Holy Smoke (Peter Murphy album)

Holy Smoke
Studio album by Peter Murphy
Released 14 April 1992
Recorded Maison Rouge Studios, London; The Stereo Society, New York
Genre Alternative rock, gothic rock, art rock
Length 48:46
Label Beggars Banquet
Producer Mike Thorne, Peter Murphy
Peter Murphy chronology
Deep
(1989)		 Holy Smoke
(1992)		 Cascade
(1995)
Singles from Peter Murphy
  1. "You're So Close"
    Released: 1992
  2. "The Sweetest Drop"
    Released: 1992
  3. "Hit Song"
    Released: 1992
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyB[2]

Holy Smoke is the fourth solo studio album by English musician Peter Murphy. It was released on 14 April 1992 through Beggars Banquet Records. Produced by Mike Thorne, tha album features contributions from Alison Limerick, Jonathan Carney, Audrey Riley and The Hundred Man, his backing band since 1988's Love Hysteria album.[3]

Although the album couldn't meet with the commercial success of its predecessor, Deep (1990),[4] it peaked at number 108 on Billboard 200 chart.[5] The lead single off the album, "The Sweetest Drop", peaked at number 2 on Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.[6]

Critical reception

Ned Raggett of Allmusic was mixed in his assessment of the album. He stated: "Released in the initial craze of the grunge/alternative mega-crossover, Smoke's elegant ballads and angular, arty rockers simply didn't fit in." Nevertheless, he also described the album as a "quite a strong release, due to "avoiding any cloning of Deep or "Cuts You Up" in favor of a different approach meant to bring out the band's live power more directly." He also praised Mike Thorne's production work, commenting that it gives the album "a crisp, solid punch throughout, even during its quieter moments."[1] Bill Wyman of Entertainment Weekly also praised the albums "sophisticated" production, calling it as "lush and very adult." He also wrote: "When the music and lyrics come together, it's almost touching, as on the sardonically named "Hit Song", which sounds to me like a vampire pleading for his mortality back."[2]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Peter Murphy and Paul Statham except where noted. 

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Keep Me From Harm"    4:26
2. "Kill the Hate"  Murphy 4:48
3. "You're So Close"    5:30
4. "The Sweetest Drop"    6:55
5. "Low Room"  Murphy, Eddie Branch, Peter Bonas, Terl Bryant 4:23
6. "Let Me Love You"  Murphy 3:33
7. "Our Secret Garden"  Murphy 5:46
8. "Dream Gone By"    6:05
9. "Hit Song"  Murphy, The Hundred Men 5:32
10. Untitled (hidden track)  0:48
Total length:
 48:46

Personnel

The Hundred Men
Additional musicians
Other personnel

Chart positions

Album
Charts (1992) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[5] 108
Singles
Year Song Chart Peak
position
1992 "You're So Close" Modern Rock Tracks 18[6]
"The Sweetest Drop" 2[6]

References

  1. 1 2 Raggett, Ned. "Peter Murphy - Holy Smoke". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  2. 1 2 Wyman, Bill (29 May 1992). "Holy Smoke (1992) - Peter Murphy". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  3. ↑ Raggett, Ned. "Peter Murphy - Love Hysteria". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  4. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Peter Murphy". Allmusic. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Peter Murphy- Billboard 200 chart". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 "Peter Murphy- Alternative songs chart". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2014.

External links


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