When I first heard the first hit and title track of this album, "Celebrity Skin", the first thing that came to my mind was "Pop-Rock". That term actually describes most of the album. It's not really grunge-ish, which wasn't too expected, but there isn't even any songs containing Courtney Love's beautiful screaming voice.

The music is, as said before, pop-rockish. Loud, but not too heavy guitars, and nice, melodic riffs that make this album very pretty sounding. Courtney sings with a very nice, smooth and pretty voice. Which is a little different from their sophomore release Live Through This. You can tell that Billy Corgan helped produce, write, and contribute music to this album. Some of the beginnings of a few of the songs are very pumpkin-esque.

The lyrics sound like they are pretty much about what Courtney went through since the release of their last album. Even in "Celebrity Skin" with lines like "wilted and faded somewhere in Hollywood/I'm glad I came here, with your pound of flesh" refer to a sold-out, dead-careered actress. A lot of the lyrics are repetitive. For example the line "crash and burn" is in a few of the songs. The biggest coincidence is the lyrics to "Playing Your Song". If you read them you just know that it's about Kurt Cobain, Courtney's late husband. In an interview Courtney said something like that the song is "the last grunge song made". Like, the song is about the 'death of grunge'. An interesting concept about the lyrics is in two of the songs ">Reasons To Be Beautiful" and "Malibu", Courtney refers to herself in the third person, as Love. That writing technique isn't seen in many song lyrics.

Each song has the brilliant guitars of Eric Erlandson and the intense voice of Courtney Love, but their both used different in each song. "Reasons To Be Beautiful" sounds like it's about 'rich' people and what Courtney felt when she went through her little glam/celebrity phase. Most of the songs are upbeat but are still very sad and emotional. "Awful" is an upbeat, catchy tune but with not so happy lyrics. Almost all of the songs are understandable and catchy enough to sing along to. "Dying" is kind of like that. "Playing Your Song" is probably the only real song where 'badass' Courtney uses her screaming voice, we are all familiar with from Live Through This.

Overall, I was a bit disappointed with this album, as a Hole fan. I don't really like pop-rock, but Courtney's voice still has the intensity to keep your attention. This actually isn't one of those albums where the more you listen to it, them or you like it. It just kind of stays the same.

1. Celebrity Skin
2. Awful
3. Hit So Hard
4. Malibu
5. Reasons To Be Beautiful
6. Dying
7. Use Once & Destroy
8. Northern Lights
9. Boys On The Radio
10. Heaven Tonight
11. Playing Your Song
12. Petals

Best Aspect: Good guitars
Worst Aspect: Departure
Yay: Celebrity Skin, Dying
Nay: Northern Lights
The hits: Celebrity Skin, Malibu
Similar: Fiona Apple
Style: Pop-Rock
Special Notes: The lyrics are included in the cd booklet.