Released in 1994 by Kill Rock Stars, The Real Janelle would become Bratmobile's last studio recording in six years. Though released before The Peel Session, that was recorded a year prior. The record offers more clarity in its sound and its thought from their full-length record Pottymouth, "Brat Girl" being an answer to the type of emotional abuse touched on in "And I Live In A Town Where The Boys Amputate Their Heart" and the low-ley, tense "Yeah, Huh" being almost a set-up for the full force of the heavy punk-rocking "Die."

The title "The Real Janelle" was inspired by a Born Against song written by Ben Weasel of Screeching Weasel. The Born Against song and "The Real Janelle" both are references to Janelle Hessig, a former Bratmobile roadie and East Bay fanzine creator known for producing "Tales of Blarg" and "Desperate Times." The photo on the cover of the EP is of Janelle Hessig herself.

Album credits

Bratmobile

Allison Wolfe (Singer/Songwriter)

Erin Smith (Guitar)

Molly Neuman (drums)

Recorded July 1993 at Avast, Seattle, Washington. Engineered by Stuart Hallerman. Mixed by Stuart Hallerman, Slim Moon, and Bratmobile. Prints by Tinúviel.

Lyrics

Category:Kill Rock Stars

Category:1994 albums

Category:Bratmobile albums

Category:Kill Rock Stars albums

Category:Riot grrrl albums

pt:The Real Janelle

Artist/Band Information

Bratmobile was an American punk band. Bratmobile was a first-generation Riot Grrrl band that grew from the Northwest and Washington, DC underground. It was influenced by indie pop in the United States as well as Britpop, girl groups, surf, and punk rock.

Beginnings

Bratmobile formed when University of Oregon students Allison Wolfe and Molly Neuman collaborated on an influential feminist fanzine, Girl Germs. At first, Wolfe admitted that they were "a fake band" because they did not play instruments, but they had written some songs which they performed a cappella. Neuman's friend Calvin Johnson, an indie musician in the Olympia scene, asked her to play a show on Valentine's Day in 1991 with Bikini Kill and Some Velvet Sidewalk. After confessing that they were not into a band in an attempt to get out of it, they agreed and sought the help of Some Velvet Sidewalk member Robert Christie. Christie let Bratmobile borrow rehearsal space and equipment and advised them to listen to the Ramones for inspiration. In response to that advice, Wolfe states that "Something in me clicked. Like, okay, if most boy punk rock bands just listen to the Ramones and that's how they write their songs, then we'll do the opposite and I won't listen to any Ramones and that way we'll sound different."Marcus, Sara. Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution, 59-61. With five original songs, the band played its first show as a two-woman act at Olympia's North Shore Surf Club on February 14, 1991, with Neuman and Wolfe sharing duties on guitar, drums, and vocals.

During spring break 1991, Allison and Molly went to Washington, DC to follow Beat Happening and Nation of Ulysses on tour and try to work on a new form of Bratmobile that, at that time, included artist Jen Smith and Christina Billotte, of Slant 6 and Autoclave, in the line-up. Together, they recorded and released a cassette tape entitled Bratmobile DC. Beat Happening's Calvin Johnson had previously introduced Molly to nascent guitarist Erin Smith from Bethesda, Maryland during the Christmas holiday in December, 1990 at a Nation of Ulysses show in Washington, DC. Smith was co-author, with her brother, of the much-revered TV pop culture fanzine Teenage Gang Debs when Allison and Molly asked her to jam with them. It clicked, and in July 1991 the trio played their first show as a 3-piece with Molly Neuman on drums, Erin Smith on guitar, and Allison Wolfe on vocals. They were just in time to play at the historic International Pop Underground Convention in Olympia, Washington, becoming the only band to appear twice.

From their first shows, Bratmobile were considered an exciting and important addition to the fertile early '90s NorthWest scene. From 1991 to 1994 Bratmobile released a classic album, Pottymouth, and an EP, The Real Janelle, on Kill Rock Stars, as well as The Peel Session recording before the intense media scrutiny and inner pressures of the Riot Grrrl movement hastened the band's breakup (on stage) in 1994.

Hiatus

After the break-up Molly Neuman moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and began working at East Bay punk record label Lookout! Records, which she now acts as general manager and co-owns. She also played in The PeeChees and The Frumpies. Allison Wolfe moved to Washington, D.C, and she and Maryland-based Erin Smith started a new band together called Cold Cold Hearts. Wolfe has also been active on feminism and activism.

Reformation

In 1999, the band decided to reunite for a low-key show in Oakland's Stork Club and the band was relaunched to go on tour with Sleater-Kinney.

In 2000, Bratmobile released their second full length studio album, Ladies, Women and Girls. The album was critically aclaimed and earned Bratmobile new fans as they toured with Sleater-Kinney, The Donnas, The Locust, amongs others. Ladies, Women and Girls was released on Neuman's Lookout! Records and produced by Tim Green of Nation of Ulysses and The Fucking Champs. Jon Nikki (Prima Donnas, Gene Defcon, Mocket, Sarah Dougher, Sir, Puce Moment) added guitar, bass and keyboard parts to the minimal Brat sound.

On May 7, 2002, Bratmobile released their third album, Girls Get Busy. On Girls Get Busy, Audrey Marrs, (Mocket, Gene Defcon) added keyboards that gave the album its distinctive new sound. Marty Violence (Young Pioneers) also contributed bass.

After dedicating most of 2002 and 2003 to promoting Girls Get Busy via touring, each of the principal members went back to do other things. While the band didn't formally break up, Allison Wolfe did post a message on January 30, 2004 in the Bratmobile message board concerning the status of the band:

Discography

Studio albums

* Pottymouth (1992) LP/CD/CS (Kill Rock Stars)

* Ladies, Women and Girls (2000) CD/LP, (Lookout! Records)

* Girls Get Busy (2002) CD/LP (Lookout! Records)

EPs

* The Real Janelle (1994) LPEP/CDEP (Kill Rock Stars)

Live albums

* The Peel Session CDEP (Strange Fruit)

Singles

* Kiss & Ride 7" (Homestead Records)

Split 7"

* Tiger Trap/ Bratmobile split 7" (4-Letter Words)

* Heavens to Betsy/ Bratmobile split 7" (K Records)

* Brainiac/ Bratmobile split 7" (12X12)

* Veronica Lake/ Bratmobile split 7" (Simple Machines)

Compilation albums

* Kill Rock Stars compilation, CD/LP, (Kill Rock Stars)

* A Wonderful Treat compilation cassette

* The Embassy Tapes cassette

* Throw compilation CD (Yoyo Recordings)

* International Pop Underground live LP/CD/CS (K Records)

* Neapolitan Metropolitan boxed 7" set (Simple Machines)

* Teen Beat 100 compilation 7" (Teen Beat)

* Julep compilation LP/CD (Yo Yo)

* Wakefield Vol. 2 V/A CD boxed set (Teen Beat)

* Plea For Peace Take Action compilation CD (Sub City)

* Boys Lie compilation CD (Lookout! Records)

* Yo Yo A Go Go 1999 compilation CD (Yoyo Recordings)

* Lookout! Freakout Episode 2 compilation CD (Lookout! Records)

* Songs For Cassavetes compilation CD (Better Looking Records)

* Lookout! Freakout Episode 3 CD (Lookout! Records)

* Turn-On Tune-In Lookout! DVD (Lookout! Records)

Notes