Holy Smokes is the debut solo album by the American musician Suzzy Roche, released in 1997.[2][3] It was the first solo album by a member of the Roches.[4] Roche supported the album by embarking on a tour, playing solo with just a guitar.[5]
Holy Smokes | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1997 | |||
Genre | Pop, folk | |||
Label | Red House Records[1] | |||
Producer | Stewart Lerman, Suzzy Roche | |||
Suzzy Roche chronology | ||||
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Production
editThe album was produced by Stewart Lerman and Roche.[6] Roche wrote 11 of the album's 12 songs; the final track is based on poem written by her mother.[7] The vocals were often multitracked, to reproduce the harmony sound of the Roches; Jules Shear and Maggie Roche also contributed vocals.[6][8][9]
Roche spent close to two years working on Holy Smokes.[10] The decision to make a solo album was inspired by a book of Irish poetry given to her by her late father.[11]
Critical reception
editReview scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [12] |
Entertainment Weekly | B+[13] |
MusicHound Folk: The Essential Album Guide | [14] |
The Washington Post wrote that the songs "occupy that broad middle ground of somewhat amusing, somewhat touching songs about the trials and joys of growing up a smart, middle-class American woman."[7] Entertainment Weekly deemed the album "a deceptively placid-sounding solo effort whose surface calm belies its emotional turbulence."[13] The Philadelphia Inquirer thought that "Roche's inherent ethereal charm belies the unrelieved heartbreak that colors much of Holy Smokes."[10]
New York concluded that Roche's "lyric are more personal than the Roches', and her melodic sense is as vivid."[15] The Chicago Tribune thought that "Roche sets one warm, folky melody after another amid cozy piano-acoustic guitar textures, creating a relaxed and intimate work."[16]
AllMusic called the album "an oddly tentative premiere for such a seasoned performer, and not as much fun as it should have been."[12]
Track listing
edit- "My My Broken Heart"
- "Crash"
- "Eggshell"
- "Holy Smokes"
- "Rules"
- "The Second Coming of Eli"
- "Losing"
- "Lightning Storm"
- "ABC's"
- "Pink Ballet Slippers"
- "Breathing"
- "Two Bumps on a Log"
References
edit- ^ "Suzzy Roche". NPR.
- ^ "Suzzy Roche Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ "Suzzy Roche". SF Weekly. May 17, 2000.
- ^ Mervis, Scott (12 Sep 1997). "SUZZY WITH NO SISTERS". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT. p. 20.
- ^ McLennan, Scott (14 May 1998). "Suzzy Roche sings with Bohemian joyfulness". Telegram & Gazette. p. C1.
- ^ a b Bessman, Jim (Aug 9, 1997). "Suzzy Roche steps out solo on Red House". Billboard. 109 (32): 13, 31.
- ^ a b "SUZZY ROCHE". The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ^ Kalish, Jon (19 Oct 1997). "A Folkie Flying Solo Sweetly in Mid-Life". Newsday. p. D35.
- ^ Tillotson, Kristin (19 Sep 1997). "Suzzy Roche, singular sister". Star Tribune. p. 1E.
- ^ a b Carter, Kevin L. (28 Nov 1997). "SUZZY ROCHE". The Philadelphia Inquirer. FEATURES WEEKEND. p. 17.
- ^ Renzhofer, Martin (21 Nov 1997). "The most famous Roche takes a break from the sister act". The Salt Lake Tribune. p. B1.
- ^ a b "Holy Smokes - Suzzy Roche | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ a b "Holy Smokes". EW.com.
- ^ MusicHound Folk: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 677.
- ^ Smith, Ethan (Sep 29, 1997). "Swing Out, Sister". New York. 30 (37): 91.
- ^ Reger, Rick (20 Mar 1998). "Suzzy Roche". Chicago Tribune. Friday. p. 26.