The House Of Love: The House Of Love 1988 + Fontana Or The Butterfly Album 1990 + Babe Rainbow 1992

 

The House of Love put together a long-running career built on shiny ringing guitars, dreamily psychedelic melodies, bursts of noise, and Guy Chadwick's dryly observant, sometimes cutting

songs. Their initial incarnation leaned into the noisy side of their sound, recording for Creation and releasing some of the label's early signpost songs like "Christine" and "Shine On." Once the band signed to a major label, their '90s output became more polished, but also more nuanced; 1990's self-titled LP is considered to be a classic alternative album by many. All the elements of their early recordings surfaced on further albums made as the group reunited over the years, though they were a little softer around the edges, and on 2022's State of Grace they explored country-rock and the blues. 
                        

The House of Love were formed in 1986 in Camberwell, London, by former Kingdoms singer and guitarist Guy Chadwick: he had been inspired to start a new band after seeing the Jesus and Mary

Chain in concert at London's Electric Ballroom. He wrote a new song called "Christine", which gave him ideas for progress: "The idea of the sound of the group and what kind of musicians to look for... female vocals... a good take on the Velvets' sonics... and of course the image." Chadwick teamed up with an old friend, drummer Pete Evans, and recruited the rest of the initial House of Love lineup via an advert in Melody Maker. 
                      

This brought together an international band of London-born lead guitarist Terry Bickers (ex-

Colenso Parade), described as "a genius guitar player," by Creation Records' Alan McGee, German rhythm guitarist/co-singer Andrea Heukamp and her bass guitarist boyfriend Chris Groothuizen (from New Zealand). Chadwick opted to name his new band The House of Love after Anaïs Nin's book A Spy in the House of Love There was a considerable age differential in the band: Chadwick, by now aged 30, was nearly ten years older than Terry Bickers. 
                           

The following year, the House of Love moved over to Fontana and released two singles, "Never" and "I Don't Know Why I Love You." By the end of 1989, Bickers left the group; he was replaced by Simon Walker. The House of Love's second untitled album -- often referred to as "The Butterfly Album" -- was

released in early 1990 and saw the band adding production values to their sound, giving it an arena-ready feel without losing the inherent drama found in Chadwick's tales of love and loss. After the group's 1990 tour, Walker left the group and was replaced by Simon Mawby. The House of Love returned in early 1992 with Babe Rainbow, which received favorable reviews that were unmatched by sales figures. The continuing lack of commercial success began to wear on the group, leading to their 1993 disbandment after the release of Audience with the Mind.  
                             

  

In 2005, Chadwick and Bickers made amends, played several gigs, and released Days Run Away.  A brand-new album was released from a re-formed House of Love lineup that featured original drummer

Evans, She Paints Words in Red, which was released in April 2013. Chadwick gathered a new crop of musicians -- guitarist Keith Osbourne, drummer Hugo Degenhardt, and bassist Harry Osbourne -- and began recording a new batch of songs. Betraying a heavy blues-rock and C&W troubadour influence, the House of Love's seventh album, State of Grace, was issued in 2022 by Cherry Red, mere months after the label released Burn Down the World, a complete collection of the group's '90s recordings.
                               

ALBUMS ON THIS POST

01. The House of Love 1988
02. The House of Love / Fontana or The Butterfly Album 1990
03. Babe Rainbow 1992

01.  THE HOUSE OF LOVE 1988 DELUXE EDITION

                                   

For all of the band's later highlights, there's no question that this is where the group shone the best; still

hungry, still focused, and not plagued by the personality conflicts that would cause Terry Bickers' acrimonious departure, the quartet served up a half-hour-long delight. Guy Chadwick's yearning vocals and ear for memorable melodies matched beautifully with Bickers' fantastic guitar, and if the recorded results didn't really show the latter at full strength (Chadwick essentially told him what to play, and he only cut loose in concert), it's still something.
                            

