Hole: Pretty On The Inside

COURTNEY LOVE is scary. Much scarier than the witches old (Macbeth's, say) and new (Lydia Lunch, say) whom she occasionally sounds like and whom she eventually renders as harmless as any other make-believe character (Minnie Mouse, say). On Pretty On The Inside (Caroline), the genre-defying album debut of L.A. underground darlings Hole, Courtney Love embodies the gnawing fear that doesn't make Enter Sandman's all-time night terror list, as if casual, cavalier omission might kick it back where it belongs, just a little further under the bed. Courtney Love (who, in previous incarnations, seems to have had a bit part in Sid and Nancy and at least one rehearsal with half the stars in the indie firmament) is the girl who won't shut up. She is all the things that should not be, and she shoves it, raw, right in your face.