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{{Infobox album
|
| type
|
| cover = Belly Star.jpg
| alt
| released = January 25, 1993 (UK)<br />February 2, 1993 (US)
| recorded =
|
| studio = *[[Sound Emporium Studios|Sound Emporium]] (Nashville, Tennessee)
*Amazon ([[Liverpool]], England)
| genre = {{hlist|[[Alternative rock]]|[[dream pop]]|[[avant-rock]]|[[folk rock]]|[[jangle pop]]|[[post-punk]]|[[avant-pop]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Caroline |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/belly-happy-days-in-hell |title=Belly: Happy days in hell |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=February 10, 1993 |access-date=November 29, 2020}}</ref>}}
| length = {{duration|m=50|s=53}}
| label = {{hlist|[[Sire Records|Sire]]|[[Reprise Records|Reprise]] (North America)<br>[[4AD]] (rest of world)}}
| producer = {{hlist|Belly|Tracy Chisolm|[[Gil Norton]]}}
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = [[King (Belly album)|King]]
| next_year = 1995
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Star
| type = studio
| single1 = Gepetto
| single1date = November 9, 1992
| single2 = [[Feed the Tree]]
| single2date = January 11, 1993
| single3 = Full Moon, Empty Heart
| single3date = 1993
| single4 = Slow Dog
| single4date = 1993
}}
}}
'''''Star''''' is the debut studio album by American [[alternative rock]] band [[Belly (band)|Belly]], released on January 25, 1993.
==Background==
In the 1980s and 1990s, vocalist and guitarist [[Tanya Donelly]] performed with [[Throwing Muses]] and [[the Breeders]]. After recording the latter's ''[[Safari (EP)|Safari]]'' EP in 1992, she decided to quit both bands to solely focus on her own band, [[Belly (band)|Belly]]. Belly formed at the end of the previous year, consisting of Donelly, guitarist Thomas Gorman, bassist Fred Abong and drummer Chris Gorman. They released their debut EP ''Slow Dust'' in June 1992, produced by [[Gil Norton]], and followed it up with the ''Gepetto'' EP in November.<ref name=Thompson185>Thompson 2000, p. 185</ref>
==Composition==
Along with [[alternative rock]] and [[jangle pop]], the songs on ''Star'' also dig into "haunting", "[[avant-garde music|avant]]" [[folk rock]].<ref name=AllMusic/><ref name=RS/> Tanya Donelly was credited with pushing [[dream pop]]'s boundaries by "trimming away its pretensions" while keeping its "trancy harmonies".<ref name=AllMusic/> A "distinct [[post-punk]] quality" has also been seen in the music, alongside some [[Country music|country]] and [[spaghetti Western]] influences.<ref name=Slant/>
"Angel" is not a rerecording of the song of the same name that Tanya Donelly wrote with Throwing Muses for their 1989 album ''[[Hunkpapa (album)|Hunkpapa]]''.
==Release==
''Star'' was released on January 25, 1993, and was an unexpected success. Abong departed from the group in May 1993, his role being filled by [[Gail Greenwood]].<ref name=Thompson186/> On February 21, 1994, the album was certified Gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] for sales of at least 500,000 units.<ref name="RIAA"/>
The [[Single (music)|single]] "[[Feed the Tree]]" topped the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Alternative Airplay|Modern Rock Tracks]] chart in March 1993,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/1993-03-06/ |title=Alternative Airplay |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=March 6, 1993 |access-date=June 18, 2024}}</ref> and also became a surprise pop hit, peaking at number 95 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] singles chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1993-05-22/ |title=Billboard Hot 100™ |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=May 22, 1993 |access-date=June 18, 2024}}</ref><ref>Michael Verity, "Belly And 'Star,'" WNEW.radio.com, December 14, 2011.</ref> The [[music video]] for "Feed the Tree" received notable airplay on [[MTV]], culminating in two nominations at the [[1993 MTV Video Music Awards]] for [[MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist|Best New Artist in a Video]] and [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative Video|Best Alternative Video]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/07/21/Nominees-for-1993-MTV-awards/1921743227200/ |title=Nominees for 1993 MTV awards |publisher=[[United Press International]] |date=July 21, 1993 |access-date=July 28, 2024}}</ref> "Slow Dog" peaked at number 17 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in May 1993,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/1993-05-29/ |title=Alternative Airplay |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=May 29, 1993 |access-date=June 18, 2024}}</ref> while "Gepetto" peaked at number eight in November,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/1993-11-27/ |title=Alternative Airplay |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=November 27, 1993 |access-date=June 18, 2024}}</ref> in addition to reaching number 13 on the ''Billboard'' [[Bubbling Under Hot 100|Bubbling Under the Hot 100]] chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/bubbling-under-hot-100-singles/1993-11-27/ |title=Bubbling Under Hot 100 |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=November 27, 1993 |access-date=June 18, 2024}}</ref>
==Reception==
