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HOW WE QUIT THE FOREST

Rasputina

Prog Folk


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Rasputina How We Quit the Forest album cover
2.14 | 3 ratings | 1 reviews | 0% 5 stars

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Studio Album, released in 1998

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. The Olde HeadBoard (2:52)
2. LeechWife (3:13)
3. You Don't Own Me (2:24)
4. The New Zero (3:40)
5. Rose K. (2:46)
6. DwarfStar (2:43)
7. Sign of the Zodiac (3:47)
8. TrenchMouth (3:10)
9. Herb Girls of Birkenau (3:02)
10. MayFly (2:38)
11. Christian Soldiers (1:33)
12. Things I'm Gonna Do (3:11)
13. Diamond Mind (1:11)
14. How We Quit the Forest (2:36)
15. Watch T.V. (3:07)

Total time: 41:53

Line-up / Musicians

- Melora Creager / cello, vocals
- Julia Kent / cello
- Agnieszka Rybska / cello
- Chris Vrenna / drums

Releases information

CD Columbia CSK 41145 (1998) US (promo)
CD Columbia CK 68954 (1998) US

Thanks to ClemofNazareth for the addition
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RASPUTINA How We Quit the Forest ratings distribution


2.14
(3 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(0%)
0%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(0%)
0%
Good, but non-essential (50%)
50%
Collectors/fans only (50%)
50%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

RASPUTINA How We Quit the Forest reviews


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Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by ClemofNazareth
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog Folk Researcher
2 stars Rasputina's second album was also their last for a major label, after which they released a small EP of cover tunes and then disappeared into the touring vortex before reappearing with Instinct Records a few years later.

Fomer Nine Inch Nails drummer Chris Vrenna provides percussion and lots of programmed sounds on the album in addition to producing it. The result is a sound wholly unlike that of any other Rasputina album, richer in textures but decidedly more mainstream than anything else they have done before or since, with the possible exception of a covers- only EP released on RPM in 2001 (and reissued with additional tracks after the band signed to Instinct). In some ways this is a good thing since cello-only music has some inherent limitations; however, in recent years band leader Melora Creager has expanded her instrumentation to include dulcimer, banjo and harpsichord which along with a new cellist and percussionist means she doesn't really need much else to make viable music today. To the best of my knowledge this is the only band album Vrenna ever appeared on.

This album is out-of-print and original pressings are difficult to find and tend to be rather expensive, although digital downloads can be found on most music service sites. From what I understand there was a version with a video sequence as well, which I'd like to see sometime.

Most of these are original tunes with the exception of Leslie Gore's 1964 smash hit "You Don't Own Me" and a weird rendition of the Protestant children's martial hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers". That said, some of her musical attempts fall flat, especially the awkward spoken-word compositions "Dwarf Star" and "Diamond Mind" as well as a bizarre attempt at what sounds like a late 80s club-mix titled "Mayfly". In fact quite a bit of this album sounds like an old Martha & the Muffins record set to strings. Not sure if Creager was an M+M fan but I can picture her doing an "Echo Beach" cover quite convincingly. "The Olde Headboard" is another mix tune, and it became the last single she would release for Columbia.

This is an okay album I suppose, although it hasn't done much for me personally despite having played it quite a few times. "Leechwife" is the most interesting thing on the record with its faux crowd noises, sampled power chords and off kilter goth-like vocals. But that sound really doesn't fit this band, and for the most part everything they did after leaving Columbia sounds more authentic and natural for them.

This is a popular CD for Rasputina's fans, but not a good choice if you are trying to discover them anew. Unlike most bands whose discographies I've collected, this is one where starting with their latest and working backwards might make the most sense. If you're still hooked by the time you get to this one then by all means shell out the money and pick it up; otherwise take my word for it that this record fits the definition of 'for fans only' perfectly. Two stars out of five.

peace

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