''Hail'' is the first LP album released in 1988 by

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

band,

Straitjacket Fits Straitjacket Fits were a four-piece alternative indie rock band that formed in Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1986 and broke up in 1994. They released three studio albums, ''Hail'' (1988), '' Melt'' (1990), and '' Blow'' (1993), and several EPs. Thei ...

. There were three releases of the album, a New Zealand release in 1988, a United Kingdom and United States release also in 1988 and an extended album in 1989. The UK/US release featured tracks which had earlier been released in New Zealand on the '' Life in One Chord'' EP; the 1989 release contained all the songs from both the New Zealand album and the earlier EP. Most of the songs on the album were credited to

Shayne Carter Shayne P. Carter is a New Zealand musician best known for leading Straitjacket Fits from 1986 to 1994, and as the only permanent member of Dimmer (1995–2012). Carter is a member of the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame, and has been awarded the ...

/Straitjacket Fits, the exceptions being "Sparkle That Shines", "Take From The Years" and "Fabulous Things" (all

Andrew Brough Andrew Mark Brough (pronounced ; 7 May 1963 – 2 February 2020) was a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Dunedin, New Zealand. Best known for his work with the Straitjacket Fits, he later led the band Bike. In 1996 he was shortlisted for the ...

/Straitjacket Fits), and a

cover Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of c ...

Leonard Cohen Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian songwriter, singer, poet, and novelist. Themes commonly explored throughout his work include faith and mortality, isolation and depression, betrayal and redemption, soc ...

's song "

So Long, Marianne "So Long, Marianne" is a song written by Canadian poet and musician Leonard Cohen. It was featured on his debut album, '' Songs of Leonard Cohen''. Background The song was inspired by Marianne Jensen, born Marianne Ihlen, whom Cohen met on ...

". This was the only cover version recorded on any of Straitjacket Fits' albums. The album was well received, though the band were disappointed that the sound of the finished release failed to capture either their live sound or the intensity of their debut EP.Davey, T. & Puschmann, H. (1996) ''Kiwi rock.'' Dunedin: Kiwi Rock Publications. . p. 88 '' Rip It Up'' described it as having "tidal waves of sweetly distorted guitar noise that spill over and around the vocal harmonies."''Rip It Up'', January 1989 The title track and "Sparkle That Shines" were both released as singles from the album.

Track listing

References

{{Authority control Straitjacket Fits albums 1988 debut albums Flying Nun Records albums Rough Trade Records albums Dunedin Sound albums