Learn To Sing Like A Star

I do not review many records, but feel moved to review this record. This is now one of my all-time favourite records. I just want to play it again and again. This is the first Kristin Hersh record that I have bought and I am now buying more of her music. There are at least nine songs on this album that completely blow me away. I feel that the most of the songs are really catchy and the lyrics and music accompaniment very clever. I am not sure how a professional critic would describe this record, perhaps alternative rock, with a grunge influence. I took a chance with this record because I really admire some other American alternative rock artists (Shawn Colvin, 10,000 Maniacs, R.E.M and Aimee Mann) and I remembered reading that Michael Stipe collaborated with Kristin Hersh.

Good

If like me you are used to the quirkiness of kristin Hersh, you'll love this album. An equal to Crooked, there are a lot of standout tracks, along with the odd duffer. Still, highly recommended.

Fantastic customer service as the CD was faulty. Problem rectified with minimal delay.

Arguably Kristin Hersh's finest album.

All good thanks

When Kristin Hersh left Throwing Muses to have a crack at a solo career, she went a little soft on us, with her version of what can only be described as Dirty Alternative Folk. She went acoustic-y and slower without losing an inch of her edge, writing hair-splittingly accurate lyrics and painting our world with her visions.It was fun for a while.Learn to Sing Like a Star seems to have resurrected some of the Dizzy Kristin of Hunkpapa and Hook in Her Head Hersh of Real Ramona, only better: she's dirtier, sharper and more gut wrenching than ever before. The first track leaves you in the state it describes - In Shock. It continues to deliver the best of Kristin's promised expertise: bite-ful and noisy with dreamy instrumental intervals, awkwardly timed guitar riffs and needle-sharp words that sweep you into Hersh's musical and lyrical world as if you've just tumbled down the rabbit hole. Tracks like Day Glow, Under the Gun, The Thin Man and Winter (a masterpiece!) remind us that Kristin Hersh is a creative force of nature to reckon with, revere and admire.For her fans who know her from her solo debut, Hips and Makers, this album is the latest stop of the Hersh wild ride of continual growth and experimenting. The quieter gems are works of musical art and solace can be found in the genius lyrics sandwiched between grunge guitars mixed with string sessions.Hersh's vocals aged like fine Single Malt Whiskey, with a smoky, satisfying aftertaste that just makes you want to sit down and appreciate for its full glory. It leaves you - much like the fine Single Malt - craving for more and slightly light-headed......so sit down and play it again.

Probably one of the best offerings from Kristen Hersh. Vocally and lyrically KH is at her best, with her increasingly raspy/hoarse voice (I firmly believe she intentionally waited until she had a sore throat before recording!!) contrasting beautifully with the background orchestral strings which permiate the entire album.Thankfully she has held back on the wailing and warbling that made Sunny Border Blue a bit hit-and-miss, and has moved towards using the power of her voice to achieve wonderfully epic choruses (Winter being a good example). Like most KH albums, it will take a few listens to get used to, but once you do, you discover the energy that flows through each song, carrying you through the album right the way to the end.It's the finest album to grace my collection for a long long time.