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/star-mw0000095152 |title=''Star'' – Belly |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=March 7, 2006}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Caro |first=Mark |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/02/25/bellystar-sire-starstarstarbased-on-the-alternative-scenes/ |title=Belly: ''Star'' (Sire) |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=February 25, 1993 |access-date=May 1, 2017}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3score = B<ref name="EW">{{cite magazine |last=Zacharek |first=Stephanie |author-link=Stephanie Zacharek |url=https://ew.com/article/1993/01/29/star/ |title=''Star'' |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=January 29, 1993 |access-date=May 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627142608/https://ew.com/article/1993/01/29/star/ |archive-date=June 27, 2022 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]''
| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Mojo">Aston 2016, p. 104</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev5score = 8/10<ref name="NME">{{cite magazine |last=Harris |first=John |author-link=John Harris (critic) |url=https://eyesore.no/pdf/Belly.Star.Review.NME.19930123.pdf |title=Alternative Ulcer |magazine=[[NME]] |date=January 23, 1993 |access-date=May 11, 2017}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Q">Cooper 1993, p. 83</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Record Collector]]''
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="RC">{{cite magazine |last=Peacock |first=Tim |url=https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/album/star |title=''Star'' {{!}} Belly |magazine=[[Record Collector]] |issue=456 |date=August 2016 |access-date=June 24, 2020}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="RS">{{cite magazine |last=Ransom |first=Kevin |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/182665/review/5941248/star |title=Belly: ''Star'' |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=April 15, 1993 |access-date=May 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106071753/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/182665/review/5941248/star |archive-date=November 6, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Slant Magazine]]''
| rev9score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="Slant">{{cite web |last=Cinquemani |first=Sal |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/belly-star/ |title=Review: Belly, ''Star'' |website=[[Slant Magazine]] |date=January 26, 2008 |access-date=July 15, 2010}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]''
| rev10score = 6/10<ref>Fleissner 1995, pp. 36–37</ref>
}}
''[[NME]]'' reviewer [[John Harris (critic)|John Harris]] wrote that ''Star'' "finds Tanya Donelly venting the pop sensibilities that were occasionally allowed to surface during her time with Throwing Muses", praising it as "a rare thing; a pop album that's streaked with themes that are usually the preserve of [[art rock|art-rock]] bores."<ref name="NME"/> ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''{{'}}s Mark Cooper raved that Donelly shows a "newfound confidence" and demonstrates "her ability to blend pop drive with the Muses' moody atmospherics and labelmates like the [[Cocteau Twins]]."<ref name="Q"/> In ''[[Melody Maker]]'', [[Jim Irvin]] found that as a whole, the album shows "a depth and variety only hinted at" by its singles, which he felt sounded more effective "when heard in proximity to the darker material."<ref>Arundel 1993, p. 31</ref> Kevin Ransom of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' said that Donelly's "free-verse lyrics and metaphorical overreach" suggested the influence of [[Bob Dylan]], which Ransom welcomed as "a very good sign" at a time "when too many alternative-rock bands worship at the Church of Perpetual [[Grunge]] and Dissonance".<ref name="RS"/> ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' journalist Chris Tinkham commented that Donelly "deliver[s] her haunted [[blues]] and surreal rock with assurance and adventure."<ref>{{cite news |last=Tinkham |first=Chris |title=In Brief |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=February 28, 1993 |department=Calendar |page=59}}</ref>
[[Stephanie Zacharek]] was more reserved in her praise in ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', complimenting the music on ''Star'' while finding Donelly's lyrics awkward at times.<ref name="EW"/> ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'' critic Parry Gettelman, however, wrote that Donelly often "lapses into that current bane of [[college rock]], the baby-girl voice, sounding like a cross between [[Juliana Hatfield|Julianna Hatfield]] {{sic}} and [[Marilyn Monroe]]."<ref>{{cite news |last=Gettelman |first=Parry |title=Belly |newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |date=February 26, 1993 |department=Calendar |page=10}}</ref>
