The Muffs "Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow" 1999

Often described as a pop-punk band, the Muffs both defined and transcended that subgenre. Led by guitarist, singer, and songwriter Kim Shattuck, the Muffs played rock & roll that was fast, loud, and cheerfully snotty, but they also had an uncommon gift for melody and pop hooks, with the sweet and sour sides of the music eagerly complementing one another...
...Shattuck was also blessed with a great rock & roll voice, sounding sweetly girlish or culminating in a throaty roar, and she could write lyrics that were deeply serious and introspective without sacrificing the drive of the band when they hit fifth gear. With Shattuck usually joined by bassist Ronnie Barnett and drummer Roy McDonald, the Muffs earned a reputation as a first-rate live act before they were signed to Warner Bros. for their self-titled 1993 debut album, which hit just the right balance of punch and polish, while the follow-up, 1995's Blonder and Blonder (which introduced the definitive lineup of the group) was nearly as good and just as enjoyable. Moving to the indie labels after being dropped by Warner Bros., their recording schedule became more sporadic, but 2014's Whoop Dee Doo was a late-career triumph that ranked with their finest work, and 2019's No Holiday was a bittersweet and emotional goodbye, completed as Shattuck was struggling with a fatal case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
The story of the Muffs began in the '80s, when Kim Shattuck and Melanie Vammen were both members of the L.A. band the Pandoras, an all-female outfit who began as garage rock revivalists and evolved into high-attitude hard rockers. Shattuck and Vammen both left the Pandoras in 1990, shortly before the death of band leader Paula Pierce. Eager to make music together, Shattuck and Vammen launched the Muffs, with Shattuck on lead vocals and lead guitar, Vammen on rhythm guitar, Ronnie Barnett on bass, and Chris Crass on drums. The band's tough but tuneful music and raucous live shows helped them gain a following in Los Angeles, as did early indie singles issued by Sub Pop and Sympathy for the Record Industry. Warner Bros. signed the band to a record deal, and in 1993 they released their self-titled first album, which earned alternative radio airplay for the songs "Everywhere I Go" and "Lucky Guy." The Muffs toured extensively in support, and tensions within the band soon made themselves known; Chris Crass soon left the band, with Jim Laspesa taking his place for touring. After the tour was completed, Melanie Vammen also dropped out, going on to play with the Leaving Trains...to be continued... - Biography by Mark Deming
trax:
01 I Wish That I Could Be You 02 Silly People 03 Another Ugly Face 04 Prettier Than Me 05 Clown 06 Your Kiss 07 Numb 08 I'm Not Around 09 Blow Your Mind 10 Room With No View 11 Dear Liar Love Me 12 In 13 Jack Champagne