Hole's long awaited follow up to 1994's Live Through This. After numerous attempts to record a follow up to that album fell through, the band entered Conway Recording Studios in Los Angeles in 1997. The resulting album, Celebrity Skin, delivered a completely new sound for the band. Elements of power pop, as well as influence from bands like Fleetwood Mac and My Bloody Valentine, can be heard throughout the album. Smashing Pumpkins' front man Billy Corgan contributed heavily to Celebrity Skin, and his theatrical, somewhat arena ready sound, can be heard from the opening guitars of the title track. Despite Hole's departure from their earlier grunge sound, the album was a resounding success. Singles from the album, "Celebrity Skin", "Malibu", and "Awful," were in heavy rotation and the critics seemed to be won over en mass. Celebrity Skin is a sonic and emotional wild ride, but should you expect anything less from Hole?

• Music On Vinyl 180 gram pressing
• music label: Geffen Records 1998 / Music On Vinyl 2014

reviewed by Molly's Lips 07/2015