The House Of Love – The House Of Love
Label: Cherry Red – CRCDBOX61
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Deluxe Edition, 30th Anniversary Edition
Country: UK
Released: Sep 28, 2018
Genre: Rock
Style: Indie Rock

CD1.  THE ALBUM        

                         

   
01. Christine    3:27
02. Hope    2:57
03. Road    3:45
04. Sulphur    3:06
05. Man To Child    2:51
06. Salome    2:30
07. Love In A Car    4:00
08. Happy    2:54
09. Fisherman's Tale    3:45
10. Touch Me    3:04
11. Shine On (Demo - Album Bonus 7")    3:56
12. Christine (Demo - Album Bonus 7")    4:02

Flac Size: 274 MB

CD2.  SINGLES, B-SIDES, RARITIES        

                         

   
01. Shine On    3:20
02. Love    2:25
03. Flow    2:36
04. Real Animal    2:59
05. Plastic    2:04
06. Nothing To Me    3:11
07. The Hill    2:58
08. Loneliness Is A Gun    2:25
09. The Hedonist    4:05
10. Welt    3:18
11. Destroy The Heart    2:46
12. Blind    2:39
13. Mr. Jo    3:56
14. Shine On (Guy Chadwick Demo)    3:26
15. Real Animal (Demo)    5:34
16. Touch Me (Demo)    4:34
17. Happy (Demo)    4:47
18. Road (Alternative Version)    4:03
19. Salome (Alternative Version)    2:45
20. Fisherman's Tale (Alternative Version)    3:27
21. Destroy The Heart (Demo)    3:19
22. Shine On (Fuck Version) (Flexidisc)    2:18

Flac Size: 471 MB

CD3.  DEMOS            

                     

01. Road (Longer Early Mix 2/88)    3:59
02. Sulphur (Early Mix 2/88)    3:01
03. Happy (Early Mix 2/88)    3:07
04. Fisherman's Tale (Early Mix 2/88)    3:47
05. Touch Me (Early Mix #1 2/88)    3:02
06. Salome (Longer Early Mix 2/88)    2:46
07. Shine On (Band Demo)    4:01
08. Real Animal (16 Track Demo)    4:39
09. Christine (16 Track Demo)    4:08
10. Hold On To Me (16 Track Demo)    3:54
11. Hope (Alternative Version 3/88)    2:52
12. Man To Child (Alternative Version 2/88)    2:52
13. Love In A Car (Alternative Version 3/88)    4:24
14. Modern World (Demo - Alias Welt)    3:06
15. Little Girl (Alias Mr Jo) (Alternative Version)    4:25
16. Sulphur (Alternative Version)    2:32
17. Happy (Alternative Version)    2:53
18. Touch Me (Alternative Version)    3:06
19. Shine On (Rehearsal)    3:22
20. Real Animal (Rehearsal)    3:22
21. Destroy The Heart (Rehearsal - No Guitar)    2:50

Flac Size: 469 MB

 CD4.  BBC SESSIONS 1988 - 89       

                         

    
01. Destroy The Heart    2:46
02. Nothing To Me    3:52
03. Plastic    2:04
04. Blind    2:42
05. The Hedonist    3:06
06. Don't Turn Blue (Alias Soft As Fire)    3:17
07. Safe    5:11
08. Love In A Car    4:47
09. In A Room    3:23
10. The Beatles And The Stones    3:23
11. Christine    3:56
12. Loneliness Is A Gun    2:30

Flac Size: 276 MB

CD5.  LIVE        

                        

01. Christine (Live, Vredenburg, Utrecht)    3:27
02. Man To Child (Live, Vredenburg, Utrecht)    3:11
03. Road (Live, Vredenburg, Utrecht)    4:21
04. Shine On (Live, Vredenburg, Utrecht)    3:41
05. Plastic (Live, Groningen)    2:07
06. Sulphur (Live, Groningen)    2:55
07. Touch Me (Live, Groningen)    2:57
08. Nothing To Me (Live, Groningen)    3:49
09. I Don't Know Why I Love You But I Do (Live, Groningen)    4:04
10. Never (Live, Top Rank, Brighton)    3:08
11. Se Dest (Live, Top Rank, Brighton)    3:47
12. The Hedonist (Live, Top Rank, Brighton)    2:29
13. Soft As Fire (Live, Top Rank, Brighton)    3:06
14. Fisherman's Tale (Live, Le Cigale, Paris)    3:49
15. Happy (Live, Le Cigale, Paris)    3:12
16. Love In A Car (Live, Le Cigale, Paris)    4:24
17. Destroy The Heart (Live, Le Cigale, Paris)    2:46
18. I Wanna Be Your Dog (Live, Le Cigale, Paris)    3:15

