UPDATES/LINKS. RASPUTINA

At some point I will try and write a more in-depth article/history of Rasputina but for now here's a brief update.    The current line-up is Melora Creager, Luis Mojica and Carpella Parvo.

Rasputina have released several more albums - Sister Kinderhook, Unknown (a concept album that is only available direct from their website), and the compilation album, Great American Gingerbread. They also released a compilation of demos from 1991 - 1997 called Magnetic Strip (which is only available as a digital download direct from their website).

Since the last issue of PussyRock zine Melora has released another solo album, Melora A La Basilica and a couple of limited edition CDs --- Ancient Cross-Dressing Songs and The Willow Tree Triptych (which was a limited edition of 100 with individual hand-collaged covers autographed by Melora).  They were sold at their gigs/through the website but are now sold out (although her solo album is still available). Melora also recorded a limited edition CD, Fa La La which is now sold out and contributed songs/put together a compilation album called Dedication Compilation which was released for the 20th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death. (Melora had played cello with Nirvana on their final European tour).

Melora has also released a limited edition CD of a live Rasputina concert entitled The Pregnant Concert - Live From Knitting Factory and that is still available via their website as well as other merchandise.  She also worked on the soundtrack to Repo! The Genetic Opera.  

There was also a documentary about the band called Under The Corset that was released in 2010.

Rasputina and Melora Creager official website
Rasputina on Facebook

REVIEW. MELORA CREAGER --- PERPLEXIONS.

Melora Creager is the founder member (and main vocalist/songwriter) for cello-rock ensemble Rasputina.  This is her first solo CD and was released at the end of 2006.  Musically, it isn't a great departure from the Rasputina sound although Melora has used keyboards on a couple of songs which Rasputina have only used on rare occasions earlier in their career.  The songs are more towards the quirkier, unusual type of Rasputina song so although they do sound good they lack the immediate impact of songs like The Mayor or AntiqueHighHeelRedDollShoes.   It's been indicated that she intended this EP to be a taster for the next Rasputina album but presumably contractual obligatons meant she had to release it under her own name  (Rasputina are now on their own label, Filthy Bonnet Co.) rather than as a Rasputina EP.

Their previous E.P.s had been comprised solely of cover versions/remixes and they'd already done a live album so maybe she thought it would be good to do something different as a taster so this EP features 6 original tracks and 1 cover version, American Girl by Tom Petty.  This EP continues the theme that Rasputina have used in the past of writing about historical events in an eccentric way or interpreting current events with an idiosyncratic twist.  So we get songs about the volcanic eruption at Krakatoa and Warbots (military robots) and lyrics taken from the news reports of the California storms from a few years ago.  But apart from a great rendition of American Girl, I'm afraid that although it was pleasant enough, it didn't haunt me in the way previous Rasputina releases have.  If you're a die hard Rasputina fan you'll probably still like to have it and it's enough of a curiousity to be worth taking a chance on if you're a fan of other great eccentrics like Joanna Newsome or Bjork but if you're looking for a specific introduction to the genius of Rasputina, I'd honestly recommend an earlier album.

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN MAY 2008.