Reviews (9)

sucks so good
my boyfriend just bought me this album for my birthday two days ago, and i've already listened to it ten times. the tunes are funny as hell, certainly, but also incredibly catchy. comparisons to peaches (and various other electroclash groups like tracy + the plastics) are definitely merited, although the addition of an obviously californian hip-hop sensibility in favour of (slightly pretentious) european-style techno beats sets gravy train!!!! apart. unselfconsciously dirty and silly. may inspire one to commit various unnatural acts.

Raunchy, wicked, and fun
She got f***ed by a fry! Burger baby is probably one of the best songs on this album. It's so strange and hilarious. The girl gets pregnant by a french fry and almost has a burger baby abortion. She decides to keep her burger baby by the end of the song. Yeah, the whole album is like that. Strange lyrics that will keep you laughing for years to come. When I was trying to study for finals, this album kept me up even in the late hours of the night. Raunchy, wicked, and fun but may be too extreme for granny. Gravy Train!!!! sounds like the B-52s on an acid trip.

Hunx is the Man!
I just saw Gravy Train!!!! play last night and boy was I happy.They have become one of my most played bands quickly.The lyrics are so funny and terrible that it's brilliant.Plus hunx is really a hunk!Yowser!Read more

Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Pop    3. Queercore    4. Riot Grrrl    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. United States of America   

Reviews (16)

A pleasant surprise
Given the dismal quality of most modern activist music, I expected a bunch of amateurish, poorly-written diatribes. Happily there's very little of that here.
i LOVE THIS, if i don't buy it...you can atleast!!
this album is amazing... beautiful album
this is a beautiful record. i don't know if it's punk or not, and i really don't care, the songs are great, and i like the not-so-trashy ones the most. complicated is just beautiful ('if you want to go just go go go, i'll die if you go just go go go, and i'll watch you go away..'), i can't think of a better song about love, relationships, and the defenses people build after they get hurt, and how this affects our new relationships ('i've built this walls around me, i'm begging you to knock them down', if that's not the greatest love line out there, i don't know what it is). Read more

Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Pop    3. Punk    4. Riot Grrrl    5. Rock   

Reviews (5)

WOW! These grrrls rock.
I was fortunate enough to see The Butchies for the first time last week at the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival and later got them to autograph this CD for me. WOW! This is music I've been searching for a long time. These grrrls rock. They possess so much talent. It's difficult to pick a favorite track. The music is hard but raw, not overly produced and simplified. Kaia's voice is soft and beautiful. I frequently find myself turning the volume up so I can hear her better. I haven't been able to get this CD out of my stereo since I returned home. I've been a fan since the very first song they played on stage that evening.

re: history rolling on
Emma Lou Harris is a figment of your imagination. Emmy Lou Harris is a wonderful blue grass musician.

Butchies best yet
If you only get one Butchies cd, this is the one to get.Lots of energy and amazing songs. But I recommend getting the two previous ones as well, because they all rock! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Punk Revival    5. Queercore    6. Riot Grrrl    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (8)

This is it, girls!
Girls hungry for female empowerment and left unimpressed by Christina Aguilera: this is the real deal!This rates with Hole's Pretty on the Inside and Babes in Toyland's Fontanelle as a girl-grunge classic.Gato Negro opener "The History of My Future" arguably packs more power than anything on the above mentioned albums.Courtney Love fans (pre-nose jobs), you need this album!

The history of my future
I miss the days when women in rock music weren't playing up to the cameras ala Pink or were pretending to be something they aren't (see Avril Lavigne). Back in the '90s when (I hate using this term immensely) 'grunge' exploded, bands from Seattle were getting signed left to right. One of my personal favorite bands at the time was 7 Year B***h. As usual, the major record label didn't know what to do with them in the end but the music the band put out was better than some of terrible music I was hearing at the time. "Gato Negro" is certainly a lot slicker than "Sick 'Em" was in terms of production value goes but the songs themselves were still the angry, raw, blundgeoning sounds that I have come to love from one of the best bands that came out of the northwest. Pink has nothing on Selene Vigil's ferocious growl. Valerie Agnew definitely reminded me of Babes in Toyland's Lori Barbero with her incredible drumming. All the songs on "Gato Negro" are great. I especially loved the first three tracks. They were edgy and fierce. Everything that women in rock tday aren't.