Flac Size: 361 MB

LINE - UP

Guy Chadwick - vocals, guitars
Terry Bickers - lead guitar, backing vocals
Chris Groothuizen - bass guitar
Pete Evans - drums

WITH

Andrea Heukamp - guitar and backing vocals on "Christine"

02.  THE HOUSE OF LOVE / FONTANA OR THE BUTTERFLY ALBUM 1990

                     

Following the combination of indie success and massive hype leading up to the band's first album proved

to be too much for the original lineup, with Bickers leaving after a series of problems and pressures once the group signed to Fontana. Yet rarely has a fraught series of recording sessions resulted in something so flat-out stunning. The House of Love's second self-titled album in a row -- third counting the German singles comp -- remains something of a high-water mark in what can loosely be termed U.K. post-punk music, acting as an effective final statement before the onslaughts of Madchester, grunge, and Brit-pop.
                         

The House Of Love – Fontana Or The Butterfly Album
Label: Fontana – 842 293-2, PolyGram – 842 293-2
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: Rock
Style: Indie Rock

TRACKS

                    

01. Hannah    5:44
02. Shine On    4:00
03. Beatles And The Stones    4:23
04. Shake And Crawl    3:40
05. Hedonist    3:36
06. I Don't Know Why I Love You    3:30
07. Never    3:43
08. Someone's Got To Love You    3:40
09. In A Room    4:05
10. Blind    3:44
11. 32nd Floor    4:05
12. Se Dest    5:02

LINE - UP

                                  

Guy Chadwick – vocals, guitars
Terry Bickers – lead guitar, backing vocals
Chris Groothuizen – bass guitar
Pete Evans – drums

Flac Size: 574 MB

03.  BABE RAINBOW 1992

                        

Babe Rainbow is the only House of Love studio album to feature Simon Walker (ex-Dave Howard Singers

as well as being Chris Groothuizen and Pete Evans’ bandmate in My White Bedroom). Walker had replaced Terry Bickers as lead guitarist in December 1989 and would himself leave the band in mid-1992 (to be replaced by Simon Mawby of The Woodentops). Former House of Love member Andrea Heukamp returned as a guest performer to add extra guitar and backing vocals. 
                                

The House Of Love – Babe Rainbow
Label: Fontana – 512 549-2
Format: CD, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1992
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Ethereal

TRACKS

                   

01. You Don't Understand    3:50
02. Crush Me    3:48
03. Cruel    5:47
04. High In Your Face    4:44
05. Fade Away    3:24
06. Feel   3:55
Songwriter – Warne Livesey    
07. Girl With The Loneliest Eyes   3:42
Songwriter – Warne Livesey    
08. Burn Down The World    5:54
09. Philly Phile    4:23
10. Yer Eyes    4:11

LINE - UP

                            

Guy Chadwick - lead vocals, guitars, bass guitar
Simon Walker - guitars
Chris Groothuizen - bass guitar, backing vocals
Pete Evans – drums

WITH

                       

Warne Livesey - guitar, hurdy-gurdy, keyboards, backing vocals
Andrea Heukamp - guitar, backing vocals
Pandit Dinesh – tablas

Flac Size: 312 MB

Sleater-Kinney: Discography 1995 - 2000

 

Alternative rock band from the American Pacific Northwest. Formed in Olympia, Washington (USA) in 1994, then moved to Portland, Oregon. Went on "indefinite hiatus" in 2006. Reformed in

2014. Arguably the most important punk band of the 1990s and 2000s, with feminist songwriting matched by taut melodicism and jaw-dropping sonic complexity. Like many a great band, Sleater-Kinney inhabit their time so thoroughly it took an extended hiatus to realize the extent of their legacy. In many respects, they are the defining American indie rock band of the second half of the 1990s, the group that harnessed all the upheaval of the alt-rock explosion of the first part of the decade and channeled it into a vigorous mission statement.
                         

Sleater-Kinney (the name is taken from a local road name in Lacey, WA ) were in the middle of the Riot

Grrrl scene in the 1990s, and they were one of the few to survive the inevitable backlash (along with Allison Wolfe and Kathleen Hanna). Originally, the band was Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein's side-project. The Australian-born Laura Macfarlane became the band's first permanent drummer in late 1994. In 1997, Janet Weiss became their new drummer.
                           

