The Roches (album)
| The Roches | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:The Roches - The Roches.jpg | ||||
| Studio album by The Roches | ||||
| Released | 1979 | |||
| Recorded | Sep 1978-Nov 1978 | |||
| Genre | Folk | |||
| Length | 39:53 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Producer | Robert Fripp | |||
| The Roches chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau | A [2] |
| Rolling Stone |  [3] |
| Rolling Stone Album Guide | [4] |
The Roches is the 1979 eponymous debut album by The Roches, produced by Robert Fripp, who also plays guitar and Fripperies (a variation of his Frippertronics). Also playing on the album are Tony Levin, Larry Fast and Jimmy Maelen of King Crimson and Peter Gabriel fame.
Track listing
- "We" (Suzzy Roche, Terre Roche, Maggie Roche) – 2:35
- "Hammond Song" (Margaret Roche) – 5:46
- "Mr. Sellack" (Terre Roche) – 4:03
- "Damned Old Dog" (Margaret Roche) – 4:07
- "The Troubles" (Suzzy Roche, Terre Roche, Maggie Roche) – 3:27
- "The Train" (Suzzy Roche) – 3:30
- "The Married Men" (Margaret Roche) – 4:32
- "Runs in the Family" (Terre Roche) – 3:29
- "Quitting Time" (Margaret Roche) – 4:19
- "Pretty and High" (Margaret Roche) – 4:05
Reception
The album was well received. Jay Cocks in Time wrote that their music "is startling, lacerating and amusing".[5] Robert Christgau's review stated "Robert Fripp's austere production of this witty, pretty music not only abjures alien instrumentation but also plays up the quirks of the Roches' less-than-commanding voices and acoustic guitars. Thus it underscores their vulnerability and occasional desperation and counteracts their flirtations with the coy and the fey. The result is not a perfect record, but rather one whose imperfections are lovingly mitigated."[2] It was voted #11 for the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop Critics Poll.[6]
It has continued to be highly rated. Allmusic characterized it as a "mischievous and highly original folk blend".[1] And The Rolling Stone Album Guide gave it its classic rating calling it an "unprecedented thrill" that was "spare, loose, pointed" and equating it as the Greenwich Village version of the New York punk explosion.[4]
Personnel
Musicians:
- Suzzy Roche - vocals, guitar
- Maggie Roche - vocals, guitar, synthesizer (on "Quitting Time")
- Terre Roche - vocals, guitar
- Robert Fripp - electric guitar, Fripperies
- Tony Levin - bass guitar
- Jim Maelen - triangle, shaker
- Larry Fast - synthesizer programmer
Production:
- "Produced in Audio Verite by Robert Fripp"
- Engineer: Ed Sprigg
- Assistant Engineer: Jon Smith
- Recorded at The Hit Factory in New York during September, October and November 1978
Other credits:
- Art direction: Peter Whorf
- Design: Brad Kanawyer
- Photography: Gary Heery
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cook, Stephen. The Roches at AllMusic. Retrieved 4 December 2005.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Relevant portion also posted at Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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Further reading
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