good old stuff...
Well these chicks rock and rock hard they did. Very good album, with good licks, sometimes the lyric fade and are a bit lame but their sound makes up for it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Punk Revival    5. Riot Grrrl    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (11)

Fans Decide for Yourselves, the Bad Reviews = Rubbish
I disagree with the person who criticized this "albulm" (ha) and agree with the person who called it blues, punk, gospel. The instrumentation is not sloppy, the guitar playing and the drumming have a raw, primal sound that sends people into a frenzy both in the comfort of their homes and at the Gossips' live shows. This record is my favorite of all of them. If you want Beth to get a backup band and sound like a pop star, forget it. Go buy a Christina Aguilera album.

just say no to haterade
this album rocks my socks. although i enjoyed "that's not what i heard," movement kicked twice as much ass. more mature, more moody, more funky. Among others, "don't make waves" is amazing.
Inconsistent
As much as I love Beth Ditto's voice, I must concur with the detractors -- this is an inconsistent, incomplete album. It differs from 'That's Not What I Heard' in that there are actual "songs" here, as compared to the "skits" that defined the first album. Because of the clarity of the production and the longer songs, The Gossip's flaws are more obvious here; the lyrics are bad (and yes, embarrassing at times), and The Gossip are yet to learn any sense of dynamics. It's a relentlessly loud, jarring, almost assaulting affair; with Beth belting, and Brace and Kathy "hammering" their instruments. For this reason, I can understand those that say this album is boring compared to the first one. It lacks variety, and it seems like The Gossip didn't put much effort into the songs; they are simply coasting on Beth's amazing voice.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Garage Punk    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Pop    5. Punk-Pop    6. Riot Grrrl    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop    9. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Move over, Shangri-Las. There's a new girl gang in town. They call themselves Kissy, Dusty, and Junior, but everyone knows that the girls in Cadallaca are Corin Tucker from Sleater-Kinney and Sarah Dougher and sts from the Lookers. Taking on new identities is a thematic strain for Cadallaca. Not only have they rechristened themselves, they have also gone far afield of their other bands. Cadallaca is a girl group in the old-fashioned sense of the word: close harmonies, Farfisa-driven tunes, and attitude applied like fresh red lipstick. But don't expect the same old brokenhearted subjects. "June-n-July" is a word-crammed story of brave young warriors, but as opposed to the Shirelles song, these soldier boys are girls! The creaky, haunted-house organ of "Night Vandals" sets the tone for this bizarre stalker's lament. Lo-fi production can be a burden on some bands, but here it is perfect for the retro appeal. Cadallaca: the world's first grrrl group. Read more

Reviews (10)

better than sleater-kinney
i like this cd a lot better than sleater-kinney. you can pretty much listen to it all the time, as long as the vocals don't grate on you too much. the first 3 songs are probably the best and very singable. "pocket games" is [pooh], "night vandals" is just [a little bit similar to] the need... then it gets better with "2 beers later", one of my favorite songs. "o chenilla"...sad rejection song but decent. the instrumental track is boring and the last two songs are pretty good. my review doesn't sound that great but i'm probably not doing it justice though.

Breath offresh air--aaahhh
Breathe it deep, because in the stale state that music has lingered in for the past few years, we've all needed a cool breeze, and these girls deliver it by twisting and tweaking the old staples into something original. The inclusion of the organ is always an interesting touch (see Nick Cave, Murder City Devils) and these ladies pull it off quite well. A new take on Sleater-Kinney's talents
As Sleater-Kinney becomes something more permanent -- solid, but slipping into more-of-the-sameness -- it's great to hear members branching off in new directions.Read more

Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Pop    3. Riot Grrrl    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Restraint and polish have their virtues, but the Gossip's first full-length preaches a powerful sermon on the value of raw, honest emotion and reckless abandon. Part of the power of their message lies in the simplicity of its delivery. Limiting themselves to vocals, guitar, and drums, with absolutely no studio wizardry, first names only in liner notes, and a total running time of less than 25 minutes, this threesome has no tolerance for non-essentials. Guitarist Nathan and drummer Kathy lay down a stripped-down retro sound somewhat reminiscent of the Flat Duo Jets and Bratmobile, providing singer Beth with a perfect pulpit from which to deliver her frank discourses on lesbian love, lust, and leverage. Highlights include opener "Swing Low," the back-to-back "Where the Girls Are" and "Bring It On," and the closer, "Hott Date." While this CD's 14 tracks aren't incredibly diverse, they do pack a wallop, and fans of no-frills garage rock and raw, lo-fi blues should definitely give it a listen. Read more