After a few albums recorded with John Goodmanson, they went into an unfamiliar studio with Dave

Fridmann in late 2004, to record their first album for Sub Pop. In the summer of 2006, they announced an "indefinite hiatus", and they played their final U.S. gigs in August. They were in other bands before, during, and after Sleater-Kinney's 11 year run: Corin has been in both Heavens To Betsy  and Cadallaca, Carrie in Excuse 17 and The Spells, Laura in Ninetynine, and Janet in Quasi.
                                

It was not incidental that Sleater-Kinney were an all-female band -- prior to S-K, co-leaders Corin Tucker

and Carrie Brownstein both started playing music in Northern Pacific riot grrrl bands, and their feminism and queercore roots were deeply embedded in their rock & roll -- but calling them the best female rock band of their generation is too confining. By every measure, Sleater-Kinney were one of the best bands of their time, capturing the tenor of their era and then expanding at a rapid clip, delivering record after record that redefined their music without abandoning their punk rock (or political) ideals. 
                           

In 2019 Weiss announced her departure from the band, which is now in its core a duo:

Carrie Brownstein - guitar, vocals
Corin Tucker - guitar, vocals 
                           

01. SLEATER - KINNEY - SLEATER - KINNEY 1995

                          

Sleater-Kinney's debut record is a medium-fi blast of thrashy riot grrrl rock. Some tracks are reminiscent

of '90s Sonic Youth ("Be Yr Mama"), while others are just blasts of punk angst ("A Real Man"). The group suffers from excessively monotone melody lines, but succeeds with their overall confidence and an understanding of dynamics that is promising. This is a good first record, and a showcase for talent that would later blossom on The Hot Rock. 
                              

Sleater-Kinney – Sleater-Kinney
Label: Chainsaw – chsw12
Format: CD, Album
Country:US
Released:Jun 25, 1995
Genre: Rock
Style: Punk, Indie Rock

TRAXS

                         

01. Don't Think You Wanna    1:53
02. The Day I Went Away    3:05
03. A Real Man    1:04
04. Her Again    2:20
05. How To Play Dead    2:07
06. Be Yr Mama    2:53
07. Sold Out    1:16
08. Slow Song    2:00
09. Lora's Song   2:30
Vocals – Lora MacFarlane    
10. The Last Song    3:37

LINE - UP

                             

Vocals, Guitar – Corin Tucker/Carrie Kinney (tracks: 2, 5, 10)
Drums – Lora MacFarlane
Guitar – Carrie Kinney

Flac Size: 165 MB

02. SLEATER - KINNEY - CALL THE DOCTOR 1996

                             

Sleater-Kinney's masterful sophomore effort Call the Doctor fulfills all the promise of the group's debut

and more, forging taut melodicism and jaw-dropping sonic complexity out of barbed-wire emotional potency.  Forget the riot grrrl implications inherent in the trio's music -- Call the Doctor is pure, undiluted punk, and it's brilliant. 
                  

Sleater-Kinney – Call The Doctor
Label: Chainsaw – CHSW 13
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: Apr 29, 1996
Genre: Rock
Style: Punk, Indie Rock

TRAXS

                        

01. Call The Doctor    2:30
02. Hubcap    2:25
03. Little Mouth    1:44
04. Anonymous    2:29
05. Stay Where You Are    2:24
06. Good Things    3:10
07. I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone    2:37
08. Taking Me Home    2:34
09. Taste Test    3:00
10. My Stuff    2:33
11. I'm Not Waiting    2:21
12. Heart Attack    2:12
Drums – Corin Tucker
Guitar – Lora Macfarlane

LINE - UP

                     

Vocals – Carrie Kinney (tracks: 1, 5, 7, 12), Corin Tucker, Lora Macfarlane (tracks: 2, 5, 8)
Drums – Lora Macfarlane
Guitar – Carrie Kinney, Corin Tucker

Flac Size: 215 MB

03. SLEATER - KINNEY - DIG ME OUT 1997

                          

Having reinvented the girl-punk wheel with Call the Doctor, Sleater-Kinney continues to expand the

boundaries of the form with the stunning Dig Me Out. Leaner and more intricate than its predecessor, the record is remarkably confident and mature; instead of succumbing to the pressures of "next big thing" status, the trio finds vindication in all of their critical adulation -- the vocals are even more ferocious, the melodies are even more infectious, and the ideals are even more passionate. 
                              

