Playing like a tribute album to every female singer that's ever gotten a good review, this UK quartet's debut mixes rock and dance grooves and falls short in the originality department. Earnestness can be painfully boring. Vocalist/bassist Sarah Daly's tortured, heart-on-her-sleeve lyrics stand at the forefront of the songs on Violence Is Golden, though her delivery too often sounds borrowed from other (more famous and groundbreaking) chanteuses. Opener "Joy" is an impressive maelstrom of churning guitars and beats, but Daly's caterwaul sounds as if she's unabashedly channelling Chrissie Hynde. The song's simple keyboard solo sounds straight outta Berlin's "Sex (I'm A)" and doesn't help Scanners' cause. Was that meant to be ironic? Likewise, "Lowlife" rocks hard, but Daly comes off like a Karen O. wannabe. The same criticism can be said on most of the other tracks, just fill in Gwen Stefani or Siouxsie Sioux where necessary. It's only on "Raw" that Daly finally finds her own voice. Backed by a bandmates that have decent chops, this song should serve as the starting point for their next album.
Sounds likeVARIOUS For the Masses - Depeche Mode TributeFriday, 21 November 2008 | Keith Kirchner
Most tribute albums are cattle calls for record companies to try to create a star on the backs of an established one. The results are usually eneven at best with lots of tracks to skip. The guys from God Lives Underwater (who produced a surprise... Click to Continue...
Sounds likeSEBADOH The SebadohTuesday, 18 November 2008 | Keith Kirchner
The remainder of The Sebadoh follows suit from that confident opening statement. Rocking tunes such as "Cuban" and "Bird In The Hand" charge hard and strong, but their pace is never so fierce that it distracts from the melodies or from the bevy of... Click to Continue...
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