Hole
Nobody's Daughter

The first Hole album since 1998's 'Celebrity Skin' was certainly set up to be a spectacular comeback for Courtney Love, but there's a distinct lack of blistering rock tunes here. Has Ms. Love lost it?

She's back, but don't say you weren't warned. It's been 12 years since Courtney Love's last (successful) endeavour with Hole, although a brief foray into the solo world in 2004 kept her in the spotlight, if nothing else. Love now has work to do to win back the fans that have drifted away since 'Celebrity Skin', as well as win over a new legion with her fresh material for the band's fourth album.

Step one was enlisting Michael Beinhorn on production. Beinhorn's experience with hard rock bands like Korn and Soundgarden would usually make complete sense when working with Hole, but since most of these songs were written on acoustic guitar during Love's stint in rehab several years ago, his ear for fiery riffage is all but redundant on 'Nobody's Daughter.'

Of course, that doesn't mean that there aren't some pleasant enough offerings: the title track, 'Samantha' and 'Loser Dust' are about the best tracks here, bringing some much needed oomph to a album frame largely constructed of steely, grungy acoustic-based tunes with moody basslines and Love's husky, anguished yelp.

There's no denying that the singer is feeling sorry for herself, and perhaps that's the most frustrating thing about this album. 'Letter to God' is a woeful slice of melancholic self-pity, while closing track 'Never Go Hungry' sounds like she's desperately trying to channel some sort of Bob Dylanesque poetry. There's no denying that Love has had a sad, slightly unhinged life - but if she had come back with a kick-arse album that really grabbed you by the lapels, there's no doubt that she would have earned peoples' respect the honest way. Not disastrous, but largely forgettable.

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