Deeper Cuts: Violent Femmes

A look past the hits to my personal favorites

Their Wikipedia entry calls them an American folk punk band. I can get behind that. I’ve long thought Violent Femmes don’t get the recognition they deserve in the alt-country genre and group of beloved bands like the Meat Puppets, The Rave-Ups, etc.

I can easily see my early love of Violent Femmes, especially The Blind Leading The Naked, leading to my later fondness for Old 97’s and The Deathray Davies.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved the punk rock power fest that was “Add It Up,” but the slower, stranger, country-tinged tracks quickly gained my interest and abiding love.