Short Sharp Shocked [Remastered] - Michelle Shocked

Advantages: Unusual, folky, intelligent
Disadvantages: A little serious at times

...After the breakthrough success of The Texas Campfire Tapes mini-album, Michelle Shocked returned with a full length LP that has stood the test of time. Born in February 1962, Karen Michelle Johnston went on to have one of the oddest, most eclectic careers in recent memory. For me the artistic peak she achieved with the album Short Sharp Shocked is unlikely to be matched, but she remains an interesting artist committed to human rights and to standing up for her beliefs. The record kicks off with When I Grow Up. From the very start Shocked is speaking to us from an unusual sensibility. A young artist at the start of her career planning her retirement as an old woman: “Me, my old man and a hundred and twenty babies” Never has old age sounded so joyous and aspirational. Later, on Memories of East Texas we learn that the future may seem... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent Variety, Fantastic Songs
Disadvantages: Quite Complex Lyrically In Places

...Short Sharp Shocked released in 1988 was the first studio album from Michelle Shocked and even today, despite having one of the most prolific careers of any recording artist, this remains in my opinion her finest moment. It was back in 1984 that the then 22 year old from East Texas born Karen Michelle Johnston released The Texas Campfire Tapes to the world. Recorded live on a tape recorder with the sound of crickets in the background it was a taster for things to come, but double crossing and copyright problems were to mean that it would be a further four years before any new material saw the light of day. That new material was Short Sharp Shocked and believe me it was well worth the wait. Short Sharp Shocked is a collection of ten folk/blues/guitar/rock tracks which tell the story of her childhood in East Texas. The lyrics... Read review

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Advantages: It's Kiss!
Disadvantages: more live songs would have been better

...Going back in the annals of time, I remember when I first heard Kiss - it was Alive 2 and more accurately Ace Frehley's song 'Shock Me' which just blew me away! I'd never really heard hard rock before and what came of the speakers of my very modest system at the time (1978 as I recall) was nothing short of breathtaking! 22 years on and the album still has no competition. People mocked it when it was released as it only had 3 sides of live material with the fourth being studio tracks, but it still had more live songs than its predecessor AND also new tracks (Rocket Ride being the best) Unless Kiss' last ever album Alive 4 is stupendous, then they have never bettered Alive 2 in terms of the performances - this, along with Psycho Circus will be the album they will be remembered by.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful