| Tenterhooks | |
| Type: | Album |
| Artist: | Chris Mars |
| Cover: | CMars_Tenterhooks.jpg |
| Released: | 1995 |
| Length: | 42:36 |
| Label: | Bar/None[1] |
| Producer: | Chris Mars |
| Prev Title: | 75% Less Fat |
| Prev Year: | 1993 |
| Next Title: | Anonymous Botch |
| Next Year: | 1996 |
Tenterhooks is the third album by the American musician Chris Mars, released in 1995.[2] [3] Its title comes from the tenterhooks used to stretch cloth.
Mars chose not to tour in support of the album; instead, a band named the Wallmen promoted it, placing a cardboard model of Mars onstage.[4]
Produced by Mars, the album was recorded in his living room.[5] Mars's deal with Bar/None provided him with digital recording equipment.[6] Mars created the album artwork.[7]
Trouser Press noted the "new-found fascination with an odd amalgamation of styles that run from rap and jazz to disco and Midwestern surf-rock—complete with kettle drums, strings and found sounds."[8] Entertainment Weekly deemed the album "twisted, stylized, and strained, a concoction of decadent cocktail music."
Stereo Review called it "left-field, eclectic Brit-styled pop."[9] Rolling Stone likened Mars's voice to that of Ray Davies. The Toronto Sun considered "White Patty Rap" to be "a contender for party song of the year."[10]
AllMusic wrote: "As was evident on his first two releases, Mars has a distinctive voice, but the appeal of his vocals is limited, and it's likely only hardcore fans of his old band, the Replacements, would be willing to submit to it."