Rating: RRR
Label: Noisehead Records
Review By: Alan Holloway
Here’s one that’s been stuck in the ‘to be reviewed’ file on
my computer for a few months, so apologies for all those fans of female fronted
crunchy hard rock that have been waiting. Vanity Blvd take a pretty basic
formula of sexy sleazy big hook rock and roll, throw in a nicely spicy lead
singer and see what happens.
“Dirty Rat” opens the album, and certainly nails the band’s
colours to the mast efficiently. The riffs are solid, the rhythm upbeat and the
vocals sleazy without being cartoonish. There’s hints of the Runaways in the
attitude and delivery of singer Anna Savage, and the daftly named Traci Trexx
(seriously, dude, double Xs went out in the nineties) keeps it tight and rather
old school on the guitar. It’s good, sure, and infectious, but nothing you
haven’t heard before. The feeling of déjà vu continues throughout the eleven
tracks, mainly because Vanity Blvd
cling to their formula like it’s a piece of driftwood in the middle of the Atlantic. There’s a few Motley Crue like ruffs spicing
things up, but “Wicked Temptation” never really takes off, although it cruises
very nicely.
Vanity Blvd have made a solid album here, with songs that
will certainly appeal to fans of sleaze and glam rock who want something with a
bit of a crunch to get between their teeth. The only drawback is the lack of
any real progression or variety apart from the nice power ballad “Falling Down”,
and let’s be honest and say it’s a rare album that doesn’t have a ballad on it
somewhere. There’s definite promise here, and enough talent to ensure a decent
number of satisfied customers even at this early stage.
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