“This song is pure gold.” [stereosubversion.com]
http://www.stereosubversion.com/reviews/album-reviews/spinnerette-ghetto...
SPINNERETTE - GHETTO LOVE EP Review 8.5/10
The once and future princess of punk has returned. And hot damn, it sounds good! Brody Dalle greets us with the same attitude and emotion, but a new redefined sound in reclaiming her position as punk rock royalty. After a near five-year sabbatical, the former front woman for LA punk band The Distillers now reemerges with new perspectives on life and her new band Spinnerette to channel them through. The first offering from Dalle and company is the Ghetto Love EP, a short sample of what’s to come on their full-length album scheduled for release in early 2009. The content? Four well above average songs that showcases Dalle’s new direction, yet reinforce why she is one of the best front women in the game....
http://www.stereosubversion.com/reviews/album-reviews/spinnerette-ghetto...
SPINNERETTE - GHETTO LOVE EP Review 8.5/10
The once and future princess of punk has returned. And hot damn, it sounds good! Brody Dalle greets us with the same attitude and emotion, but a new redefined sound in reclaiming her position as punk rock royalty. After a near five-year sabbatical, the former front woman for LA punk band The Distillers now reemerges with new perspectives on life and her new band Spinnerette to channel them through. The first offering from Dalle and company is the Ghetto Love EP, a short sample of what’s to come on their full-length album scheduled for release in early 2009. The content? Four well above average songs that showcases Dalle’s new direction, yet reinforce why she is one of the best front women in the game.
The last time we heard Dalle was with The Distillers’ 2003 breakout album Coral Fang. That pure punk explosion highlighted by Dalle’s heartfelt lyrics propelled her into the spotlight as the quintessential punk rock pin-up girl. However, as the critical praise rolled in the band found themselves on unsteady ground and Dalle decided to disband the group and hang up the moniker. From there, her marriage to Queens of the Stone Age mastermind Josh Homme and the birth of their daughter kept her in the news but away from shelves at record shops. That was until she unveiled Spinnerette.
The first song, “Ghetto Love,” kicks in with a strong Queens of the Stone Age influence right away. Whether you label it desert rock or the extremely less flattering tag of stoner rock, it’s clear that the production of current Spinnerette bassist Alain Johannes is calling on the sound of his former band with heavy guitar and bass riffs. The second thing you notice is that Dalle has brought her vocals down to a more harmonizing level. The once self-proclaimed “lead screamer” isn’t screaming any more. That is until she lets out a vicious “Hey” on the hook. Keeping with the introspection of Coral Fang, her lyrics are tales of poignant emotion as she sings, “I’m just a girl out looking for love.” This song is pure gold.
“Valium Knights” doesn’t drop the ball keeping the same thumping pace as the first song and featuring great drums from former Chili Pepper Jack Irons. Dalle has indeed put together an impressive group of all-stars for the band with former Distillers’ guitarist Tony Bevilacqua rounding out the quartet. Yet it’s still Dalle’s lyrics and vocals that are the stars here. “Distorting the Code” is the most meditative, while the final track “Bury My Heart” is the closest we get to the rip-your-throat vocals of yesteryear Dalle. Listening to her on that song is a great reminder as to why she drew many Courtney Love comparisons.
Now the hype machine has begun. If this exciting EP is just a taste of the full album, then Spinnerette should join the ranks of the most anticipated of 2009. With critics and fans favoring quieter indie rock in the last year, it’s fitting that Brody Dalle arrives back on the scene to give punk a swift kick in the ass to liven it up. The princess has returned and we all should pay very close attention to what she has to say. She’s much more mature and distinguished now, but she’s still tough enough that she’ll punch your teeth out if you don’t listen.