Reviews (8)

Careful
The Gossip ROCK. They rock hard and hot. I love their music, i love their fire and i love their damn sexy lyrics. However, as much as most of the ppl who've reviewed this band love Ditto's voice... well some ppl just dont.
That southern rock makes me wanna jump up and boogie down!
The Gossip started a revival with this genre of music that was becoming scarce.When this album came out in the beginning of the year 2001, it is just what was needed in the world to wake everyone up.A lot of bands jumped on the bandwagon with this "new" sound.They are a three piece band consisting of merely a vocalist, guitarist and drummer.Some people say this album tends to drag in places, but I would say just the opposite.Beth Ditto has such a strong, sexy and bluesy voice, there is much to love about it.And their sound is pure garage/blues rock.The singer is openly gay, with very racy lyrics, which fit their sound perfectly.She turns what used to be just a church song, 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,' into a naughty song being sung to a bad girl; 'sweet baby/momma's baby/there's only one thing that can make you my lady/swing low, down low, sweet chariot.'Phew, makes me sweat.Long live the Gossip!

Beth Ditto is unstoppable.
I'm usually a big fan of very carefully produced songs with intricate details. This is simply the opposite. It's raw, sweaty rock produced in someone's basement. Nothing is tweaked. It's just drums, a guitar and Beth Ditto's amazing voice wailing over it, pulling you under.Read more

Subjects:  1. Garage Punk    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Pop    5. Post-Punk    6. Punk-Pop    7. Riot Grrrl    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop    10. Rockabilly Revival    11. United States of America   

Editorial Review

With three years since their last album, Read more

Reviews (13)

YOU ARE YOUR OWN WORST ENEMY
This is by far Bikini Kill's poppiest album, and that doesn't mean they've become tame!
Do not reject this album
Postoje samo dva punk beda. Sex Pistols i Bikini Kill.
We are turning cursive letters into knives
Bikini Kill were one of the original riot grrrl bands in the early '90s. This was their last album, and more polished than their previous works. I think it's an awesome album and a great place to start with Bikini Kill. All the songs are excellent, there is not a single bad song on here. My favorites being 'Statement of Vindication', 'Capri Pants', 'Jet Ski', 'Tony Randall', 'Reject All American', and 'Finale'. Kathleen Hanna's voice takes some warming up to at first, but before you know it you suddenly fall in love with her snotty brat girl voice. I'm really glad I've found out about this band and I wish we had bands like Bikini Kill still around. Female musicians are so overlooked, it's a shame. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Punk    5. Riot Grrrl    6. Rock   

Reviews (2)

She-Bangs
On the post-riot-grrrl landscape, female-fronted punk bands range from the Sleater-Kinney camp, which merges perky cheerleader chants with adventurous art-rock, to the Donnas and their daughters, who churn out straight-forward rockers that attempt to make up for in spunk what they lack in substance. In the middle of this spectrum are Sleater-Kinney's Olympia, Washington neighbors The Bangs, who blend their hand-clapping go-go pop with infectious riffs reminiscent of Cheap Trick. (The group ends its sophomore album, Sweet Revenge, with a knowing cover of that band's "Southern Girls.") As a result, The Bangs are accessible without dumbing down their tunes, many of which are relatively complex with bass-driven breakdowns and searing solos. Lyrically, the group mixes its playful spirit with a more mature attitude, as on "Train Wreck," which begins with singer Sarah Utter delivering flirty come-ons, then slows down as she weighs the possible consequences of her impulsive actions. "Shick Shadel" matches a dark melodic undercurrent with appropriately downbeat lyrics (I tear my hair out watching her win/While I'm resigned as a distant friend), but the next song, "Licorice Whip," quickly re-establishes the record's peppy slumber-party feel. With Sweet Revenge, The Bangs balance the best of both worlds -- raw enough to remain genuine, but polished enough to demand respect.

