Babes in Toyland

August 1, 1994
Minneapolis grunge rockers Babes in Toyland are neither famous nor critically acclaimed, which is why rock journalist Karlen chose them as subjects for this profile of the day-to-day life and career trajectory of a young band whose fate remains uncertain. He follows the band as it appears variously to be on the cusp of either superstardom or disollution in the volatile world of the rock 'n' roll industry, chronicled here at both its most sordid and most exhilarating moments. The Babes's struggles with overbearing record labels, drug-abusing friends, long tours on a shoestring budget and a precarious future represent the experiences of many young bands. Their story is also of interest because they are one of the first all-female bands to play the kind of loud, angry rock 'n' roll which typically has been claimed by male groups. Karlen's often verbatim record of conversations he heard over three years of following the Babes seems occasionally invasive, yet the band members' willingness to reveal themselves so thoroughly to him lends credibility to his account. Author tour.

September 15, 1994
Babes in Toyland is a female grunge-rock trio who, while struggling for steady work on the Minneapolis bar circuit, were signed by Warner Records and suddenly thrust into national renown. Journalist Karlen (New York Times, Rolling Stone) presents the intense, often grueling experiences of this individual band as a microcosm of the MTV-age rock industry. The author describes in sharp detail the rigors, internecine conflicts, tragedies, and triumphs of a 1990s rock group and shows with equal clarity the marketing strategies, schemes, and power struggles of the big business behind the group. Karlen's vigorous craftsmanship, his rich knowledge of the rock scene, and the remarkable intimacy of his investigation combine to make Babes in Toyland a uniquely valuable asset to collections concerned with either the realities of modern music or mass media. Highly recommended.-Bill Piekarski, Southwestern Coll. Lib., Chula Vista, Cal.

June 1, 1994
The latest "instant" history of a current pop music group is justified by the singular story it tells. In this case, the story is about how the rock-star-making machinery is being applied to a so-called alternative act. Such bands face a dilemma: if they broaden their appeal, they risk being shunned as sell-outs by their original fans; and if they cling to alternative status, they risk poverty and career oblivion. So alternative acts--e.g., R.E.M., the Red Hot Chili Peppers--try to walk a tightrope between popularity and fidelity. The difficulty of maintaining balance is what this book is about. With a major record company contract, Babes in Toyland is under pressure--from the record company, to make a best-selling album; from its fans, to resist commercialism. The attendant conflict occurs under the watchful eyes of the rock press, who are no longer the rapt cheerleaders of the past. Add to this the antipathy between Babes leader Kat Bjelland and rival Courtney Love, plus the novelty of being an all-female band in the still testosterone-soaked world of rock, and you have one spicy pop music stew. ((Reviewed June 1994))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1994, American Library Association.)