definitely on board, baby! Great talking to you, btw - you rock.
Posted by
O'Baby: ...oops...
Posted by
O'Baby: Thanks Helen. I'm flattered. I'm listening
to "Sweetheart" as I write this and I guess I relate to some of the lyrics
- e.g.: "Cover me in burns / Everyone take their turn / I'm already humiliated"
- been there done that - I think that it's a way of testing people, seeing
just how mean and rotten they can be to you if you make yourself vulnerable
- having experienced that from the inside out, I feel I understand (maybe)
what C.L. has been doing (but it's a little more dangerous when you're
a celeb - I hope she knows what she's doing and takes care of herself).
I read the recent Kurt Loader "interview" with her on mtvdotcom and he
seemed a little bleak - but then again he's always been a bit of a dickhead...
and well, mtv - there's something you'd wanna scrape off ya shoes, eh?
Oh, and I've never actually specified my gender - but hey... Where I come
from women have always been strong and more respected and that ultra-conservative
element in America (i'm presuming you're speaking from an American perspective)
has a tendency to retard the US in comparison to the rest of the western
world - sometimes. So when American bands like Hole, L7, Sleater Kinney,
etc emerged in the early to mid '90's it amazed me that they were met with
such resistance and fear. Especially since there'd been quite a lot bands
with credible femme leads in the '80's - The Pretenders, The Divinyls,
The Eurythmics, Concrete Blonde, Romeo Void - to name a few. I can't think
of any others right now but there where a lot of them (I know some of them
were more pop oriented - but they had credibility - for that era) but I
guess most didn't get much recognition in the US at that time - again with
the right wing / racist / sexist / warmongering / tight ar se /fascist
/ narrow-minded / loser / moron / hypocrites element (there's an ACRONYM
in there somewhere, I'm sure) - it's a problem everywhere but from what
I can gather even more so in the US. - e.g. the Janet Jackson furore -
it was hilarious to see all the might and decadence of everyone's favourite,
last and only Global Empire go into high alert over a nipple! But take
heart, as the millennia old Judeo-Christian-Islamic Hierarchical Patriarchy
approaches it's twilight years and burns itself out in the orgy of hatred
and bloodshed we're witnessing across the world right now (I'll try not
to cry - it's hard to watch the news these days without having a nervous
breakdown, or at least a "breakdownette" - that's a small bite-size nervous
breakdown that won't interfere with your busy day). So anyway, as the christian
patriarchy approaches it's twilight years let us be cautiously optimistic
that something more positive - perhaps a nature oriented, creative and
nuturing system (matriachy? - we need new, friendlier words) - awaits us
(Hilary?). We'll see. Oh, and it's good to see Courtney Love actually looking
like herself again (the stress of the last few months combined with the
whole long hair thing didn't help). She really does Rock the fvck outa
everybody else and she still knows how to get under the skin of the um...
you know, the "acronym" element.
Posted by
O'Baby: Thanks Helen. I'm flattered. I'm listening
to "Sweetheart" as I write this and I guess I relate to some of the lyrics
- e.g.: "Cover me in burns / Everyone take their turn / I'm already humiliated"
- been there done that - I think that it's a way of testing people, seeing
just how mean and rotten they can be to you if you make yourself vulnerable
- having experienced that from the inside out, I feel I understand (maybe)
what C.L. has been doing (but it's a little more dangerous when you're
a celeb - I hope she knows what she's doing and takes care of herself).
I read the recent Kurt Loader "interview" with her on mtvdotcom and he
seemed a little bleak - but then again he's always been a bit of a dickhead...
and well, mtv - there's something you'd wanna scrape off ya shoes, eh?
Oh, and I've never actually specified my gender - but hey... Where I come
from women have always been strong and more respected and that ultra-conservative
element in America (i'm presuming you're speaking from an American perspective)
has a tendency to retard the US in comparison to the rest of the western
world - sometimes. So when American bands like Hole, L7, Sleater Kinney,
etc emerged in the early to mid '90's it amazed me that they were met with
such resistance and fear. Especially since there'd been quite a lot bands
with credible femme leads in the '80's - The Pretenders, The Divinyls,
The Eurythmics, Concrete Blonde, Romeo Void - to name a few. I can't think
of any others right now but there where a lot of them (I know some of them
were more pop oriented - but they had credibility - for that era) but I
guess most didn't get much recognition in the US at that time - again with
the right wing / racist / sexist / warmongering / tight ar se /fascist
/ narrow-minded / loser / moron / hypocrites element (there's an ACRONYM
in there somewhere, I'm sure) - it's a problem everywhere but from what
I can gather even more so in the US. - e.g. the Janet Jackson furore -
it was hilarious to see all the might and decadence of everyone's favourite,
last and only Global Empire go into high alert over a nipple! But take
heart, as the millennia old Judeo-Christian-Islamic Hierarchical Patriarchy
approaches it's twilight years and burns itself out in the orgy of hatred
and bloodshed we're witnessing across the world right now (I'll try not
to cry - it's hard to watch the news these days without having a nervous
breakdown, or at least a "breakdownette" - that's a small bite-size nervous
breakdown that won't interfere with your busy day). So anyway, as the christian
patriarchy approaches it's twilight years let us be cautiously optimistic
that something more positive - perhaps a nature oriented, creative and
nuturing system (matriachy? - we need new, friendlier words) - awaits us
(Hilary?). We'll see. Oh, and it's good to see Courtney Love actually looking
like herself again (the stress of the last few months combined with the
whole long hair thing didn't help). She really does Rock the fvck outa
everybody else and she still knows how to get under the skin of the um...
