This Hungry Life

This Hungry Life is a live album, but not a conventional one. Tanya Donelly and her band did record in front of an audience (over the course of two nights in an small room at an old hotel in Vermont), but rather than perform and record a set and call it done as is the norm with most live albums, they invited the audience to witness part of the creative process as well. According to Donelly, the experience included “stops and starts, multiple takes, endless tunings, lots of sweating and a little swearing.” The experiment obviously worked because this is a stunning collection of songs with an energy and warmth that can be difficult to capture in a studio. Donelly’s vocals are as tender and emotionally charged as ever, and the nine originals showcase her strong songwriting skills. (There's also a gorgeous version of the Beatles’ White Album gem “Long Long Long.”) As a former member of such indie icons as Throwing Muses, Belly, and The Breeders, Donelly still enjoys a loyal following, and those fans should swoon over this release. For those who haven’t followed her solo career, This Hungry Life would be an excellent place to get reacquainted.