Freak Magnet is the eighth studio album by Violent Femmes, released in 2000.[1][2] It contains the single "Sleepwalkin'."[3]
Originally planned for a 1998 release on Interscope Records, Freak Magnet was pulled when the band was dropped from the label.[4] A reissue with live bonus tracks were released via Shout! Factory in 2005.[5]
Critical reception
The Washington Post called the album "stuck in the Reagan decade," writing that "the Femmes still play punky hootenanny-rock with occasional potty-mouthed lyrics to assure frat-boy appeal."[6] Exclaim! wrote that the Violent Femmes "tend to sound like an average band dabbling in a goofy brand of punk, save for Gordon Gano's voice, which anyone could spot a mile away."[7] Paste's Andrew Lisle wrote: "With sarcastic, solid originals like 'Happiness Is' and 'Hollywood Is High', the boys try to achieve former glory on Freak Magnet, falling just short of success."[8] Trouser Press called it "a strong return to form," writing that "the Femmes hang their music in thick, hard-rocking sheets of sound rather than on a skeletal acoustic frame."[9]
Personnel
Violent Femmes
- Gordon Gano – vocal, guitar
- Brian Ritchie – bass, guitar, keyboards, percussion, shakuhachi, vocal, additional recording, cover design
- Guy Hoffman – drums, percussion, vocal
Technical personnel
- Violent Femmes – co-producer
- Warren Bruleigh – co-producer, mixing, additional recording
- Pierre Henry – co-producer, additional recording
- Tom Grimley – co-producer, additional recording
- Martin Brass – recording, mixing
- David Vartanian – mixing, cover design
- Howie Weinberg – mastering
- Roger Lian – mastering
- Bill Emmons – additional recording
- Mark Mason – assistant engineer
- Ken Feldman – assistant engineer
- Rich Tapper – assistant engineer
- Nicola Stemmer – assistant engineer
References
- ^ "Violent Femmes | Biography & History". AllMusic
- ^ "Reviews". CMJ New Music Report. CMJ Network, Inc. February 7, 2000. – via Google Books.
- ^ VanHorn, Teri (January 3, 2000). "Violent Femmes To Take Freak Magnet On Road". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017.
- ^ Murray, Nick (March 4, 2015). "Hear Violent Femmes' First New Song in 15 Years". Rolling Stone
- ^ "Freak Magnet [Bonus Tracks - Violent Femmes | Release Info"]. Allmusic
- ^ Jenkins, Mark (April 14, 2000). "VIOLENT FEMMES". The Washington Post
- ^ Wilyman, Scott (May 1, 2000). "Violent Femmes Freak Magnet". Exclaim!
- ^ Lisle, Andrew (June 30, 2008). "Violent Femmes (reissues)". Paste
- ^ Robbins, Ira. "Violent Femmes". Trouser Press. Retrieved 16 February 2021.