The most intriguing and adventurous cut is `Flood.' The composition opens with a sparkling guitar lead, overlays Kristin's voice with tick-tock string plucking, breaks into a second vocal melody (and a higher octave), then ends with a short synthesized harmony. The cut also changes tempo at least twice. If this sounds tedious and studied, it's not meant to. University is not a compilation of toe-tapping ditties. Each composition is smart and unique: `Start' is atonal, `That's All You Wanted' multi-layers Kristin's vocal harmonies, and `University' pastes together an assortment of sounds effects (including a child's voice) with rhythm guitar. Their frequent use of dissonance and resolution is scarce (and seldom accomplished) in popular music.

University reminds me of the noise-as-music experimentation of The Velvet Underground, the ambient pieces of Brian Eno, and the electronic experimentation of The United States Of America. I must credit Throwing Muses for their courageous risk taking and subsequent success.


A blinding blizzard of pure musical talent   February 9, 1999
Micah Newman (Austin, TX United States)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Okay, two great things about this album: a) Kristin is in particularly good form here. Her quality of execution in both guitar playing and vocals is simply stunning. This is an album made by someone who musically knows what she wants, and goddamn NAILS it! b) Bernard Georges gets a really *sweet* bass tone on this album. Perhaps I'm predisposed to notice that since I'm a bass player myself, but this is just emblematic of what this album is all about; each member of the trio making the most of their individual abilities to create a product that is as airtight and downright superb as any album you'd care to name. Give it time to sink in, though, that's the case with every Throwing Muses album. But they are worth it in spades...


Where was I?   November 17, 2004
Keith Dale Clabaugh (Piermont, NY USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I can't remember where I was when I first heard Kristen Hersch and Throwing Muses. I'm not even sure what made me go out and purchase "University", but there it was, popped into my CD player - again, and again, and again, and again. I couldn't find anyone to share my enthusiasm over this record and was fairly dumbfounded as to why TM was not on the lips of every indy rocker out there. Just mine. But that was okay, because I had found something that no one else had or seemed to appreciate. "University" was a turning point for me, as I had finally discovered music that somebody made that seemed to be made just for me. I didn't care if others didn't share my enthusiasm, or didn't think it was the best thing they've ever heard. It just didn't matter. What mattered was there was a band out there that didn't care, either. They just made music that made them feel good, and didn't give a damn that they weren't cracking the top 40. And that made me feel good, too.


Direct , poisonous rock   September 14, 2004
giovanni (Greece)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

It's a depressing thought really , that more people on this earth own a Goo Goo Dolls cd than a Throwing Muses one . Unlike the various one hit wonders of our times though , the Muses' music always had the ability to stay for a long long time in the minds and hearts of the listeners who chose to explore it .

Their 1995 offering " University " is one of the most sharp rock records of that year . Kristin Hersh powerfully perfomes some of the tracks in a serial killer-like style ( " Bright Yellow Gun " , " Shimmer " ) and others almost sounding in pain ( " Hazing " , " Flood " ) . The tittle track is a haunting instrumental piece which feels like child ghosts playing hide and seek while " Teller " is probably the album's discreet highlight . The most suprising track though must be " Snakeface " where the band lets loose and delivers a sly , highly addictive melody .

None of the Muses' albums ever reached the top 20 but that is mostly because they themselfs seem to prefer to be rock's most enigmatic underdogs capable of remarkable things . Overall , " University " is first-class stuff , full of satanic riffs and arresting vocals . Sadly out of stock in amazon.com , this is one for you to pick up right away.



A Throwing Muses essential   June 12, 2003
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

University is, flat out, one of the best rock albums of the nineties (so is the Muses' other "masterpiece," The Real Ramona). University is louder and more immediate than its predecessor right from the first song (Bright Yellow Gun). It's a wide ranging album, expanding on the pop-rock sensibilities found in The Real Ramona with songs like Shimmer and Bright Yellow Gun, but also showcasing slower, melodic tunes (Crabtown, Snakeface), and more aggressive works (Hazing, Shimmer). The Muses are in top form here; Hersh's songwriting is excellent and the band presents a coherent, uniformly excellent album. If you like inventive, aggressive rock music, this album is for you.