Hologram of Baal

Hologram of Baal
Studio album by The Church
Released	8 September 1998
Recorded	1998
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	50:40
Label	Thirsty Ear Recordings
Producer	The Church
The Church chronology
Magician Among the Spirits (1996) Hologram of Baal (1998) A Box of Birds (1999)

Hologram of Baal is the tenth studio album released by Australian alternative rock group, The Church.^[1] It was released on 8 September 1998.

With the full-time return of founding guitarist, Peter Koppes, the band returned to their roots with an album of songs that recalled the atmospheric and layered guitar sounds of Heyday (November 1985) and Starfish (February 1988). The preferred title, front man Steve Kilbey, wanted was Hologram of Allah, but this was rejected as too inflammatory, so they replaced the latter name with Baal, after the title of various Canaanite gods.

During the subsequent tour in 1999, Kilbey was arrested in New York City for attempting to purchase heroin. He was sentenced to community service by sweeping subway cars. The band performed the following night at New York's Bowery Ballroom with Marty Willson-Piper serving as lead vocalist, known on bootlegs as the Steveless in New York City. The album track, "This Is It", is about the death of INXS front man and fellow Australian, Michael Hutchence.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

Track listing

1. "Anaesthesia"
2. "Ricochet"
3. "Louisiana"
4. "The Great Machine"
5. "No Certainty Attached"
6. "Tranquility"
7. "Buffalo"
8. "This is It"
9. "Another Earth"
10. "Glow-Worm"

Bastard Universe (Australian Edition)

1. "Stage 1" 15:52
2. "Stage 2" 11:31
3. "Stage 3" 13:04
4. "Stage 4" 12:23
5. "Stage 5" 10:49
6. "Stage 6" 15:39

The bonus disc, Bastard Universe was included on some pressings,^[1] as a limited edition "jam" disc of six freestyle jams lasting 70+ minutes in total. Certain US and UK pressing list only four tracks, but the Australian release included all "six stages."

References