Long gone are the days when the Donnas were perfect teen-movie soundtrack fodder. As the fair maidens of new hair-metal, they’re a little like the missing link between Angus Young and Courtney Love.
The self styled antithesis to “cock rock”, The Donnas are to power chords, cheeky lyrics and nail varnish what Blink 182 are to white socks, N Sync piss takes and toilet humour. ‘Take It Off’, the band’s attitude-laden mightily catchy power pop screamer was penned by the girls themselves (which is a bit of a shock), and their on-record musicianship is not compromised to make way for more boob shots in the video. This is the band Kelly Osbourne should’ve been in – it might be shallow, frivolous and sugary, but by golly it’s fun. Grrrrl rock at its finest.
The Donnas, if you don’t know, are a hard rock (and yes, that antiquated term very much applies here) quartet armed with a serious index of AC/DC riffs and a smattering of gauche girl-gone-wrong charm
Go on, drink whiskey from the bottle, see if I care. But when you’re done, don’t jump around like gracelessly ageing Bratz dolls playing late-era Kiss and think you’re a blistering she-Crue.
The all-girl punk trio Fair Verona flaunt their influences like chunks of gaudy jewelry. There are flashes of The Pixies, a glint of The Breeders, and a saucy wink in the direction of The Donnas. The formula has an overly familiar ring. However, Fair Verona, who are from Tipperary but dress like escapees from a Seattle charity shop circa 1989, work it with chutzpah.
The days of pop dominance are over. The worm has turned, and a whole new slew of blood and guts rock and roll bands are coming through with records that carry more than a hint of greatness. The darkling posse is headed by the Kings Of Leon – but there are outfits from all over the world who will be vying for poll position over the coming 12 months.
