Tuesday, May 6, 2008

These Monsters Are Real

So I'm on a bit of a Sleater-Kinney kick right now after not listening to them for quite a while. As much as a like them, I'm more into Heavens to Betsy, Corin Tucker's first band.



Corin Tucker started H2B with Tracy Sawyer in 1991 in Olympia, Washington. They played their first show in August of that year as part of the International Pop Underground's "Love Rock Revolution Girl Style Now" night. You can watch part of it and hear people like Allison Wolfe and Ian Mackaye talk about it in Don't Need: The Herstory of Riot Grrrl. Allison said it was so powerful that she cried.

After a demo cassette and a split 7" with Bratmobile, Heavens to Betsy released These Monsters Are Real. The four-song EP was recorded by Tim Green (of the Nation of Ulysses) and Molly Neuman (of Bratmobile) at the Red House in Olympia in December of 1992. It was released on Kill Rock Stars.



"Me & Her" is one of my favorite songs-- it was the most played on my iTunes until Des Ark's Battle of the Beards came into my life. Corin Tucker has a completely infectious and powerful voice, and the lyrics along with a simple music fit perfectly. It's one of those girl-love songs (kind of like Team Dresch's "Growing up in Springfield") where not only did this girl break her fucking heart but on top of that someone doesn't "understand a girl who's passionate for another girl." Fucking slays.

Heavens to Betsy went on to release two more 7"s, an LP, and contribute to a bunch of compilations. After H2B, Corin joined up with Carrie Brownstein of Excuse 17 to form the legendary Sleater-Kinney.

Heavens to Betsy- These Monsters Are Real

4 comments:

Cassette Gods said...

have you heard rose for bohdan's cover of "these monsters are real"?

Catherine said...

That sounds epic- I haven't heard it, but Rose for Bohdan x H2B must be good. I'll try to find it.

Cassette Gods said...

look no further (i was in r4b, so easy for me to find this cover) - feel free to share it on yr blog, radio show, mix tapes, etc etc:

http://deathbombarc.com/temp/forPuzzle/

(let me know when you've d/l'd it so i can remove from sever)

Catherine said...

Thanks a lot- just downloaded it.