Making music that’s jittery, neurotic, darkly comical, but also powerfully catchy, the Violent Femmes are a pillar of the American underground movement, and one of the best early examples of alternative rock. Full of songs built from the unlikely combination of acoustic instruments and seething bile, their self-titled 1983 debut was a groundbreaking collection of tuneful angst, and they released albums steadily through the ’80s and ’90s, including standout moments like the sharp but melodic folk-rock of 1991’s Why Do Birds Sing? The 2000s were less stable for the Femmes, with some changes to the lineup and a slowdown in new material, but in 2016 they released We Can Do Anything, their ninth studio album and first new record in 16 years. Their tenth album, Hotel Last Resort, followed (relatively) shortly thereafter in 2019, and in 2023, the band released a deluxe 40th-anniversary edition of their epochal debut.

The Violent Femmes formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the early ’80s, made up of singer/guitarist Gordon Gano, bassist Brian Ritchie, and percussionist Victor DeLorenzo. After being discovered by the Pretenders’ James Honeyman-Scott while they were busking on the street, the band signed to Slash and issued their self-titled debut, a melodic folk-punk collection that struck an obvious chord with young listeners who felt a strong connection to bitter, frustrated songs like “Blister in the Sun,” “Kiss Off,” and “Add It Up.” Though never a chart hit, the album remained a rite of passage for succeeding generations of teen outsiders, and after close to a decade in release, it finally achieved platinum status.

With 1984’s Hallowed Ground, Gano’s lyrics began to reflect his devout Baptist upbringing, while the Femmes’ music approached more traditional folk and country structures. Produced by Talking Heads’ Jerry Harrison, 1986’s The Blind Leading the Naked advanced toward a more mainstream sound; a cover of the T. Rex chestnut “Children of the Revolution” even became a minor hit. After the record’s release, the Femmes temporarily disbanded: Gano recorded a self-titled 1987 album with his gospel side project the Mercy Seat, while Ritchie issued a series of solo LPs, including 1987’s The Blend and 1989’s Sonic Temple & Court of Babylon for SST. In 1989, the group resurfaced with 3, followed by 1991’s Why Do Birds Sing?, which featured the Femmes’ deconstructionist cover of Culture Club’s “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?”