Recorded live in the Summer of 1991 at London's Town & Country Club, the Hux label's BBC Live captures all of the volatility, humor, and wounded sarcasm that the Violent Femmes bring to each and every predictably unpredictable live show (bassist Brian Ritchie traditionally dictates the set list in real time). The group had just released Why Do Birds Sing?, a return to the snarky guitar/bass/snare drum attack that fueled their classic self-titled debut nearly ten years before, and were expe   [ read more ]

CD $18.03

The Violent Femmes' first album of new material to be released in the U.S. since 1994's muddled New Times (not counting the 1995 Australian release Rock!!!!!, reissued stateside in 1998), Freak Magnet is a pleasant surprise in its focus and consistency, marking yet another return to the group's folk-punk roots -- the punk side of the equation in particular. Gordon Gano plays electric guitar for much (though not all) of the record, turning in a series of concise, catchy pop nuggets   [ read more ]

CD $7.59

When Slash/Reprise released Add It Up (1981-1993) in September of 1993, it was a bit of a slap in the face for die-hard Violent Femmes fans. Though the 23 tracks of "hits," rarities, and live cuts were more than appreciated, the group's supporters were once again forced to try explaining to the unconverted what the fuss was all about. Ever since their self-titled debut, which has become a right of passage for anyone embarking on puberty, fans have had to defend the group's forays into folk, {\co   [ read more ]

CD $11.38

Few bands have captured the angst, sexual frustration, and repressed rage of the '80s and '90s better than the Violent Femmes. Without falling prey to death, breakups, and commercial overexposure, the Femmes have maintained their simmering intensity with an ever-growing loyal fan base of former punks, Generation Xers, and their younger brothers and sisters. The Wisconsin trio captures nearly two decades of post-punk smarminess with Viva Wisconsin, a live retrospective recorded during a one-week    [ read more ]

CD $9.49

VINYL FORMAT. The Milwaukee trio's landmark 1983 self-titled debut (featuring "Blister In The Sun", "Add It Up", and "Gone Daddy Gone"), re-mastered by Ron McMaster at Capitol, pressed on 180-gram heavy vinyl, and including original packaging. This is the only record in history to be certified Platinum without ever breaking the Billboard Top 200, and it continues to be a fave on college campuses, in sports arenas, and on the radio.

LP $17.99

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For their deluxe, two-disc reissue of the Violent Femmes' classic first album, Rhino pulled out all the stops, not only remastering the album and offering extensive liner notes, but adding a full 26 bonus tracks. Of these, 22 are previously unreleased -- the ones that have appeared before are demos and rare U.K. singles, plus a song previously released as a flexidisc in Alternative Press. The rest is a cornucopia of rarities: three songs that never were recorded in the studio ({&"How Do You    [ read more ]

CD $18.01

CD $11.38

This quirky release shows the Violent Femmes casting far afield stylistically after the comparatively consistent (and excellent) platter Why Do Birds Sing? Only the catchy "4 Seasons" and the guitar-vocal-only "I'm Nothing" are in the jittery busking style of their previous album. There are a modest number of harder-rocking selections here, such as "Key of 2," "Don't Start Me on the Liquor," and the title track. The rest of the songs are highly eccentric, showing wide stylistic variation.    [ read more ]

CD $8.51

Add It Up is not quite the definitive Violent Femmes compilation one might hope for, even if it does feature 23 tracks and adds essential later items missing from their first comp, Debacle: The First Decade. There are several charming rarities to hook dedicated fans, who will likely find several favorites missing (perhaps another song or two could have been substituted for the between-song bits). The group's self-titled debut does a better job of encapsulating why they were important, and remains t   [ read more ]

CD $14.23

Add It Up is not quite the definitive Violent Femmes compilation one might hope for, even if it does feature 23 tracks and adds essential later items missing from their first comp, Debacle: The First Decade. There are several charming rarities to hook dedicated fans, who will likely find several favorites missing (perhaps another song or two could have been substituted for the between-song bits). The group's self-titled debut does a better job of encapsulating why they were important, and remains t   [ read more ]

CD $18.03

Two years after the release of their stripped-down and mellowed-out album 3, the Violent Femmes return with a disjointed and choppy but enjoyable album, Why Do Birds Sing?. This record is probably most famous for its cover of Culture Club's "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?." The acoustic sound they pioneered (way back before {#MTV Unplugged} was even thought of) is still here...for the most part. Many songs seem to be written as a foil to the depressing sound on 3, forsaking cohesiveness an   [ read more ]

CD $14.23

Two years after the release of their stripped-down and mellowed-out album 3, the Violent Femmes return with a disjointed and choppy but enjoyable album, Why Do Birds Sing?. This record is probably most famous for its cover of Culture Club's "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?." The acoustic sound they pioneered (way back before {#MTV Unplugged} was even thought of) is still here...for the most part. Many songs seem to be written as a foil to the depressing sound on 3, forsaking cohesiveness an   [ read more ]

CD $8.51