"Circle One / Shutdown" is a split single by the American alternative rock band Hole and the supergroup The Monkeywrench, released in November 1994 on the independent label Gasatanka Records. Both tracks are cover versions of songs by the Los Angeles punk group the Germs. On the single, Hole is credited as "The Holez," a nominal homage to "The Germs."
| "Circle One / Shutdown" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Front cover art, featuring Hole | ||||
| Single by Hole and The Monkeywrench | ||||
| from the album A Small Circle of Friends | ||||
| Released | November 1994[1] | |||
| Recorded |
| |||
| Genre | ||||
| Label | Gasatanka Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Hole singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Pat Smear, an original member of the Germs, performed as a guest musician on Hole's cover of "Circle One," with frontwoman Courtney Love playing bass guitar—at the time of the track's recording in 1992, Hole had not yet hired a new bassist following the departure of Jill Emery.
Both of the band's tracks were later issued on the Germs tribute album A Small Circle of Friends (1996).[2][3][4]
Recording
editHole recorded their cover of "Circle One" on December 18, 1992 in Los Angeles with producer Brian Foxworthy.[5] Pat Smear, an original member of the Germs, played guitar on the track with Hole, while frontwoman Courtney Love played bass guitar.[5]
The Monkeywrench recorded their cover of "Shutdown" in Seattle in 1992 with producer Conrad Uno.[5]
Reception
editA review published by Musician praised the track as "a welcome , timely reminder that the songs Crash created with the Germs have a life that stands apart."[6] Douglas Wolk of CMJ New Music Monthly gave the track an unfavorable review, deeming it "tossed off and unconvincing."[7]
A retrospective review by The Harvard Crimson declared it the group's second-best cover song, describing it as a "cacophony of scribbling guitars... Hole harnesses the song’s frantic energy, somehow making it sound adorable, yet just as powerful as the original. Love's scream resounds loudly throughout the song...screaming should sound terrible, but Love somehow makes it a gorgeous expression of pure joy."[8]
Track listing
edit- "Circle One" by Hole (Darby Crash, Pat Smear) – 2:58
- "Shutdown" by The Monkeywrench (Crash, Smear) – 3:10
Personnel
editHole
edit- Courtney Love – vocals, bass
- Eric Erlandson – guitar
- Patty Schemel – drums
Guest musicians
- Pat Smear – guitar
(credited as "The Holez")
The Monkeywrench
edit- Mark Arm – vocals, piano
- Tim Kerr – slide guitar
- Steve Turner – bass
- Thom Price – guitar
- Martin Bland – drums
References
edit- ^ Newman, Melinda (November 19, 1994). "Germs' Influence Continues to Spread; Pearl Jam on Vinyl; Rundgren's New Score". Billboard. p. 16. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ A Small Circle of Friends (Media notes). Hole, Melvins, The Monkeywrench, et al. Gasatanka Records. 1996. DRA 485441 2.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Newsweek Staff (October 13, 1996). "Germ Warfare". Newsweek. Archived from the original on January 20, 2020.
- ^ Mullen, Brendan; Bolles, Don; Parfey, Adam (2009). Lexicon Devil: The Fast Times and Short Life of Darby Crash and The Germs. Port Townsend, Washington: Feral House. p. 286. ISBN 978-1-932-59555-0.
- ^ a b c Circle One / Shutdown (7" vinyl liner notes). Hole, Monkeywrench. Gasatanka Records. 1993. DEI9037-7.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Various Artists". Musician. No. 212. 1996. p. 93. ISSN 0733-5253.
- ^ Wolk, Douglas (April 1995). "Singles". CMJ New Music Monthly. No. 2. p. 47. ISSN 1074-6978.
- ^ Eisenman, Danielle L. (April 12, 2018). "Top Five Hole Covers". The Harvard Crimson. Harvard University Press. Archived from the original on January 20, 2020.