This albums excellence is proof that time has done nothing to diminish the power of this band. Reunions are normally lost causes, but not in this case - the Muses returned with their loudest, noisiest, most immediate album yet and it's one of their best.

Their final album as a quartet, The Real Ramona marked the perfect balance of the Muses' angular songwriting and latent pop tendencies and highlights the best points of the group's sound, making it a great starting point for new Throwing Muses fans.

On Hunkpapa, Throwing Muses' volatility settled into a jangly, angular style of college rock though it finds the them in a transitional period with both Hersh and Donelly broadening their songwriting.

On their second album Throwing Muses apply more polish, craft and melody to the challenging style they forged on their debut, proving the band could expand on their unique sound without sacrificing any of its originality. The CD also contains The Fat Skier EP.

On what was to be the last Muses' album for several years, the fearlessly clean production style lays bare Hersh's singular songwriting gift. This is an album full of subtle shifts and sudden sharp turns with rushes of masterful, mostly clean-toned guitar.

Possibly their finest album, Throwing Muses' fifth album blends the rock power of Red Heaven, their first effort as a trio, with the shiny, surreal pop of The Real Ramona and is as hypnotic as it is accessible.

One of Throwing Muses' finest albums, it showcases Hersh's continuing development as a powerful and eclectic performer. The band's pace has slowed into a slinky, winding groove that is more solid and forceful than the volatile tempo shifts of its early work.