America's Sweetheart
by Courtney Love
  • Record Label: Virgin
  • Release Date: Feb 10, 2004
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 24
  3. Negative: 4 out of 24
  1. Uncut
    20
    America's Sweetheart is petulant and self-pitying. Worse, it's self-righteous. Worse still, it's musically crass. [Mar 2004, p.98]
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  2. The A.V. Club
    30
    Love has nothing new to say and no better way to say it.
  3. Tiny Mix Tapes
    0
    The music is appallingly predictable, unoriginal, uninspiring, boring, over-polished, and vain.
  5. Logo
    30
    Derivative and unfocused from every conceivable angle.

Awards & Rankings

44
#44 Most Discussed Album of 2004

User Reviews

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User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 72 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 50 out of 72
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 72
  3. Negative: 17 out of 72
  1. AmericanSkins
    Jan 28, 2023
    10
    A storm of negative press surrounded Courtney’s debut solo album and the detractors came out in droves to form ill informed opinions about it,A storm of negative press surrounded Courtney’s debut solo album and the detractors came out in droves to form ill informed opinions about it, what they missed was quite possibly the greatest album of all time by a female solo artist. Courtney wasn’t pleased with the production but it has aged magnificently, her lyricism was genius and her voice in top form despite her drug problems at the time and made for an authentic and consistent rock album, the likes of which has rarely been seen in the 21st century. Opening with the solid ‘Mono’, Courtney snarls “Hey, yeah, we had everything vinyl in mono” over a fierce guitar riff and whilst she agrees that rock is probably dead, it is clear she is the one with the spark to bring it back, features the simultaneously badass and tragic lines “An 8-ball isn’t love, a hookers never gonna come, just give it back to me, blow out all of the lights tonight”. On ‘Julian’ she takes a few tongue-in-cheek swipes at Casablancas of The Strokes in brilliant punk rock fashion, again her lyrics shine “Busty co-eds, live, live, live, you’ll crash the car, man, if you drive a 1-800, 1-800, 1-800 wired!” and a personal favourite of mine “Adorable, affordable, guaranteed discretion” before accusing him of ripping off The Clash with a fantastically raunchy double entendre. The third track ‘Hold On To Me’ would not be out of place on a list of the greatest songs of all time, it is lovelorn, tragic and defiant, Courtney’s inflection on the titular hook is one of the finest moments in her discography and rock music history, I only wish her screams on the final chorus were mixed higher. ‘Sunset Strip’ is seemingly a homage to ‘The Needle and The Damage Done’ musically, it features further commentary on Hollywood, fame, love and death, it sounds like it was written whilst she was actually sat on the Hollywood sign as the lyrics state reflecting on her life, it is truly great, the lyrics are hard to decipher towards the end of the song and are not available on lyric sites but are under the song’s youtube video courtesy of me, she really goes to town on it and it may well be her magnum opus. ‘All The Drugs’ is badass and ferocious, ‘Almost Golden’ is beautiful and classic Courtney “I was stuck and you stoned in a daze”, ‘I’ll Do Anything’ is an intentional rip off of ‘Teen Spirit’, ‘Song 2’ and ‘Gimme Danger’, she certainly packs a punch on the song and it is in turn hilarious, menacing and sexy ‘Gimme dick, gimme speed, gimme white hot heat’ is one of the tamer lines. ‘Uncool’ is a brilliant downtempo rock ballad. ‘Life Despite God’ is a genius, alluring piece, Courtney channels Robert Plant and it is her most experimental song since ‘Pretty On The Inside’, it almost shouldn’t work, there are sleigh bells, but it does and it kicks ass, when she screams on the second half, damn it’s good, “run away your head’s on fire, can’t tell the difference between hate and desire”, I honestly can’t think of a better rock song, the final line “I can not find a vein” she delivers with so much authentic emotion, it’s epic. ‘Hello’ can go. ‘Zeplin Song’ is great, great punk rock riff and some of her best lyrics “He was so cute, Johnny punk rock, so cynical, you woulda jumped him to!” and the chorus “Why are the stoners always stoned?”, Courtney is seemingly frustrated with the monotony of a Led Zeppelin song and life as a rock star. ‘Never Be The Same’ is anthemic and beautiful. A thoroughly enjoyable and interesting album that reflects Courtney and her passions and relatable problems perfectly, her incredible voice, emotional honesty and dedication to guitar rock will keep you coming back for more. The perfect musical embodiment of the rise and fall and perseverance of a genius rock star, it is easily one of the greatest and most underrated albums of all time, anyone who says otherwise is a moron.… Full Review »
  2. MaxOakland
    Oct 23, 2021
    6
    It's hard to review this album. In some ways I think time has made it sound better. Free from expectations of what you *wish* Courtney hadIt's hard to review this album. In some ways I think time has made it sound better. Free from expectations of what you *wish* Courtney had done after Hole, this album appears to be a pretty decent product of its time that does a lot of critique of the star-obsessed celebrity culture. But I also think the album falls into that culture enough that the critique seems lightweight

    The production is pretty bad, but the songs are good. I like how intense "Life Despite God" gets, and there are some really nice melodies. I think it suffers because the project wasn't done in a cohesive way. There's too much slickness that doesn't complement the rawness of Courtney's vocals and delivery so it feels like it's trying to cover it up rather than celebrate it    … Full Review »
  3. perk8j
    Mar 30, 2021
    6
    America’s Sweetheart (2004) is Courtney Love’s first solo debut and is reminiscent of her previous albums with the now disbanded Hole. LoveAmerica’s Sweetheart (2004) is Courtney Love’s first solo debut and is reminiscent of her previous albums with the now disbanded Hole. Love provides some decent rock ballads in Hold on to me, which serves as the album’s Malibu from Celebrity Skin (1998). Most of the songs in America’s Sweetheart are soulless such as All the drugs where Love howls, "With all all of my money, it doesn’t feel as good as the drugs.” It’s easy to see why Love considers it ‘Le disaster’.… Full Review »
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