Violent Femmes

When the Violent Femmes debut became a left field hit, Gordon Gano momentarily committed career suicide with this twisted ode to God (Gano's view of the Lord is closer to Johnny Cash or Nick Cave's dark visions than to the CCM crowd's sunny vibes). Possibly too eccentric and freethinking for born agains, Hallowed Ground is bookended by two awesome tracks: "Country Death Song" and the infectious gospel rocker "It's Gonna Rain."

First time out they sounded so original musically that I made it a spiritual exercise to forgive Gordon Gano his bad personality. But everything you might hum along with on the sequel was invented generations ago by better men than he. And though "Black Girls" may not be racist (or "f*gg*t"-baiting), it takes a great deal of petulant delight in daring you to call it a name. Then again, maybe it is racist. (Grade - C+)