Tracy Bonham discography

by Matt Ashare

Girl (Curve of the Earth, 1994)

A compilation of tracks by Boston-based female artists, including Jennifer Trynin, Chainsuck, and Holly Palmer, Girl features the song that launched Bonham's career -- "The One." Produced by the Elevator Drops, this version of the tune is more warped and psychedelic than the rather straightforward reading of the tune on The Burdens of Being Upright.

The Liverpool Sessions EP (Cherrydisc, 1995)

Released after Bonham signed to Island, produced by Josh Hager of the Elevator Drops, this seven-track CD was meant to help introduce Tracy Bonham to the world outside Boston, and to serve as a warm-up for her full-length debut on Island. It features the rough-hewn pop gem "Dandelion," the thrashy, new-wavish "18 Heads Roll By," and the punkish rant "I'm Not a Waif."

The Burdens of Being Upright (Island, 1996) -- Produced by Fort Apache studio's guitar-rock specialists Paul Kolderie and Sean Slade, and released in March of last year, this is the one that put Bonham on the modern-rock map. The disc, which opens with the explosive, whisper-to-a-scream "Mother, Mother," has so far yielded two other singles: the similarly styled "Sharks Can't Sleep" and a new version of "The One." "Navy Bean," "One Hit Wonder," and "Bulldog" are some of the album's other standouts.

Matt Ashare can be reached at mashare[a]phx.com.