The Breeders: Last Splash

The Breeders’ “Last Splash” release is arguably one of the top alternative rock records of the 1990s. The album is supremely light and heavy at the same time, making it one of the most balanced albums of its era.

While some argue that the album’s success was solely due to Kim Deal’s connection to The Pixies, The Breeders actually originated from Deal and Tanya Donnelly (Throwing Muses) touring together. Feeling they didn’t receive enough songwriting credit in their respective bands, they conceived The Breeders as a side project.

Initially intending The Breeders to be a dance band like The Sugarcubes, Deal and Donnelly eventually abandoned that idea.

“Last Splash” featured the radio hit “Cannonball,” built on a deceptively simple song foundation filled with effective gimmicks that showcase real talent. Kim Deal played power chords on a distorted acoustic guitar, while Kelley, at that point in the band’s history, was still learning guitar and merely sliding between a few frets. The bass line was similarly simple, with slides up and down the fretboard, while the drummer hit whatever was available every measure. Despite this, the song worked remarkably well.

Kim Deal’s voice on this album is particularly noteworthy, consistently evoking goosebumps and adding depth to the songs’ emotional resonance. Her lyrics are intelligent yet cryptic, inviting listeners to question their meaning.

“Last Splash” is the kind of album that reveals something new with each listen, with each song offering something distinct. While many initially purchased the album for “Cannonball,” they found themselves drawn to tracks like “Aloha,” “Do You Love Me Now,” “I Just Wanna Get Along,” and “Divine Hammer.”

If you haven’t yet checked out “Last Splash,” or haven’t listened to it in the last thirty years, I highly recommend giving it a listen. Its strange musical structures and odd timings work together perfectly, making it not just a masterpiece of the early nineties but of all time.

Must listen to tracks: Cannonball, Divine Hammer, Saints, No Aloha

Purchase Last Splash on Amazon.