Love with the Proper Stranger is the debut album by the American band the Aquanettas, released in 1990.[1][2] A video was produced for the album's lead single, "Diplomat".[3] The band supported the album with a North American tour.[4]
| Love with the Proper Stranger | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Label | Nettwerk/I.R.S. | |||
| Producer | Mike Landolt | |||
| The Aquanettas chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production edit
All four band members contributed to the songwriting; they also worked with outside writers.[5] Their chief influences were the Rolling Stones and the Velvet Underground.[6] Nettwerk Records intentionally distorted the band photo on the album's cover, so that the group would not be perceived as merely a "girl group".[3] "Pictures of Italy" is an ode to pasta.[7]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| The Ithaca Journal |  [9] |
| Lincoln Journal Star | B+[7] |
| Los Angeles Daily News | [10] |
| St. Petersburg Times | [11] |
Trouser Press wrote: "Without pushing it as a gimmicky signature, singer/guitarist Deborah Schwartz’s mighty voice is redolent of West Coast ’60s folkrockers like the Mamas and the Papas (and, therefore, the early Bangles as well); drummer Stephanie Seymour’s high harmonies enhance and elevate the effect, as do the acoustic strummings and Jill Richmond’s tradition-packed lead guitar interjections."[12] The Washington Post thought that the Aquanettas "aren't significantly retooling garage-rock, but they are keeping the engine warm," writing that the "melodic and vigorous ... tunes are vaguely Go-Go-ish, but more rakish."[13] The New York Times deemed the music "classic, basic rock-and-roll: just rugged guitar riffs and lyrics about the more bothersome aspects of romance."[14]
The Los Angeles Daily News called the album "a celebration of acid- etched melody, reverberant guitars and monotone vocals," writing that the music "suggests the Bangles on hallucinogens."[10] USA Today lamented that the Aquanettas "weren't produced very well."[15] The New Haven Register deemed Love with the Proper Stranger "one of 1990's overlooked gems."[16]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Diplomat" | 3:00 |
| 2. | "Faults" | 4:39 |
| 3. | "Beach Party" | 5:12 |
| 4. | "Up!" | 3:34 |
| 5. | "Connecting Line" | 3:20 |
| 6. | "Footsteps" | 3:46 |
| 7. | "Love with the Proper Stranger" | 3:44 |
| 8. | "15 Men" | 3:37 |
| 9. | "Lose My Mind" | 4:17 |
| 10. | "Pictures of Italy" | 3:00 |
| 11. | "That Ain't Right" | 3:48 |
| 12. | "Black on Blonde" | 3:44 |
Personnel edit
- Jill Richmond - guitar
- Deborah Schwartz - guitar, vocals
- Stephanie Seymour - drums
- Claudine Troise - bass
References edit
- ^ Watson, Ian (Oct 13, 1990). "Albums: The Aquanettas". Melody Maker. Vol. 66, no. 41. p. 43.
- ^ "Rock and Rouge". New York. New York Media, LLC. August 6, 1990 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Pisik, Betsy (May 25, 1990). "Rocking Aquanettas: Not just a girl group, and not new Bangles". The Washington Times. p. E3.
- ^ Brown, Donna (25 May 1990). "Nightlife". The News Journal. p. 11.
- ^ Kim, Jae-Ha (June 3, 1990). "Democracy reigns in the free world of the Aquanettas". Show. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 6.
- ^ Dwarka, Kevin (5 Jun 1990). "Aquanettas tire of comparisons with Bangles and Go-Gos". Detroit Free Press. p. 5F.
- ^ a b Wolgamott, L. Kent (8 Jan 1991). "The Aquanettas, Love with the Proper Stranger". Entertainment. Lincoln Journal Star. p. 11.
- ^ "Love with the Proper Stranger". AllMusic.
- ^ Wenzel, Art (30 Aug 1990). "Music's Women of the '90s". Arts & Leisure. The Ithaca Journal. p. 12.
- ^ a b Britt, Bruce (April 27, 1990). "Sound Check". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L38.
- ^ Carey, Jean (1 June 1990). "Sound Bites". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 16.
- ^ "Aquanettas". Trouser Press. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Jenkins, Mark (25 May 1990). "Aquanettas Hold Garage-Rock Style". The Washington Post. p. N20.
- ^ Schoemer, Karen (8 June 1990). "In Rocking East Village, the Beat Never Stops". The New York Times. p. C1.
- ^ Oermann, Robert K. (May 17, 1990). "Record Reviews". USA Today.
- ^ Fried, Fran (October 2, 1992). "Band won't be home making cookies". Weekend Guide. New Haven Register. p. 18.