energetic, fresh power punk
A lot has been made of The Bangs' influences-they share a label (and occasionally tours) with established girl-punk icons Sleater-Kinney. While there may be some common characteristics, the two bands are fundamentallydifferent. Sleater-Kinney are very political, exploring complex issues withtheir music. The Bangs share a similar "go get 'em" attitude, buttheir songs are more focused on teenage angst, relationships and justrocking out than they are on hot debates. This is fun music. The openingtrack illustrates this- it's entitled "Fast Easy Love," It'sabout forty-five seconds long, and contains the line "gimme fast,gimme easy, gimme NOW!" And that sums up what they give you over thecourse of the record - fast, immediate and catchy songs.The one slowburner, "undo everything," is a surprise in the middle of thealbum - slower and sadder, but lacking none of the energy and passion ofthe more rocking tracks. If you like this, a band with a similar spirit(and similar line-up of two girls and a boy) is the Rondelles. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Punk    5. Punk Revival    6. Punk-Pop    7. Rock   

Reviews (7)

For completists only
Even if you're a fan and just want to complete your collection, I'd hesitate to recommend this album.It's truly awful.I was a huge L7 fan back in the day, but even I took this album and sold it to a used CD store within weeks of buying it.Avoid this one.

Not perfect but not terrible either
I was a big L7 fan back in the early to mid '90s. While everyone was into Nirvana and Pearl Jam, I was into L7. I felt that L7 was vastly superior to Nirvana and Pearl Jam. I bought everything L7-related that I could get my grubby hands on. Before drummer Dee Plakas joined the band, L7 actually had a male drummer (as if that would make any difference since the production on this cd was awful). I eventually bought their self-titled debut album. I have to admit that this was not the band's best album. Brett Gurewitz's production was less than stellar. Their sound on this album was pretty bad. The songs on the cd were not nearly as catchy as what I heard on "Smell the Magic" and "Bricks Are Heavy". Nevertheless there were some songs that I did like on this album like "Cat-O'Nine-Tails" and "Metal Stampede". The self-titled debut album by L7 may not be their best work but I have heard much worse music by other artists/bands than this album.

O.K!!
I found their first cd very good! I love "metal stampede" and "ms 45"!! it's full of anger! It's power, adrenaline!! Not the best L7 album but....I LIKE IT ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Grunge    4. Pop    5. Punk    6. Riot Grrrl    7. Rock   

Reviews (2)

Good Old School Punk (Oh, and they're girls)
Closer in sound to the 1977 Avengers and early Sonic Youth than contemporaries like Veruca Salt and Elastica, however accessible to fans of both the former and the later. If you like Siouxsie & the Banshees early work and Peel Sessions you might be able to get into this, but if you are more partial to later Siouxsie recordings, then this is probably too raw for you. Best tracks include: Night X 9, the title track and Semi-Blue Tile.

Secret Anthem
If you're the kind of person that finds herself adopting surf punk songs as secret anthems, this is the album for you. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Punk    5. Punk Revival    6. Rock   

Features

• Live

Reviews (8)

How NOT to record a live album
1.-I'm a L7 fan. Let's make that clear
Let's rock tonight!
Since I continue to wait for a "Best Of" disc from L7, I thought I'd take a gamble on this live album. I found the performances to be fairly good, while the sound of the disc is not. After the marching band medley to start, which is unique and interesting, we get ten tracks live in Omaha, and the remainder from Osaka. Also this is obviously part of the "Beauty Process" tour, as half the tracklist is from that album. I won't complain about missing songs, since this is actually a decent mix. I can safely say this is for the bigger L7 fans out there, and newbies should just stick with "Hungry For Stink" or "Bricks Are Heavy". Still, if it sounds good go for it. It's cheap used.

Just an incredible live album
I've never seen this in a store except for the copy I bought. I already loved L7 but this album really blew me away. I never got to see them before they broke up but this album makes up for it. This album also serves as an unofficial "greatest hits" of a sort since the songs range across 3 albums.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Grunge    4. Pop    5. Riot Grrrl    6. Rock   

Editorial Review

L7 are arguably the most important female hard-rock group ever, and with Read more

Reviews (13)

