The Donnas: Bitchin'
The Donnas: Bitching about something or other
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Friday, 28, Sep 2007 04:16
Cooking Vinyl, out October 1st.
In a nutshell.
Lame hard-rock rip-off
What's it about?
So-called "rock and roll rebels" the Donnas are back with their seventh album Bitchin', offering 15 new stadium-filling rock tunes, sprinkled with the usual girl-chanting and anthem-sounding tunes, all beefed up with requisite guitar rifts and solos.
Who's it by?
Formally Donna A, F, R, and C respectively, the Donnas (Brett Anderson, Maya Ford, Allison Robertson and Torry Castellano) have been together since junior high, way back in 1993. This new album marks not only their return to the airwaves but also heralds a new chapter from the band who have just launched their own label, Purple Feather. But whatever man, they're like, you know, hardcore chicks that are simply here to rock the Kasbah, singing about guys and stuff.
As an example
"I'm being way too nice. And you're as cold as ice" - What do I have to do
"Up and down the halls, writing on the walls." - Girl Talk
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys?
Not a chance.
What the others say
"Bitchin' offers little you haven't heard before - even if you haven't heard a Donnas record" - Christian Hoard, Rolling Stone.
"Bitchin' feels like a band going through the motions. Wasted recalls 90s alt-rock, while Joan Jett's influence is almost embarrassingly over-represented on Don't Wait Up For Me. It's all very slick and radio-ready, but many of the well-honed guitar licks and calculated anthem choruses are as tired-sounding as 70s arena rock hits." - David Lewis, Variety.
So is it any good?
I was so excited when I got this CD because I just knew it was going to be bad. Though I was hoping to be surprised, I wasn't. It really is a terrible album.
It'd be a shame to waste money on this CD, little own time on actually listening to it. Sure, it's bearable, even fun at times, but not one song has the originality or the standout sound like their past (and only) hit Take it off did. Their music is a complete rip off of every rock song you've ever heard and this is neither meant as a pastiche tribute nor a mocking jab at the genre. It's so obvious that it was produced by the same guy who did Meatloaf that frankly I'm sure he's just stolen some of his B-side songs, dumbed them down by 99 per cent, added some girlie back-up chanting and slapped the Donnas name on it.
The lyrics are tipped as "edgy" yet are so simple that they actually made me feel stupider just listening to them. They completely lack insight and reminded me of the types of songs written by 12-years-olds who have just gotten hold of their first guitar - not a band who we are meeting again, seven albums later. The music hasn't evolved or grown up at all and if anything, it just seems lame and lazy.
Anderson's vocals simply aren't strong enough and one gets the sense that this is the reason behind all the back-up chanting. Some of the guitar rifts actually sound amazing but since they haven't the lyrics or the strong voice to hold onto they are lifeless and disappointingly wasted.
All in all I wonder whether the Donnas actually thought they were creating some bitchin' tunes or whether they're taking the piss out of every single person who buys their new album. Do yourself a favour and don't be one of those people.
1/10
Louise Cadell
Your comments:
"The Donnas rule and so does this album. Disco is out, people" - Tim Smith