Rolling Stone (6/27/91) - 3.5 Stars "..embraces the whole pendulum of human emotion...lyrics more enigmatic than ever.."
Spin (5/91) - Highly Recommended "Platter du Jour"
Melody Maker (12/91) - Ranked #9 in Melody Maker's list of the top 30 albums of 1991 "...their most realized outing by far."
Throwing Muses: Kristin Hersh, Tanya Donelly (vocals, guitar); Fred Abong (bass guitar); David Narcizo (drums); Kristin Rojcewicz (background vocals).
Throwing Muses are among the finest and most overlooked indie-rock bands of the '80s and '90s. Spearheaded by the dark, original vision of Kristen Hersh (and supported by Tanya Donelly, Muses second-guitarist and Hersh's half-sister), the band's aggressive alt-pop burst onto the scene in the early '80s. The Muses favor a lucid guitar sound, oblique, poetic lyrics, and spiraling song structures that seem to unfold organically. By THE REAL RAMONA, the band's third full-length release, they had married their unique aesthetic to a more streamlined, rock-oriented sound.
Though more accessible than earlier work, RAMONA compromises none of the group's idiosyncratic appeal. In fact, this record's shimmering pop aura makes it one of the band's most outstanding offerings. From the blast-off power hooks of "Golden Thing" and Donelly's "Not Too Soon" through the gorgeous, rarefied guitar heaven of "Two Step," this collection is pure psychedelic pop heightened by outstanding songcraft. As usual, it is Hersh's more intense, mercurial, and slightly warped songs that are stand out. Here, top marks go to "Ellen West" and "Hook In Her Head. A tapestry of floating guitars, hard edges, melody, and meaning, THE REAL RAMONA is a perfect pop album.