My favorite L7 album
...if for no other reason than "War With You." Why did everybody seem to not care whether L7 was at war with anyone when this got released. I think this album has their best, goofiest, and most mature stuff to date. Its sad that this band kept getting better and better while people seemed less and less interested.
A sad farewell to a great career
Before I begin my review, let me explain the rather cryptic title . After three years of no word whatsoever from L7 and two more years of "indefinite hiatus", L7 co-founder Donita Sparks announced this year that L7 has broken up and that she and drummer Dee Plakas have formed a new band. This news casts my review of SLAP HAPPY in a rather sad light, seeing as it was the group's final album.
The album is ok....
This album does not live up to there other albums . There are a couple of good songs, but it just does not match there past albums. Especially in the lyrics department. L7 does write some silly songs in there older albums, but most of there songs have a message. A very clear message. This new album isn't like that at all which is very disappointing for me because lyrics are a big reason for me listening to a band. Thats why I don't listen to bands like Limp Bizcut. There lyrics are horrible crap that mean nothing at all. Anywho, good album to pick up if you can find it used. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Bass (Electric)    4. Drums    5. Grunge    6. Guitar (Electric)    7. Popular Music    8. Riot Grrrl    9. Vocals    10. Vocals (Background)   

Features

• Import

Reviews (2)

I DON'T OWN THIS BUT I OWN THE SONGS!
ok so I had bought all the albums way before this was released.. L7 is possibly the best female punk metal bands there has ever been.. extremely original and creative the girls did something special when they were together.. it was a sad day when I found out that they had split.. sad in deed..
Wait for a REAL compilation.
So, what do we have? 12 good songs from 3 good albums. Are they the best songs? Maybe, maybe not. Here's the bottom line. For about the same price as this 1 cd, you could go get "Smell the magic", "Bricks are heavy", "Hungry for stink", and "The Beauty process...". Especially used. If you quickly need a 1 disc L7 fix that's not 40 bucks, I suggest "Hungry for Stink". It rocks! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Grunge    4. Pop    5. Punk    6. Riot Grrrl    7. Rock   

Reviews (5)

good good good
i just got this cd about a week ago, and after hearing the first two tracks i was sold. i purchased the cd simply because of hearing so much about them, kaia and donna. I was very pleased to hear some great music to go along with the hype!

Classic
Both of Team Dresch's albums are amazing - this may be the most essential.Great mix of punk, rock & folk, with Kaia and Jodi lending their usually brilliant voices and lyrics to the mix.This is one of my all-time favorite records!

My Personal Best Record
I bought this CD 6 years ago and it didn't get filed into my collection for about a year because it never left my CD player for more than a day or two.I've revisited "Personal Best" at least once a year sinceand it continues to amaze me.I believe Donna Dresch used to play bass inDinosaur Jr. for a brief period?J Mascis should kick himself for notletting Donna rock with him on guitar.Lesbian anthems abound on thisrecord but I never thought of it as lesbian in nature because the musiccuts straight and pure and speaks to anyone with any guts.Soaringguitars, beautiful melodies, and a punch I haven't felt this strong foryears!Stop reading and buy this now! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Pop    3. Punk    4. Punk Revival    5. Queercore    6. Riot Grrrl    7. Rock   

Features

• CD-single

Reviews (1)

The Gossip is RED HOTT
If you dig riot grrl, rockabilly, or anything girly that just plain rocks, you'd love The Gossip. This fine little ensemble consists of Beth (vocals and stage stompin,) Nathan (guitars,) and Kathy (drums)...all rad littlerockers from Olympia, producing a totally dancable swingy type sound thateven your mom can appreciate. The Gossip's amazing ground shattering, bellyrooted vocals and catchy riffs will rock your socks. If you like to playair guitar and dance around in front of the mirror, this should be yoursoundtrack. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 5-Inch CD Singles    2. Garage Punk    3. Indie Rock    4. Lo-Fi    5. Pop    6. Post-Punk    7. Punk-Pop    8. Riot Grrrl    9. Rock    10. Rockabilly Revival    11. United States of America   

Reviews (6)

tops
after years of listening to all the lunachicks albums, i have concluded that this is the best one. even though my three favorite lunachicks songs do not grace it, this entire album makes me want to dance and/or sing.it is the cleanest, smoothest, most consistent lunachicks album.i beleive i love every song equally. genius.

