#45 "BLISTER IN THE SUN"
THE VIOLENT FEMMES, 1983

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The Violent Femmes self titled debut album is one of those great albums that defies time and you can listen to forever.  Like a nerdy bizarro version of The Ramones, The Femmes use a next to nothing music approach that perfectly complement the nasal lead vocals from Gordon Gano.  Though tracks like "Gone Daddy Gone", "Please Don't Go" and "Add It Up" all have great moments, it's the lead tune, "Blister In The Sun" that reigns supreme.  About 60% into the song, Gano sings with a hushed whispering voice that makes you stop everything and listen.  His breathing becomes excited and trembling as if he's about ready to tell you the coolest secret in the world, then when he's through, BAM, he starts screaming the song.  The Femmes are an underrated American treasure who really deserve far more praise than they get.  Amazon has a really cool double deluxe version of the CD that's totally worth checking out, if you click the album cover above.

-Robert Berry

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