Holy crap! A year ago I wrote a post about Courtney Love and Hole here, about longing for her upcoming Nobody’s Daughter that was scheduled to come out that spring - but surprise, surprise didn’t - and fondly remembering the past. Well, folks, the new album is now finally here! But trust Courtney to do it with a twist.

She’s reformed Hole! Without Eric! And she’s releasing the album as Hole instead of as herself. AND NOBODY TOLD ME! And according to someone on rateyourmusic.com, and oh of course this on Spin, he’s not too happy about it. Drama aside, this is weird. Is it a marketing thing? That she didn’t sell as many records with her own name as she did with Hole? Given, she is the VOICE of Hole, but isn’t a band more than that? Also, Hole was always girls and Eric, now it’s Courtney and three guys. I’m not against change per se, but this is weird for me, it really is.

The album is going to be released at the end of April and this time it really is, right? Yeah, well, we’ve heard it before. The website says April 26th and 27th.

Music wise, I’m not sure yet. I mean, I’m gonna buy it, and listen to it, when it comes out, cos I’m a sucker for Courtney, but I’m not sure yet what I think of what I’ve heard from it. There’s a single up on their MySpace, “Skinny Little Bitch”, that doesn’t really speak to me. I don’t dislike it, but it doesn’t do anything for me, yet. I’ll have to listen to it 20 more times. However, it wouldn’t be the first time for something of Courtney’s to take a while before sinking in. There’s also a video of “Samantha” up on their youTube Channel and on the website. It’s supposedly a second coming single, and on the album (or so says Wikipedia).

As an old fan of Hole I guess I should be thrilled, and I guess in a way I am. Finally an album after such a long time. An album that, judging from the two songs I’ve hear so far, does sound like a natural next step from Celebrity Skin and America’s Sweetheart. Again, more mature than the one before. Following the pattern. Though at the same time I watch her perform “Samantha” and I’m not feeling it. What I definitely felt watching the singles from Live Through This. What I still felt watching her live in ‘99 on Hultsfred Festival. What I sometimes still feel listening to her solo album. I don’t know. Maybe I just need time to reconnect to the aged Courtney. Hell. I’m fucking aged as well.

What do You think?