you know, the "acronym" element.
Posted by
HelenAteTroy: You're awesome O'Baby! I dig the creative
way you write. I loved your Caligula metaphor. You're definitely getting
the spirit of the revolution. Rock on girl!
Posted by
O'Baby: Thank You Megan! Infuriate them, make
you're parents (who probably think they're pretty hip), feel sooo old -
even if they're probably younger than C.L. - "I'm too young to be this
old" - but hey... You won't hear Courtney Love's songs oozing out of the
PA at the supermarket - but I have heard Foo Fighters, The Living End,
Jet, Limp Bizkit, Magic Dirt, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Vines, and yes,
even Radiohead leaking out of the tinny speakers at my local mall. That's
not to say all of the above bands haven't got something to offer - but
to be reduced to supermarket muzak... oooh that's harsh. And as Courtney
said way back on "Pretty On The Inside" she really is the "biggest dick
you'll ever have". And with lyrics like that may she long avoid the supermarts.
So, again.... Stop being obedient little girly-men and girly-women and
grow up and go out all by yourselves and buy a copy of "America's Sweetheart"
and let Love teach you how to FVCK THE WORLD in it's stoopid face! Right
Now! Just Fvcking Go!!
Posted by
megan: I think the album is f**king great i hope
she does a tour here in the u.k soon. I love every track, and it infuriates
my parents when i play it lol it's fantastic. She has been through hell
and back, and stil has come out on top ROCK ON GIRL!
Posted by
O'Baby: Undisputed Truth. Courtney Love Rocks.
Courtney Love IS Rock. Courtney Love is a true genius. So she can be (or
pretend to be?) as crazy as she desires. True geniuses usually are a little
eccentric. So one or two of the songs are derivations. That's common place
in Rock today - everything has already been done and done again. The difference
is C.L. does it with more finese than anyone else, so maybe she's right
when she sings on SUNSET STRIP she's "too good for tomorrow", but hey,
guess what? Tommorrow's here and so is C.L. So, do yourselves a favour
and go and buy a copy. This album rocks from start to finish like nothing
else available right now. It may not be the biggest seller at the moment
but neither was "Live Through This" and remember, it got mixed reviews
even though every half @rsed critic from Berlin to Buenos Airies now cremes
themselves at the very mention of it. Likewise "America's Sweetheart" will
vintage beautifully, just as Courtney herself is - as proved by the men
and women who went nuts for her at her heroic performance at New York's
Bowery Ballroom on March 18. Courtney Love is the single most charismatic
performer around today and America's Sweatheart will prove to be a timeless
classic. So stop doing what your told and go out and buy a copy and let
sexy mamma Love teach you what to do and how to FVCKING Rock! Right Now!
Go on! Just Fvckin' Go!! NOW!!
Posted by
me: courtney love sucks
Posted by
CLovesAngel: Wow. She's finally made aher solo debut
after a LONG wait! I thouroughly agree with the rating and the point of
I'll Do Anything was to point out that commerciality blew the f*** out
of rock. Hence Smells Like Teen Spirit (and I think there was some Blur
in there too. Hmmm?)
Posted by
Steph: yeah but you have to agree that track
7 is slightly tongue in cheek if you listen to the lyrics!! Plus I think
all artists producing albums and selling them are doing it for the attention
and money! Where's the difference except that this album is actually very
good and the "rip offs" are actually Courtney making a point about commercial
bands and the rip off merchants in big business media companies. This is
about Courtney's life and the things that have affected her and good or
bad that includes Nirvana's music. If you can't agree with the above then
at least remember that immitation is the highest form of flattery!
Posted by
Kel: I dunno, the beginning of track 7 is soooo
Smells Like Teen Spirit! What a ripp off! I like the CD, but I doubt her
sincerity...I think it's only for the money and attention she does what
she does anyway.
