The Dirt of Luck is the first full-length album from American indie rock band Helium.[3][4] It was released in April 1995 on Matador Records and was produced by Adam Lasus.

The Dirt of Luck
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 1995
Recorded1994
GenreIndie rock
Length44:17
LabelMatador[1]
ProducerHelium
Adam Lasus[2]
Helium chronology
Pirate Prude
(1994)
The Dirt of Luck
(1995)
Superball E.P.
(1995)

Recording

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The album was partly recorded by Timony and Devlin, before bassist Ash Bowie joined the group.[5]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [6]
Chicago Tribune    [7]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [8]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide     [9]
Orlando Sentinel     [10]
Pitchfork8.0/10[12]
The Village Voice [11]

Trouser Press wrote: "Best of all is the opener, 'Pat’s Trick,' a distorted, percussive exercise in sexual obsession made riveting by Timony’s fluttering-yet- powerful delivery."[3] Salon wrote that "the arcing melodies on notable Dirt of Luck songs such as 'Pat's Trick' and 'Honeycomb' contort like a kite twisting in the sky, as Timony's dusky voice and noisy guitar hum add a steadying presence."[13] Rolling Stone called the album an "off-kilter pop opus."[14] Gimme Indie Rock: 500 Essential American Underground Rock Albums 1981-1996 called it "a beacon of progressive noise-pop."[15]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Pat's Trick"3:20
2."Trixie's Star"2:44
3."Silver Angel"2:54
4."Baby's Going Underground"6:24
5."Medusa"3:10
6."Comet #9"2:09
7."Skeleton"4:11
8."Superball"2:35
9."All the X's Have Wings"3:13
10."Oh, the Wind and Rain"5:29
11."Honeycomb"4:22
12."Flower of the Apocalypse"3:46

Personnel

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  • Mary Timony - Organ, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Xylophone
  • Ash Bowie - Bass, Guitar, Keyboards
  • Shawn King Devlin - Percussion, Drums
  • Adam Lasus - Producer, Engineer
  • Greg Calbi - Mastering
  • Kendall Meade - Artwork

References

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  1. ^ "The Dirt of Luck". store.matadorrecords.com.
  2. ^ Niesel, Jeff. "Singer-Guitarist Mary Timony Revisits Helium's Music in Advance of Reunion Show". Cleveland Scene.
  3. ^ a b "Helium". Trouser Press. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Helium | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  5. ^ Thompson, Dave (October 15, 2000). Alternative Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780879306076 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ Phares, Heather. The Dirt of Luck at AllMusic
  7. ^ Ryan, Mo (29 June 1995). "The Dirt of Luck Review". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on December 21, 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  8. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 227.
  9. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 539.
  10. ^ Gettelman, Parry (1995-08-11). "Helium". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
  11. ^ Christgau, Robert (1996-01-23). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice.
  12. ^ Schroeder, Amy (24 May 2017). "The Dirt of Luck". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  13. ^ "For '90s indie fave Helium, a simple reissue became a second act". Salon. May 18, 2017.
  14. ^ Exposito, Suzy (June 9, 2017). "Helium's Mary Timony Talks Two Decades of Offbeat Indie-Rock Excellence". Rolling Stone.
  15. ^ Earles, Andrew (September 15, 2014). Gimme Indie Rock: 500 Essential American Underground Rock Albums 1981-1996. Voyageur Press. ISBN 9780760346488 – via Google Books.