L7 (album)

L7 is the debut studio album by American rock band L7, released in September 1988, by Epitaph Records.^[2][3]

L7
Studio album by L7
Released	September 1988[1]
Recorded	1987
Studio	Westbeach Recorders (Hollywood)
Genre	Punk rock grunge
Length	31:58
Label	Epitaph
Producer	Brett Gurewitz
L7 chronology
L7 (1988) Smell the Magic (1990)

Production

The album was recorded in Brett Gurewitz's studio, in Hollywood, California.^[4] It is the band's only album with drummer Roy Koutsky.^[5]

The album's first track, "Bite the Wax Tadpole," refers to the legend that this is a Chinese transliteration of "Coca-Cola".^[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[8]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[10]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	4/10[11]

Trouser Press wrote that the album "is a heady but largely inconsequential introduction; it’s all brute force and speed, grunge as a sheer sonic description."^[12] Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Steve Huey has stated that the band's "trademark grungy fusion of punk and metal" wasn't fully formed yet.^[7]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Bite the Wax Tadpole"	Suzi Gardner	2:16
2.	"Cat-O'-Nine-Tails"	Gardner	2:12
3.	"Metal Stampede"	Donita Sparks	2:25
4.	"Let's Rock Tonight"	Gardner, Sparks	3:12
5.	"Uncle Bob"	Gardner, Sparks, Jennifer Finch, Roy Koutsky	6:32
6.	"Snake Handler"	Gardner	2:29
7.	"Runnin' from the Law"	Gardner, Sparks	3:10
8.	"Cool Out"	Sparks	2:54
9.	"It's Not You"	Gardner	1:45
10.	"I Drink"	Gardner, Sparks, Finch, Koutsky	2:55
11.	"Ms. 45"	Gardner, Sparks, Finch, Koutsky	2:40
Total length:			31:58

Personnel

L7

• Donita Sparks – vocals, guitar
• Suzi Gardner – guitar, vocals
• Jennifer Finch – bass guitar, vocals
• Roy Koutsky – drums

Production

• Brett Gurewitz – producer
• Jordan Tarlow – guitar technician
• Suzy Beal – artwork
• Donnell Cameron – engineer
• Jeff Campbell – CD layout
• Al Flipside – photography, cover photo
• Bruce Kalberg – photography
• Randall Martin – logo
• Eddy Schreyer – mastering
• N.Todd Skiles – design