In [[36th Annual Grammy Awards|1994]], ''Star'' was nominated for a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album|Best Alternative Album]], while Belly were nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best New Artist|Best New Artist]]. The band won Best Modern Rock Act at the [[Boston Music Awards]], with ''Star'' winning the Debut Album of the Year award.<ref name=Thompson186>Thompson 2000, p. 186</ref> In a retrospective review for [[AllMusic]], [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] said that the album "remains an enchanting debut" and marked the point where Donelly's songwriting, which "began to blossom" on Throwing Muses' ''[[The Real Ramona]]'' (1991), "reaches fruition."<ref name="AllMusic"/> ''[[Slant Magazine]]''{{'}}s Sal Cinquemani praised its "marriage of mainstream sensibilities and alt-rock aesthetic", which he found "makes ''Star'' transcend the grunge-rock label and, years later, continue to shine so brightly."<ref name="Slant"/> In ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'', Martin Aston highlighted the album's "classic pop tropes", which he noted would not have befitted the "anxious energy" of Throwing Muses, and which allowed ''Star'' to achieve "alt-rock crossover" success.<ref name="Mojo"/> Tim Peacock of ''[[Record Collector]]'' wrote that ''Star'' "is still Belly's most necessary platter" and endures as "a fetching concoction of dreamy, folk-tinged alt. rock{{nbsp}}... long on concise, hooky songs".<ref name="RC"/>
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| all_writing = [[Tanya Donelly]], except where noted
| title1 = Someone to Die For
| length1 = 2:04
| title2 = Angel
| length2 = 2:58
| title3 = Dusted
| length3 = 2:48
| title4 = Every Word
| length4 = 3:33
| title5 = Gepetto
| length5 = 3:24
| title6 = Witch
| length6 = 1:35
| title7 = Slow Dog
| length7 = 4:02
| title8 = Low Red Moon
| length8 = 5:32
| title9 = [[Feed the Tree]]
| length9 = 3:29
| title10 = Full Moon, Empty Heart
| length10 = 3:02
| title11 = White Belly
| length11 = 3:36
| writer11 = {{hlist|Donelly|Fred Abong}}
| title12 = Untogether
| length12 = 4:43
| title13 = Star
| length13 = 1:27
| title14 = Sad Dress
| length14 = 3:44
| title15 = Stay
| length15 = 4:56
| total_length = 50:53
}}
==Personnel==
Adapted from [[AllMusic]]'s Credits page for ''Star''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/star-mw0000095152/credits|title=Star – Belly – Credits|work=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=August 11, 2021}}</ref>
'''[[Belly (band)|Belly]]'''
* [[Tanya Donelly]] – vocals, guitar
* Fred Abong – bass
* Chris Gorman – drums, percussion
* Thomas Gorman – guitar, organ
'''Additional musicians'''
* Chick Graining – guitar, [[slide guitar]], vocals
'''Technical'''
* Belly – production
* Tracy Chisholm – [[Audio engineer|engineering]], production
* [[Gil Norton]] – production
'''Artwork and design'''
* Chris Bigg – design
* Chris Gorman – photography
==Charts==
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Chart performance for ''Star''
! Chart (1993)
! Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite Ryan|page=28}}</ref>
| align="center"| 74
|-
{{Album chart|Netherlands|65|artist=Belly|album=Star|rowheader=true|accessdate=July 14, 2018}}
|-
{{Album chart|UK2|2|date=19930207|rowheader=true|accessdate=July 14, 2018}}
|-
{{Album chart|Billboard200|59|artist=Belly|rowheader=true|accessdate=July 14, 2018}}
|-
{{Album chart|BillboardHeatseekers|1|artist=Belly|rowheader=true|accessdate=July 14, 2018}}
|}
==Certifications==
{{certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Star''}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Belly|title=Star|award=Silver|relyear=1993|certyear=1995|id=6238-1396-2|access-date=July 14, 2018}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=Belly|title=Star|award=Gold|access-date=July 14, 2018|refname="RIAA"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}
==References==
'''Citations'''
{{Reflist}}
'''Sources'''
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Arundel |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Irvin |title=A Womb of Their Own |magazine=[[Melody Maker]] |date=January 23, 1993}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Aston |first=Martin |title=Belly: ''Star'' |magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |issue=274 |date=September 2016}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Cooper |first=Mark |title=Belly: ''Star'' |magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=78 |date=March 1993}}
* {{cite book |last=Fleissner |first=Jen |chapter=Belly |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide |editor1-last=Weisbard |editor1-first=Eric |editor1-link=Eric Weisbard |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |publisher=[[Vintage Books]] |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8}}
* {{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Thompson (author) |title=Alternative Rock |series=Third Ear: The Essential Listening Companion |publisher=[[Miller Freeman, Inc.|Miller Freeman Books]] |___location=San Francisco, California |year=2000 |isbn=0-87930-607-6}}
{{refend}}
==
<!-- This is a licensed stream for the album, which is allowed under Wikipedia polices -->
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l3Cb8Rbx1vPXo1NObIcP5mw3iaITpbisQ ''Star''] at [[YouTube]] (streamed copy where licensed)
{{Belly}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1993 debut albums]]
[[
[[Category:Albums produced by Gil Norton]]
[[Category:Sire Records albums]]
[[Category:Reprise Records albums]]
[[Category:Avant-pop albums]]
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