The band’s strengths are on display on “When It Comes Down,” a song with a melancholy feel, great hooks, and a soaring guitar solo that fits perfectly. Debra’s playing is big, melodic, and bold. “C21H23NO3” covers a lot of ground, and demonstrates perfectly what this band is about; starting with a pop/folk feel with descending bass lines and chords catchy as hell, it moves into an almost metal feel with a nasty solo. Debra wraps it up with a frenetic Hendrix-style jam. The Hendrix vibe shows up again on the title cut – a simmering rock ballad with nice changes and a soaring solo. The haunting “Welcome to the Boneyard” has a gorgeous melody highlighted by a lovely slide solo and Debra’s stunning vocal. The record wraps with a take on Neil Young’s “The Needle and the Damage Done.” It starts with the familiar acoustic guitar before Debra adds atmospheric slide and finally a solo that recognizes the rock and roll that’s always been inherent in the quiet song’s lyric.
While Debra is clearly the focus of this band, Dan Grennes on bass (who has since left the band) and John Hummel on drums are more than up to the task as a rhythm section.
This article originally appeared in VG‘s April ’11 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.
