Holy Smokes

by Suzzy Roche

Overview

The youngest and most extroverted of the quirky, funny, touching Roche sisters, Suzzy Roche might have been expected to make a funnier and quirkier, but less touching solo album, if only because she often provides comic relief in the group. Instead, her solo debut is more touching and not particularly amusing (though one can imagine her getting laughs with some of the lyrics in concert), its tone set by the first two songs, "My My Broken Heart" and "Crash," both of which concern love lost. Elsewhere, Roche, always sounding restrained, constructs free-form mood pieces for the most part, full of references to more love lost and travel. The two strongest (and most direct) songs are "ABCs," which is about aging, and "Breathing," which is about her daughter. In those songs, and at times in others, she finds expressive ways to communicate emotional insights. Yet this is an oddly tentative premiere for such a seasoned performer, and not as much fun as it should have been. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	09/16/1997
Label:	Red House Records
UPC:	0033651010425
Rank:	209002

Tracks

1. My My Broken Heart
2. Crash
3. Eggshell
4. Holy Smokes
5. Rules
6. The Second Coming of Eli
7. Losing
8. Lightning Storm
9. ABC's
10. Pink Ballet Slippers
11. Breathing
12. Two Bumps on a Log

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Suzzy Roche   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Wurlitzer,Vocals (Background),Piano
Jules Shear   Guest Artist,Vocals
David Mansfield   Violin,Guitar (Electric),Banjo,Dobro,Guitar
Stewart Smith   Ebo,Piano,Guitar,Harmonium,Wah Wah Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Dave Douglas   Trumpet
Joe Bonadio   Drums,Percussion
Maggie Roche   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Paul Ossola   Bass,Standup Bass,Bass (Upright)
Charlie Giordano   Piano,Accordion
Jim Busby   Piano,Guitar
Larry Campbell   Violin
Frank Vilardi   Drums,Dumbek,Percussion
Stewart Lerman   Bass,Piano,Guitar,Percussion,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Electric)
Steuart Smith   Ebo,Piano,Guitar,Harmonium,Wurlitzer,Wah Wah Guitar,Guitar (Electric)

Technical Credits

Suzzy Roche   Composer,Producer
Noah Simon   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
David Glasser   Mastering
Charlie Hunter   Design,Artwork,Layout Design
Ann Marsden   Photography
Jude Roche   Composer
Andy Cohen   Photography
Matt Kane   Assistant
Stewart Lerman   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Aaron Keane   Assistant,Assistant Engineer