Courtney Love

Wouldn't it be easy to goof on this album? There's no reason why I shouldn't: The songs are stacked full of Steve Miller rock clichés, the production sounds like someone hit the "Matchbox 20" button on the soundboard, and the artist is a publicity mutant. Yet, I'm feeling ambitious. I'm in the mood to discuss why America's Sweetheartisn't so bad. It's People magazine set to music! Oops. That one slipped out. Enough. Let's accentuate the positive:

Related Content

• The 13 Worst Songs to Listen to While High
  January 24, 2012
• Thoughts from the Nite Cap: Steve Miller Must Die
  October 20, 2010
• Bouncer: Hating Steve Miller and classic rockers at the Nite Cap
  October 20, 2010
• See The Oh Sees' Frontman John Dwyer's Photo Show at the Rite Spot Starting Tomorrow
  April 15, 2011
• Six Musicians Who'd Make a Better President Than Donald Trump
  May 2, 2011

More About

• Heart (Musical Group)
• Sunset Strip
• Steve Miller
• Linda Perry
• Pornography

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Music Newsletter: Keep your thumb on the local music scene with music features, additional online music listings and show picks. We'll also send special ticket offers and music promotions available only to our Music Newsletter subscribers.

Privacy Policy Cancel Continue

No. 1: In the song "Sunset Strip," Courtney sings, "Cruising down the Sunset Strip/ I can fly/ So high/ Tonight." Yep, those lyrics are stinkers. And I'm pretty sure Courtney isn't being ironic. Actually, she paid thousands for Pink's songwriter, the non-blonde Linda Perry, to scribble that horseshit down on some loose-leaf. But, this is a list of happy thoughts, so I'd like to also add that those lyrics are both simple and concise. Nice work.

No. 2: Portions of the record sound like Heart. Heart kicks ass. Unfortunately, Love's vocals are raspy and whiny, so it kinda ruins it. On "Uncool" she sings, "Every time you move/ Every time you breathe/ Baby, you're a freak show just like me/ I wanna be uncool." (Memo: The person who told you that you're cool was in error.) However, this list is a positive one, so I'd like to take this time to mention that America's Sweetheart has about three percent of the greatness of Heart's Dreamboat Annie.

No. 3: The record's cover. I enjoy pornography. I also enjoy cherry-flavored Halls cough drops in large quantities. The cover isn't pornography and there are no cough drops on it, but it makes me think about porno and cough drops. That's a good thing.

Whew. It was challenging to speak nicely about America's Sweetheart. I'm gonna go take a nap. Hold on. Lemme do a really nice, upbeat conclusion: This record is an exceptionally mediocre attempt to grunge up Sheryl Crow songwriting and it has a unique cover that is airbrushed almost enough to be sexy. Hooray for everything!