How We Quit the Forest

How We Quit the Forest is the second studio album by the American rock band Rasputina, released on August 4, 1998, by Columbia Records. The album represents a key moment in the band's catalog, fusing their signature multi-cello lineup with industrial and electronic production elements. This sonic evolution was largely driven by producer Chris Vrenna, the former Nine Inch Nails drummer, who provided the album's distinct electronic beats, sounds, and samples, bridging the gap between classical chamber music and late-90s industrial rock.

Lyrically, frontwoman Melora Creager explores dark, historical, and surreal themes, touching on subjects like exorcism, death, and historical oddities. The album features a notable cover of Lesley Gore's feminist anthem 'You Don't Own Me', reinterpreted through scraping, aggressive cellos. After going out of print, the album was re-released in 2011 by Creager on her own label, Filthy Bonnet Recording Co., marking its first-ever release on vinyl. The record stands as a definitive document of the 'chamber-goth' subgenre, showcasing a precarious yet alluring balance of pop song structures and avant-garde instrumentation.