Song:Bruise Violet
Album:Redeux
Though the female trio Babes in Toyland were lumped into the early 90s grunge or riot girrrl movement, their music was closer to 80s punk and even hard rock fans should like them. They recorded two albums for Reprise and Bruise Violet was probably their best known song. Lead singer and guitarist Kat Bjelland grew up in Oregon and she led the band Pagan Babies with Courtney Love. After they split up, Kat moved to Minneapolis. She met Lori Barbero and taught her to play the drums. At first the band was a four piece with a lead singer. But she and the bassist left, Michelle Leon was the new bassist. Courtney Love lived there and rehearsed with the band briefly. They started playing gigs and I guess the most notable thing was Kat's screaming vocals. She couldn't really sing but I guess she wasn't happy with any of the singers who auditioned. Babes in Toyland released an album on the local Twin/Tone label. Sonic Youth leader Thurston Moore liked the album enough to take the band on a 1990 European tour. They also got the attention of influential BBC DJ John Peel. They appeared on The Peel Sessions which Babes in Toyland released as an EP in 1992. Michelle Leon left after her boyfriend Joe Cole of Black Flag died. Maureen Herman replaced her. Then Babes in Toyland signed with Reprise Records for the 1992 album Fontanelle. And they did a video for Bruise Violet. They toured to support it. The album did OK. It's not mainstream music that was going to top the charts. But there is an audience for it. Babes in Toyland toned things down for the 1995 album Nemesisters. They even covered the Sister Sledge hit We Are Family. But the album wasn't well received by critics or fans. It didn't sell and Reprise dropped them. Kat couldn't seem to decide if she wanted to keep the band together. But ultimately they disbanded and Kat formed Katastrophy Wife with husband Glen Mattson. This 2CD comp was compiled and released by Babes in Toyland on their own label. Babes in Toyland reunited in 2014 and toured for a couple of years. It appears they are now inactive. Here's the video for Bruise Violet by Babes in Toyland.
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