Posted by
The NYP Reader: "A new album, 'America's Sweetheart' which
was DOA on the Billboard charts after four weeks" quoted from the New York
Post, March 19, 2004
Posted by
Emyphist: This is whitout a doubt the best album
ever i think it has everything it needs it kicks ass. courtney rules
Posted by
cherrysweet: courtney love rocks. no body is going
to get in her way. The album is great, the lyrics are almost break my heart.
The world needs somebody like courtney
Posted by
O'Baby: Yeah. I've been listening to it a lot
and it's grown on me. C.L. is a GENIUS and she's the best singer/song writer
around at this time. Personally, the idea that she can't "sing" is all
wrong. She has the most incredible voice. All her life and passion is in
her lovely lived-in husky cry. I can't think of any current work that comes
close to some of the stuff on this album. I know it's a little pointless
to mention this - but I really, really wish Courtney Love was just a little
more productive! ~£~MORE MUSIC PLEASE MS. LOVE!!!~£~ Six years
is a helluvafvckinlongtime between albums.
Posted by
rotten: can i just point out that other nirvana
fans have been here criticicing courtney, but kurt was no angel and has
probably taken more drugs than courtney. i dont care, i listen to the music,
i dont give a f**k what they do in private. its none of our god damned
business. as for the comments about the strokes being one of the few decent
bands around, wtf? i cant stand them, the singer has the most boring voice
ive ever heard. i wouldnt label it as punk, id say theyre an indie band.
you wanna hear real punk music, go and buy the sex pistols - never mind
the b*****ks. and whats wrong with corgan helping with few songs for an
album that was intended to be a bit more comercial? you cant get more comercial
than the pumpkins. and dont go saying 'courtney sold out' coz she wasnt,
its just an album to get her lyrics accross to more people who would then
go back and listen to the other albums as well. no one makes a record and
says i dont want this to be successful, i want it to flop and i dont want
many people to hear it. also, i think kurt was killed, and i think he was
expecting it, or at least suspected someone was after him, but i dont think
courtney had anything to do with it. i suspect the media. courtney loved
kurt, to loose someone you love is terrible, but then to have everyone
pointing the finger at you, i cant even imagine how that feels. and she
constantly has to put up with that from dumb f**ks who dont know f**k all
about her or kurt. courtneys dad is evil, why listen to someone who doesnt
know her and lost custody of her when she was 4 after giving her acid.
oh, and the other name on that tape from the answering machine, not too
sure how to spell her last name, but its lyn hirshberg.
Posted by
SPIM: Though I must deign to acknowledge that
there has been a most intellectually stimulating debate within this thread,
the incontrovertible fact remains that Courtney Love music is the equivalent
of being forced to perform fellatio upon the yaks of Tibet.
Posted by
bitch: I love the new CD it's the best i've heard
so far.
Posted by
Steph: Now I had the chance to listen to the
album for a while, I am hooked. This album is by far the best yet. It has
more raw power than her earlier songs, she's really put all of herself
into this one. I have all her music and I play it a lot and I think it's
all great, particularly "Pretty on the Inside" but this album really shouts
more than the others. It was like the others were slightly more sanitised
and this one is the real Courtney. I hope she keeps writing songs and recording
albums because she gets better and better. Her lyrics are brilliant, some
of them make me laugh and some of them make me cry but they all move me.
I would recommend this album to anyone.
Posted by
Milkisgoodforu: Not a bad Album by any means. Yes, she
cant sing and she is a coke fiend, but as said earlier, those are almost
prequisites. I listened to this album one through and I think after a few
listens i might even end up liking it. I personally hated Nirvana because
i think Cobain's music sounded the same througout (Rape me and Smells Like
Teen Spirit are essentially the same chord progression) and I always thought
his lyrics were somewhat bland but hey, thats just my opinion. I admire
Courtney for her spirit, and her willingness to overcome the criticizm
and bullsh*t she's had to face for so long. Overall a good effort by Ms.
Love, bravo.
Posted by
Sarah from England: I think Courtney Love is a genius.. She's
had a rough life and she's come out glowing.. I love her new album and
the music video for Mono rocks! She's the coolest chick ever!!!! Hehe
Posted by
Ellie: Spot on review, man! You rock! Ellie
Posted by
Steph: Hell, with Courtney the music and lyrics
are always inspired. I'm sure as with all her other albums this one will
be more in the cd player than out. One thing though, for anyone who's read
her biog she didn't make her bed, but she f***in had to lie in it cause
thats the hand life dealt her. Courtney has the edge over all the rest,
she has every reason to write this stuff and she does. Personally, I can't
wait to see her on tour again, the sooner the better.
