Throwing Muses

"Hey, can you hold on?"

Before I can answer, the sound of clunks, shuffles, and squeals peel through the receiver.

"Sorry! His hair is drying all kooky!" Kristen Hirsch jumps back to conduct this oh-so-serious promotional interview for the Throwing Muses' new album, Limbo, and the short, select-city tour accompanying it. The twice-over rock mom is no stranger to road life with child; early fans might remember son Dylan on her hip, some 10 years ago. This time out, she and 5-year-old club-veteran Ryder have just jumped out of the shower. Hirsch has good news: She's five months into pregnancy with baby due this winter.

"I feel great; could use some sleep, though," Hirsch chirps. "I'm pretty good at being pregnant." The inherent stress of her condition doesn't affect her attitude in the least. She turns any talk of hard life on the road to her son's perspective: "He's cool on tour, on the bus; I mean, as long as [he doesn't] know the difference..."

This pragmatic glee oozes into her theme for 1996: "This is the best place the band has ever been. This record is the most realized."

Limbo's dry vocals and clean guitars are far from the lush, affected productions of Muses past. "There's something about showing a face without makeup." Hirsch grins audibly, "It was clear from the outset: these songs needed clarity. We have no reason to do anything that the music doesn't ask us to do." Which is not to say that this is not a demanding album. Between the Beto Hernandez (Love & Rockets comics) cover art and Hirsch's equally jarring songwriting, faithful fans have little cause for worry. "This is not ear candy," she says.

With all of this self-confident contentment, is Limbo such a good title for the Muses new record? Hirsch assures that I'm probing too deeply, "It's Limbo because I don't like to title records. It fits on the CD!" she jokes. "Actually we decided on a title track." She rethinks her options, "It is a funny little dance! And it's somewhere in between..." -- Kate X Messer