90's Revival
'Learn To Sing Like A Star' was recorded in LA shortly before Kristin's house was destroyed by water, so she's probably due some good fortune with this, her seventh solo album. The former Throwing Muses star combines edgy grunge-style guitars with her soft, rasping vocal work to create a myriad of infectious, vitriolic tunes with an early 90s scuzzy rock feel.
First single 'In Shock' kicks off with the typically vague lyrics that style 90's grunge, "You wanted to be wanted", while the chorus is a triumphant crescendo of wheeling violins, guitar solos that trip off the fingers and emphatic vocals. There's still a folk twang to the flow of some tracks, which is indicative of some of Hersh's solo work with 'Winter's aching vioins seizing hold of the listener, along with the constant thudding guitar rhythm and chiming bells. 'Thin Man' is a sighing closer with soft instrumental backing that lulls you gently into the silence at the end of the CD.
'Never Endings' is Nirvana-style self-depreciating ballad that is thankfully saved by the tenderness of Hersh's vocals, it's a little surprisingly that 20 years into her career she's still singing the teenage tune about "putting a rock into your brain", but at least it's a touching rendition. 'Day Glo' has a similar level of cliché with chugging grunged-out guitars, but again it's so slick with lush chorus backing vocals that this can almost be forgiven, that is if it weren't for the fact that so many of the tracks run this way and that perhaps, there are too many tracks included to start.
'Piano 1' is a mild relief, a pleasant rippling instrumental that cuts up a particularly listless run of grunge. 'Peggy Lee' follows shortly with cutting overdriven guitars mixing with the usual mellow chords to add more interest.
The problem with this album is not Kristin Hersh's musicianship, but the fact that the genre is now rather stale and even the violin flourishes can't bring about much interest in some of the more rasping rock numbers.