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Star (Belly album)

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Star
Studio album by
Belly
ReleasedJanuary 25, 1993 (UK)
February 2, 1993 (US)
Recorded
Genre
Length50:53
Label
Producer
Belly chronology
Star
(1993) 		King
(1995)
Singles from Star
  1. "Gepetto"
    Released: November 9, 1992
  2. "Feed the Tree"
    Released: January 11, 1993
  3. "Full Moon, Empty Heart"
    Released: 1993
  4. "Slow Dog"
    Released: 1993

Star is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band Belly, released on January 25, 1993.

Background

In the 1980s and 1990s, vocalist and guitarist Tanya Donelly performed with Throwing Muses and the Breeders. After recording the latter's Safari EP in 1992, she decided to quit both bands to solely focus on her own band, Belly. Belly formed at the end of the previous year, consisting of Donelly, guitarist Thomas Gorman, bassist Fred Absong and drummer Chris Gorman. They released their debut EP Slow Dust in June 1992, produced by Gil Norton, and followed it up with the Gepetto EP in November.[2]

Composition

Along with alternative rock and jangle pop, the songs on Star also dig into "haunting", "avant" folk rock.[3][4] Tanya Donelly was credited with pushing dream pop's boundaries by "trimming away its pretensions" while keeping its "trancy harmonies".[3] A "distinct post-punk quality" has also been seen in the music, alongside some country and Spaghetti Western influences.[5]

Release

Star was released on January 25, 1993 and was an unexpected success. Absong departed from the group in May 1993, his role being filled by Gail Greenwood.[6] On February 21, 1994, the album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of at least 500,000 units.[7]

The single "Feed the Tree" became a number one hit on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, as well as a surprise pop hit, peaking at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the late spring of 1993.[8][9] The music video for "Feed the Tree" was a smash buzz bin MTV hit, and was nominated for Best Alternative Video VMA and Best New Artist VMA in 1993. "Slow Dog" peaked at number 17 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in the summer of 1993,[10] while "Gepetto" peaked at number 8 in the late fall/winter of 1993,[11] as well as charting on the Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart for five weeks in the late fall/winter of 1993.

"Angel" is not a rerecording of the song of the same name that Tanya Donelly wrote with Throwing Muses for their 1989 album Hunkpapa.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Chicago Tribune[12]
Entertainment WeeklyB[13]
NME8/10[14]
Q[15]
Record Collector[16]
Rolling Stone[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[17]
Slant Magazine[5]
Spin Alternative Record Guide6/10[18]

In 1994, Star was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album, while Belly were nominated for Best New Artist. The band won Best Modern Rock Act at the Boston Music Awards, while Star won the Debut Album of the Year award.[6]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Tanya Donelly, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Someone to Die For" 2:04
2."Angel" 2:58
3."Dusted" 2:48
4."Every Word" 3:33
5."Gepetto" 3:24
6."Witch" 1:35
7."Slow Dog" 4:02
8."Low Red Moon" 5:32
9."Feed the Tree" 3:29
10."Full Moon, Empty Heart" 3:02
11."White Belly"
  • Donelly
  • Fred Abong
3:36
12."Untogether" 4:43
13."Star" 1:27
14."Sad Dress" 3:44
15."Stay" 4:56
Total length:50:53

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic's Credits page for Star.[19]

Belly

  • Tanya Donelly – vocals, guitar
  • Fred Abong – bass
  • Chris Gorman – drums, percussion
  • Thomas Gorman – guitar, organ

Additional musicians

Technical

Artwork and design

  • Chris Bigg – design
  • Chris Gorman – photography

Charts

Chart performance for Star
Chart (1993) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[20] 74
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[21] 65
UK Albums (OCC)[22] 2
US Billboard 200[23] 59
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[24] 1

Certifications

Certifications for Star
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[7] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

Citations

  1. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (February 10, 1993). "Belly: Happy days in hell". The Guardian. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  2. ^ Thompson 2000, p. 185
  3. ^ a b c Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Star – Belly". AllMusic. Retrieved March 7, 2006.
  4. ^ a b Ransom, Kevin (April 15, 1993). "Belly: Star". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 6, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Cinquemani, Sal (January 26, 2008). "Belly: Star". Slant Magazine. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  6. ^ a b Thompson 2000, p. 186
  7. ^ a b "American album certifications – Belly – Star". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  8. ^ Classic 45s, "Feed the Tree." ("Chart info: #95p in May, #1m in January 1993")
  9. ^ Michael Verity, "Belly And 'Star,'" WNEW.radio.com, December 14, 2011.
  10. ^ Billboard, "Modern Rock Tracks," June 5, 1993.
  11. ^ Billboard, "Modern Rock Tracks," November 27, 1993.
  12. ^ Caro, Mark (February 25, 1993). "Belly: Star (Sire)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  13. ^ Zacharek, Stephanie (January 29, 1993). "Star". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  14. ^ Harris, John (January 23, 1993). "Alternative Ulcer" (PDF). NME. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  15. ^ Anon. 1993, p. 83
  16. ^ Peacock, Tim (August 2016). "Belly – Star". Record Collector. No. 456. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  17. ^ Sinagra 2004, p. 60
  18. ^ Fleissner 1995, pp. 36–37
  19. ^ "Star – Belly – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  20. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 28.
  21. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Belly – Star" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  22. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  23. ^ "Belly Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  24. ^ "Belly Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  25. ^ "British album certifications – Belly – Star". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 14, 2018.

Sources

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