Gordon Smith

The first and best album by the utterly inimitable and always criminally neglected Kristin Hersh, although "Sunny Border Blue" (2001) is close behind. After five albums as the frontwoman of the band Throwing Muses, "Hips and Makers" was an amazing revelation that she could do a whole album of just her and her voice and guitar (piano on one song), and that it could be great. Song after song after song was captivating, eye-opening, and jaw-dropping. It ended up selling more than any of the Muses or solo albums before or since, and in my estimation it is in second place in my ratings of her entire discography (including both solo and Throwing Muses albums, as well as the output of her occasional band that she started in the 2000's, 50 Foot Wave). My highest recommendations go to 1) Throwing Muses (1986), 2) Hips and Makers (1995), 3) the Muses "Limbo" (1996), and 4) the previously mentioned 2001 solo outing, "Sunny Border Blue." Sadly, IMHO, nothing she has done since 2003 measures up to her first 17 years of output. Specific song recommendations upon request!