Hips and Makers
Kristin Hersh · 1994
50 min · 15 tracks · alternative rock
A haunting blend of intimate lyrics and ethereal melodies, evoking a sense of fragile beauty and emotional depth.
Top tracks — play these first
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Your Ghost — As the album's opening track, 'Your Ghost' presents a captivating blend of melancholy and haunting imagery, setting the tone for the entire record.
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Teeth — 'Teeth' features an intricate guitar arrangement that complements Hersh's evocative storytelling, illustrating the album's themes of vulnerability and strength.
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Houdini Blues — This track showcases a compelling narrative style paired with engaging melodies, highlighting Hersh's ability to weave personal experiences into universal themes.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features intimate songwriting and layered vocals, creating a distinctive sound within the alternative rock genre.
What we noticed
- The first track, 'Your Ghost', opens with a stark, haunting vocal line accompanied by sparse instrumentation, setting a reflective tone for the album.
- Several tracks feature layered vocals that create a sense of depth and intimacy, particularly in 'Beestung' and 'Teeth'.
- The album maintains a consistent mid-tempo pace throughout, with only slight variations that keep the listener engaged without abrupt shifts.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intimate atmosphere of raw emotion
- steady mid-tempo reflective pacing
- haunting melodies for quiet moments
- confessional lyrics invite deep listening
- for solo evening introspection
Maybe skip if you
- seeking upbeat party tracks
- wanting instant gratification
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on January 24, 1994, 'Hips and Makers' was Kristin Hersh's debut solo album after her work with the influential band Throwing Muses. At this point in her career, Hersh was transitioning from the alternative rock scene into a more personal and introspective sound, showcasing her songwriting prowess.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Liz Phair· Neko Case· Sharon Van Etten
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Your Ghost 3:16
- 2 Beestung 3:08
- 3 Teeth 4:10
- 4 Sundrops 4:02
- 5 Sparky 1:29
- 6 Houdini Blues 4:26
- 7 A Loon 4:18
- 8 Velvet Days 3:52
- 9 Close Your Eyes 5:27
- 10 Me and My Charms 4:16
- 11 Tuesday Night 3:03
- 12 The Letter 2:47
- 13 Lurch 0:36
- 14 The Cuckoo 2:12
- 15 Hips and Makers 3:19
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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