📬 Get the Newsletter: Weekly podcasts, 'History of the Band' articles, new music reviews & more

Podcast Episode
Season
Thirteen
number
678
Type
Album Review
Post Date
9/26/2023

Tracy Bonham

678 The Burdens of Being Upright by Tracy Bonham

The Burdens of Being Upright

Label
Island
Release year
196
Producer
Sean Slade, Paul Q. Kolderie
Transparent Embed Background

Tracy Bonham's 1996 debut album showcases her skill for crafting a radio earworm like "Mother Mother" but loses steam on the deeper cuts

Author & Special Guests

Major label debuts for any artist can be a double-edged sword. Recording a group of songs you've had years to craft means they've spent plenty of time in the woodshed, but the pressure to produce a hit, especially in the back half of the 90s, means sometimes the obvious singles get the most attention in the studio and post-production. That is the semi-issue with Tracy Bonham's 1996 freshman release The Burdens of Being Upright. Chock full of interesting, catchy tunes like the hit single "Mother Mother," the bouncy "The One," the punky "Bulldog," and others helps the record fly by in entertaining fashion. As high as the highs are, there are no low lows, just some disappointing valleys that sound like the first draft of what could have been much more.

Does This album bring back some great vibes?

Remember when you first discovered this album? We’re grateful to dig into these hidden gems and bring them the attention they deserve. Your support helps us uncover more albums deserve another moment in the spotlight.

Songs in this episode

  • Intro - Navy Bean
  • 16:28 - Mother Mother
  • 22:45 - Tell It To The Sky
  • 32:29 - Sharks Can't Sleep
  • Outro - The One

Follow us to know when this episode is available

We are a weekly podcast with new episodes published every Tuesday morning. Subscribe to the show in iTunes or your favorite podcast app to get new episode delivered to you. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for episode releases, previews and 90's rock news.

View in iTunes
Social media

Playlist

Spotify playlist for this episode

The Burdens of Being Upright