The album was produced by Johnette Napolitano; it began as a solo project, with Napolitano initially recording in her home.[9][10] "Mother of Pearl" is a cover of the Roxy Music song.[11] "Come Away with Me" incorporates unrecorded lyrics written by Janis Joplin.[12][13] "Singing Is Fire" is a Charles Bukowski poem set to music; "Stranger" was written with Paul Westerberg.[10][14]
Trouser Press wrote that, "while Pretty & Twisted simplifies things and cuts away the artsier pretensions of latter-day Concrete Blonde, it replaces them with dopier ego indulgences."[21] The Los Angeles Times thought that "there's something both Bowie-esque and Cure-like in the band's aggressively ominous atmospherics—a sound with the grit and the grace to make the edge of desperation seem like the only place to be."[19]The Hamilton Spectator declared that "Napolitano's experience certainly gives Pretty & Twisted a decided advantage as one of the better debut albums to come around in a while."[22]
The Knoxville News Sentinel determined that, "for all the intrigue of the lyrics and singing, Pretty & Twisted only sporadically gets substantial instrumental support."[18] The Calgary Herald concluded that "many of these songs lay lifelessly in the cauldron, although the ones that do work roar out spitting and smoking."[16]The Indianapolis Star opined that "much of this new disc runs flat, with dark tracks bearing well-worn sentiments."[17]
AllMusic called the album "a wonderful slice of adult alternative rock that is both melodic and intelligent."[15]
^Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 509.
^Pensinger, Matt (June 2, 1995). "Great Beginnings: Johnette Napolitano happily sheds her Blonde roots and finds music that's Pretty & Twisted". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. AA13.
^Monk, Katherine (September 7, 1995). "Napolitano's trademark howl takes a pretty twist". Vancouver Sun. p. C8.
^Weatherford, Mike (August 4, 1995). "Simply Twisted: Getting away from L.A. and exploring the seedier side of Las Vegas". Las Vegas Review-Journal. p. 1J.
^Ferman, Dave (August 3, 1995). "Pretty and twisted – Johnette Napolitano has a new sound, but her Blonde roots are showing". Life & Arts. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 3.
^Matthews, Lynn (September 1, 1995). "Pretty & Twisted". Weekend. The Columbian. p. 1.
^Rosen, Craig (July 15, 1995). "Napolitano makes Warner her Pretty & Twisted Nest". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 28. p. 8.
^ abPunter, Jennie (August 24, 1995). "From the ashes of Concrete Blonde: Singer Johnette Napolitano launches brave new trio". Toronto Star. p. E10.
^Morse, Steve (August 18, 1995). "Concrete Blonde singer gets moody with Pretty & Twisted". Living. The Boston Globe. p. 59.
