CONCRETE BLONDE: Group Therapy

Concrete Blonde

Group Therapy

© 2002 Concrete Blonde (634479178832)

CD permanently out of stock. Sorry!

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

rock - melodic, intelligent, sonically solid, timeless.

notes

'Group Therapy' was the first release after an 8 year haitus from the three original members of L.A's Concrete Blonde: vocalist/bassist/Johnette Napolitano, who has worked with the (Talking) Heads, the late Marc Moreland of Wall of Voodoo, and former NIN Danny Lohner; guitarist Jim Mankey, an original member of Sparks and drummer Harry Rushakoff. Originally released on the L.A. indie label Manifesto in 2002, the record was recorded at the now-defunct legendary Hollywood recording studio Cherokee in 10 days in the month of August before September 11th.

"I had an impending sense of doom" says singer/main writer
Napolitano, "it was hell. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, I was having nightmares and overwhelming panic attacks and paranoia. It was absolutely necessary to make a record, I was in a physical state of emergency."

The band quickly reunited and locked themselves in a rehearsal studio in Venice, California for 2 months over the summer to write and rehearse 'Group Therapy' before
heading in to the studio. "After 911" says Napolitano; "it became very hard to listen to the lyrics in some of these songs, like "Violent" or "Angel". All of a sudden it hit me, that's what I'd been feeling".

These are the very last copies of the discontinued CD 'Group Therapy' but for the first time the album will be made available for digital download through CDBABY.

reviews

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  • Intense mid-life crisis
    author: Chris

    This album is intense, dark, contemplative,visceral, sexy, sensual,angry,annoyed,strong, elated and well...manny other things as well. If you have experienced psychological confusion, angst, resentment, or any other intense stress, you will identify with this album. It is great.The guitar in Violent is shapr and intense. The tempo is fast paced like the pulse of a person who is strssed by the fear and violence of a city.Johnette's voice slaps the listener in the face repeatedly during the line: "Every nerve and every cell; they got to fight to stay alive and well,I'm in a world of chronic discontent. Screaming metal and burning rubber always shoving and raping and cursing each other, exploding into violence". The song evokes tension, fear and anger effectively. On "When I was a Fool", Johnette's voice starts out mellow and pensive as she sings about someone liking her better in the past when she was a fool. As the listener is lulled into a mellow state of mind, suddenly the electric guitat screams in along with Johnette's intensely emotional voice which shifts from mellow and pensive to angry. This emotional shifting from mellow and pensive to angry and predatorial continues on many of the songs. This album is great.

  • Another Worthy Addition
    author: CHINASKI

    The album is riddled with nostalgia, longing and an awareness of the pending end. I found Group Therapy to be very catchy, but with a different and more mature sound. Still willing to take chances and deliver with great hooks. Group Therapy is another worthy addition in the Concrete Blonde arsenal.

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