Got any Advil, Got any Chocolate....?!!
I possess all 5 of the Lunachicks' studio CDs and I think this one tops them all. To me, "Pretty Ugly" marks the group reaching their absolute creative peak. Every female should have this album; the Lunachicks, in general, are one of the few hard rock groups that DO NOT sound like Avril Lavigne, Liz Phair or Lillix. They are fun, sometimes crude, and can't be taken seriously. I really don't have favorite songs on here, but if I was asked to pick any, I would probably choose "The Day Squid's Gerbal Died," "Dear Dolli" and the instumental "MMM...Donuts." With the group's hilarious lyrics, hyperactive guitar rock and in-your-face views on women's issues, "Pretty Ugly" is an audio powder keg. In addition, not alot of their songs involve being sexually attractive to men; instead their lyrics (on this album, anyway) are about watching T.V., writing to advice columns, the indulgences of snack food, transexuals, and every girl's favorite...PMS. Certainly, I can't think of any other collection of songs featuring a comatose old man dressed in a tutu, a dog chasing a gerbal, a kung fu tomboy OR a 35-year-old man-child crying in his own diaper! Get this album while you still can; it's a rock and roll gem! A few stand-out songs
This is a good CD - not great, but good. There are definitely a few songs which I can listen to over and over - such as "Don`t Want You", "Yeah", and "Wing Chun". However, the other songs are ones that are easily forgettable. If you want to get a good Lunachicks experience, buy 'Luxury Problem' or some of their earlier albums. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Punk    5. Rock   

Reviews (1)

No reviews yet? You're kidding, right?
That the "Seattle Scene" died before 7YB's Viva Zapata got its due...well, it makes ya wanna shake your fist at God. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Punk Revival    5. Riot Grrrl    6. Rock   

Reviews (5)

Butchies- Young and spunky
So, after falling in love with "Are We Not Femme" and "Three" is was good to see the Butchies' roots.Liked the album a little less than the others, but it's still worth listening to... best butchies album!
I never heard of the Butchies until I saw them perform as the opening act for SLeater Kinney. I was so amazed at how good their songs and performance was that I had to buy there album immediately and it lead to me buying all of their other albums and Kaia's solo albums. And no, you definitely do not have to be a lesbian to enjoy this band.

Lesbian Rock is cool
The cd in and of its self rocks. The music is kick a**. And the whole lesbian thing makes the lyrics incredibly exciting and wonderful. The Butchies rock, lesbians rock and homophobes just don't. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Punk Revival    5. Queercore    6. Riot Grrrl    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (7)

Songs #1-13 are rough, fuzzy, demo-type blasters...#14-24 are incredible punk rock
Tobi Vail and Kathi Wilcox always showed a great deal of promise in Bikini Kill, even as Kathleen Hanna broke out as the strongest force within the riot grrrl group. I always admired Vail's writing skills, which matured to such an astonishing degree on "Reject All American" that I felt sure she was a hidden star. On the first 13 tracks of "Frumpie One Piece", there are melodic passages, but anger-Anger-ANGER everywhere. The hooks can be found, but they're buried underneath the sludgy recording (which was done at different places in different years). Suddenly, by track 14, the production miraculously improves and the compositions are strengthened by this, and all great expectations are met. Vail and Wilcox are totally in-synch and manage to find all the right ways to direct a song. I love their anger, but when they streamline that into a song with speedy and slow montages, it makes for one thrilling recording. What happened to the Frumpies?? Kill Rock Stars, we want more!

worth buying
There are a lot of dumb, goofy girly songs on here, but it has some raw ones too (like "Safety First")... way better than the rest of the crap on KRS.

...In Which Old Hands Keep The Beat
*Frumpie One Piece* presents us with the typical profile for a class of 90s bands not properly permitting of "general acclaim": more-or-less evanescent outfits, popping in and out of existence without the knowledge of VH1 or select circles in America's hippest towns.One might think that the formula "Bikini Kill - Kathleen Hanna + the East Bay's Molly and members of Bratmobile" would permit of nearly endless variations on the theme of "women in rock", but in reality there is only one note being sounded in this collection of *realia*: the young lady's need to define her love interest in a way not permitting of "possibilities of combination" pleasing to the *gebildet* ear, that one with the easy familiarity permitted by those images purveyed to residents of cities of the future present rather than the "gearing" of conurbations operational in the objective genitive.Read more

Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Pop    3. Punk    4. Riot Grrrl    5. Rock