Posted by
tim: Helen, AdORE and O'Baby, thanks. You've
articulated my feelings on these issues in a way I couldn't and I am humbled.
Helen, you've captured the power and spirit of rock and roll in words that
have, so far, failed me. I'd like to post your last comment on my blog
punk rock blues, email me at smoke81mc@aol.com and let me know if that's
ok, ok? In the meantime, there's a link way (I had originally written 'way'
with 7 a's for effect, but the post was rejected, so I edited it, amazing
you can spew mindless, racist,sexist homophobic hate and call for the deaths
of people you don't know but you can't spell 'way' w/7 a's, amazing)@ the
bottom of this page marked 'Job Positions', I urge you to click it and
send some of yr writing to Keavin. That's what I did. Writing here is a
labor of love (ie:we don't get paid) but I hear real passion in yr words
and have the sneaky suspicion that it's not about $$$ for you either. Passion
and positivism are sorely needed on these pages, as they are in the world
we've created. I still don't worship CL (though she is the last rock and
roll star), but I'm starting to think that you, Helen, are the next Lester
Bangs.
Posted by
O'Baby: The album is great but I still prefer
C.S. & L.T.T. It'll grow on me. OK. My favourite hot topic of the moment
- psycho-analyzing and generally obsessing over Mrs. Kurt Cobain (AKA Courtney
Love, Courtney Love-Cobain, Courtney Michelle Harrison, born Love Michelle
Harrison circa 1964) celeb extraordinaire. If someone - Ms. Love - admits/knows/acknowledges
they're "crazy" etc they're not crazy. OK. Just self indulgent. That's
fine. Views on her are polarized. People (especially straight [white] males)
who hate her are generally scared sh!tless out their tiny right wing/racist/sexist/warmongering/tight
ar se/fascist/narrow-minded/loser/moron/hypocritical/and ultimately doomed
wits by the whole concept of someone such as Courtney Love - a woman who
plays all the games men have been playing for millennia - but, and here's
the part that hits their ugly buttons - but she doesn't play it like a
man or by men's rules. Most women who've succeeded thru out history were
forced to become "honorary men" in some way or another. Of course she uses
her sexuality to manipulate men - but hey! newsflash! that's been going
on for millennia too and it works both ways - men have used sex to dominate
women for eons! The big difference with C.L. and like minded woman is that
they play like women - not sad watered down anorexic half females. They
play by women's rules - something most men (and many women) don't/won't/can't
understand. So why is it that the seemingly more f*cked up half of the
population - of both sexes - seems to be drawn to The Courtney. More news!
The f*cked up people are the ones trying, the ones that life has dealt
the tougher hand to, the ones - like C.L. - who were on the receiving end
of bad parenting, bad schools, miserable teenagers etc. These are the people
who are forced to think about life - rather than just breeze thru it -
the people who are willing to try and do things differently. And why, after
all these years, and really, lets face it very little product - albeit
high quality - four albums in 15 years and a handful of movies to her credit.
Why, is she still such an intriguing piece of work? Personally, I'd almost
forgotten about her - the odd story here and there, but truth is I hadn't
listened to Celebrity Skin for a couple of years. Then along comes the
whole Hollywood /smashed window/ex-boyfriend/painkiller (painkillers? Jesus
they're just headache tablets - in most civilized countries you can buy
'em over the counter), so the Hollywood /smashed window/ex boyfriend/"painkiller"
arrest for what - the - f*ck - ever - thing happens! And there she is surrounded
by bedazzled news crews outside the courts in LA, making the "retarded"
comment about the charges, in pink, blue and blonde, looking all sad and
sick and depraved and delicious - like some later day female Caligula come
to save us from some lurking phantom wholesomeness. The hottest witch on
the planet. And like it or not - it works, and it's totally real and spontaneous.
Personally I doubt she wakes up and says "Ok so for the next 10 years I'll
marry a Rock star have his baby he'll die under mysterious circumstances
then my career will take off then I'll sort of just fritter away a few
years have another hit album make some movies go berserk a few times make
some more movies and music manipulate the press and public into thinking
I'm this unstable attention seeking blonde star when in reality I'm just
doing it to further my career as the next Celine Dion." Courtney Love is
The Anti - Diva. The anti - Celine, the anti - Mariah, the anti - Kylie,
even the anti - Madonna. Courtney's the one of a kind star who's been re-animated
by the brilliant Mr Branson's £££ so she can re-animate
Rock. Playing it all by intuition, Love doesn't leave room for mistakes
- sometimes she's so awful she's just f*ckin' amazing, other times she's
she's just f*ckin' amazing.
