Live Through This  by Hole

Live Through This by Hole, released on April 12, 1994, stands as one of the most iconic and simultaneously haunting albums of the '90s. Its release tragically coincided with the death of Kurt Cobain, husband of frontwoman Courtney Love, who was found dead just four days before the album's premiere. Live Through This was Hole's second album. In contrast to the raw noise of their first album Pretty On The Inside, Live Through This adopted a more melodic, "pop-grunge" approach, with strong contrasts between soft tones and explosive choruses.

Most of the album was written by Love and guitarist Eric Erlandson. Despite rumors that Cobain wrote the album, the official version and the band members confirm that he only participated with uncredited backing vocals on the tracks "Asking For It" and "Softer, Softest." Singles such as "Violet," "Doll Parts," and "Miss World" became anthems of their generation, combining vulnerability with anger. The cover, featuring model Leilani Bishop as a crowned "beauty queen" crying with mascara running, symbolizes the horrific side of female perfection.

Live Through This proved that Courtney Love was not just the "wife of a rock star," but an autonomous artistic force who managed to turn personal pain into universal art. Live Through This (1994) by Hole was a commercial triumph, reaching No. 52 on the Billboard 200 and No. 13 on the UK charts. With sales exceeding 1,600,000 in the U.S., the album went platinum within a year, while its worldwide sales amount to over 2,000,000 copies.