(Courtesy of Anthem Records.)
When I heard about the conception of Spinnerette sometime back in 2007, I'm sure I wasn't the only one squealing with delight. For me, Spinnerette, Brody Dalle's brainchild, had the potential of being an intense mash-up of everything I'd ever loved. An inspired amalgamation of past Queens of the Stone Age, The Distillers, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Eleven members, Spinnerette was a neo-supergroup in the making.
So what happened between The Distillers splitting up and the release of the Spinnerette album, you ask? Well, Brody Dalle had a baby and I hear that sort of thing tends to change people, which may be why this self-titled debut is such a huge step away from Dalle's harder punk roots. Brody herself has changed; once a startlingly original punk with a snarl that would give a lioness a run for its money, she's now a slightly plumper, more nervous-looking songstress and mother of Josh Homme's spawn. (I'd be nervous too.)
The album itself is draped with a haunted feel. The songs range from seductive on "All Babes Are Wolves" to contemplative on "A Spectral Suspension"; from injecting confidence right into your bloodstream on "Ghetto Love" to evoking dream worlds full of wolves, spiders, knives and body parts in "Distorting a Code". Even though "Bury My Heart" is probably the closest thing you're going to get to The Distillers on this album, complaints are few and far between. The new sound is fresh, invigorating, and a bold change of direction.
No surprises here, this album should fulfill the expectations of any dedicated Dalle fan. Josh Homme's fingerprints are all over it and though he may not be credited for it in the liner notes, he's had a tremendous effect on Brody's songwriting. The chunky riffs, expertly crafted drum loops and cigarettes-and-whiskey affected vocals hearken back to an effortless sort of 70s desert class. While this may not be the Brody Dalle you once knew, I can guarantee you this album is all you've been waiting for and more.
0 comments:
Post a Comment