Sleater-Kinney – Dig Me Out
Label: Kill Rock Stars – KRS 279
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: Apr 8, 1997
Genre: Rock
Style: Punk, Indie Rock

TRAXS

                      

01. Dig Me Out    2:40
02. One More Hour    3:19
03. Turn It On    2:47
04. The Drama You've Been Craving    2:08
05. Heart Factory    3:54
06. Words And Guitar    2:21
07. It's Enough  1:46 
Saxophone – Jessica Lurie
08. Little Babies    2:22
09. Not What You Want    3:17
10. Buy Her Candy    2:02
11. Things You Say    2:56
12. Dance Song '97    2:49
13. Jenny    4:03

LINE - UP

                                        

Vocals, Guitar – Corin Tucker
Drums, Percussion – Janet Weiss
Guitar, Vocals – Carrie Brownstein

Flac Size: 255 MB

04. SLEATER - KINNEY - THE HOT ROCK 1999

                         

Expectations for Sleater-Kinney's fourth album were stratospheric, with the raging, tuneful feminist catharsis of Call the Doctor and Dig Me Out having garnered near-universal critical raves and

outlandish media hype. Afraid of falling into a predictable rut, though, the band bravely pushed its range of expression into more personal, subdued, and cerebral territory on The Hot Rock. The Hot Rock can invite comparisons to a less jam-oriented Television or a minimalist version of indie compatriots Helium (not to mention the obvious Kim Gordon homage on "Get Up"), but in the end, it stands on its own as Sleater-Kinney's most progressive and experimental work, as well as their darkest. 
                           

Sleater-Kinney – The Hot Rock
Label: Kill Rock Stars – KRS 321
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: Feb 23, 1999
Genre: Rock
Style: Punk, Alternative Rock, Indie Rock

TRAXS

                           

01. Start Together    2:38
02. Hot Rock    3:17
03. The End Of You    3:20
04. Burn, Don't Freeze    3:19
05. God Is A Number    3:44
06. Banned From The End Of The World    2:09
07. Don't Talk Like    3:34
08. Get Up    3:46
09. One Song For You    2:49
10. The Size Of Our Love   3:12
Violin, Viola – Seth Warren
11. Living In Exile    2:31
12. Memorize Your Lines   3:10
Violin, Viola – Seth Warren
13. A Quarter To Three   4:03
Slide Guitar – Roger Moutenot

LINE - UP

                       

Vocals, Guitar – Corin Tucker
Drums, Percussion – Janet Weiss
Guitar, Vocals – Carrie Brownstein

Flac Size: 297 MB

05. SLEATER - KINNEY - ALL HANDS ON THE BAD ONE 2002

                                     

Sleater-Kinney switched gears on their follow-up to the challenging, introspective The Hot Rock,

delivering their brightest, most accessible album to date with All Hands on the Bad One. That's partly due to a renewed assurance in craft -- the arrangements here are the most refined of the group's career, and their performances the most polished. Not only is All Hands on the Bad One Sleater-Kinney's most consistent overall set of songs since Call the Doctor, it's also evidence that the band has taken that philosophy to heart.
                           

Sleater-Kinney – All Hands On The Bad One
Label: Kill Rock Stars – KRS 360
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: May 2, 2000
Genre: Rock
Style: Punk, Alternative Rock, Indie Rock

TRAXS

                                     

01. The Ballad Of A Ladyman    3:10
02. Ironclad    2:34
03. All Hands On The Bad One   2:57
Organ – Sarah Dougher    
04. Youth Decay    2:30
05. You're No Rock N' Roll Fun    2:37
06. #1 Must Have    3:03
07. The Professional    1:31
08. Was It A Lie?    3:15
09. Male Model    2:32
10. Leave You Behind    3:27
11. Milkshake N' Honey   2:54
Mellotron – Sam Coomes    
12. Pompeii    2:43
13. The Swimmer   3:47
Organ – Sarah Dougher
    

LINE - UP

                                  

Vocals, Guitar – Corin Tucker
Drums, Percussion – Janet Weiss
Guitar, Vocals – Carrie Brownstein

Flac Size: 272 MB