Peaches: Five Essential Albums

Women's history is world history, but care is taken in March to elevate the message and mission of Women's History Month. We've asked some of the women we love — including Peaches, Blessing Jolie and  Ellur — to write about their Five Essential Albums for FUV.

There's no denying the seismic career shift that happened after Canadian musician Merrill Nisker, far better known as Peaches, released her second album, 2000's The Teaches of Peaches. It was carnal, sensual, furious, dance-forward, and fantastically explicit — and vaulted Peaches to the forefront of a punk-electroclash scene that elevated a feminist and queer perspective on sex and positivity. (Her pal Feist lent backing vocals.) Not only did "F*** the Pain Away" land in Sofia Coppola's "Lost in Translation," but Peaches has been long celebrated by music critics and peers like M.I.A., Elastica's Justine Frischmann, Phish's Trey Anastasio and Iggy Pop (who collaborated with her on "Kick It").

Peaches has continued to shock and awe — with intent and integrity — over the past 25 years; her humor and blunt honesty infuse everything she does in music, theatre, dance or documentaries. Her most recent release is No Lube So Rude, recorded in Berlin, and released on Kill Rock Stars in February. It is Peaches first album in 11 years — and her edge is just as razor-sharp and ribald as ever.

What music might Peaches treasure? She wrote about five of her favorite albums for FUV:

Peaches: Five Essential Albums

Sinéad O’Connor, The Lion and the Cobra
She was 21 when she made this, I was 21 when I heard it. It is so loaded with incredible insights way beyond her years. Incredible vocals, so much vunerability and power. This was the first time I understood a folk artist working dance into their music.

Diamanda Galás, The Singer
Diamanda is unreal! You’re going to hear drama! Extreme anger, comedy, experimental creativity. She has taken blues songs and made them her own. I have to listen to this on Halloween every year, it just conjures spirits. I’m not witchy, but I’m witchy for Diamanda!

Missy Elliott, Under Construction
This came out after Aaliyah passed away and Missy found a way to process her feelings and grief, but also keep it real. Sexy. Minimal. Amazing. The beats! It really spoke to me then and I revisit it often.

Joni Mitchell, Blue
This album is so pure and raw, it really touches my heart. I especially love when Joni plays the dulcimer on “California” — so beautiful and real. I love to sing along with the entire album.

Cibo Matto, Viva! La Woman
This album was very important to me when it came out. Two women self-producing and rapping — it sounded so fresh. I was really into how they were aligning themselves visually. They had a power that I didn’t know before. I was very lucky to open for them in the early 2000s.

- Peaches
March 2026