Throwing Muses - The Real Ramona

The Real Ramona is an early release by Throwing Muses which is viewed by some as their finest work. I don't have anything else to compare it to as I've only heard an occasional song over the years but have enjoyed music made by the two lead singers, Kirsten Hersh and Tanya Donnelly as members of the Breeders, as solo artists and in 50 Foot Wave.

The Real Ramona has some exceptional songs which I believe I must have heard before as they felt so familiar. The difference between Kirsten and Tanya's vocals and songs works well overall on the album. For pure pop 'Not too soon' is a lovely song and one of my favourites on the cd, 'Hook in her head' has a brilliant bit of drumming and slightly psychedelic guitar playing at the end of it. Overall the cd feels like it could only have been made in the early 90s but it doesn't mean that it feels dated only that it fits into that period of alternative music.

Some of the songs ('Red Shoes',' Ellen West', 'Dylan') drift by without making much of impression but the closing ballad 'Two Steps' ends The Real Ramona on a sweet/sad note leaving me looking forward to hearing more of their music and getting to see them as part of the All Tomorrows Parties festival (my first) later this year.

6/10