The Career of Kristin Hersh

Kristin Hersh is truly an American music treasure. Her band, Throwing Muses, was one of the most innovative groups of the 1980s, and its music spans everything from rockabilly to modern rock. Additionally, she has released a number of solo records which showcase her maturing voice, incisive and surrealistic lyrics and gut-wrenching earnestness.

Throwing Muses

Formed when Hersh and her stepsister Tanya Donelly (who would later go on to form the band Belly) were still in high school, Throwing Muses defies categorization. The music's frequent tempo changes, bizarre yet emotionally cutting lyrics and infectious melodies made it stand out from the synthesizers then frequent on the radio. As the band matured, so did Hersh's songwriting; eventually, it developed in the vein of modern rock, incorporating crunchy guitars and strong melodic hooks. Hersh's later songs with the band, such as "Bright Yellow Gun" and "Counting Backwards", did well on the charts and are recognized as minor classics of the 90s alternative era. She remains the lead singer of Throwing Muses today.

Solo career

However, Hersh also maintains a solo career, which began in 1996 with the release of "Hips and Makers." This spare album, featuring songs arranged primarily for guitar and cello, introduces a more sedate side of this singer. Her voice, lower now than it was in the early days of Throwing Muses, sings about personal topics; the single "Your Ghost", performed with Michael Stipe of R.E.M., did reasonably well on the British charts. Further albums continue to explore the personal side of Hersh's life as well as other genres such as the Appalachian murder ballads featured in 1998's "Murder, Misery and Then Goodnight."

50 Foot Wave

Kristin Hersh is also the front woman for 50 Foot Wave, a trio that has harder music, more interesting dynamics and less emotionally complicated lyrics than her other projects.

Kristin Hersh is a true American treasure whose music spans genres and decades while remaining relevant to the present, and her oeuvre rewards repeated listening's to peel off the various musical and emotional layers.