The James Logan Courier

By Jack Bragg, Courier Entertainment Editor

Solo projects and bands formed from the remains of once popular acts often face a troubling dilemma. Does the new project keep the sound that got the act famous to begin with? or do they deviate and risk alienating old fans in favor of newer listeners. Former Distillers frontwoman Brody Dalle’s new project, Spinnerette, hits that long-sought-after perfect balance with their self-titled debut. Spinnerette’s sound is entirely different from that of The Distiller’s edgy punk sound, instead favoring a more alternative feel, perhaps heavily influenced by Dalle’s husband, Josh Homme, of Queens of the Stone Age and Them Crooked Vultures fame. The band’s feel can be described as a mix between the vocal styles of Garbage’s Shirley Manson (during the more melodious sections) and Hole’s Courtney Love (in the often screamed choruses and refrains). The musical sound varies from the rhythmically empowered music behind bands like Queens of the Stone Age, and at times the melodious/ futuristic styles by bands like Garbage and Metric. The first track, “Ghetto Love” showcases the band’s alternative direction and giving the beginning of the album a building track that embodies the style that most of the album revolves around. “All Babes Are Wolves” again goes for the alternative feel before exploding in a scream chorus that is entirely complimentary to Dalle’s powerful vocals.

“Cupid” and “Geeking” provide lighter feels that showcase the more alternative melodies that the band heavily sets forth as the focal point of their new sound.

“Baptized by Fire” is an almost unexpected track that favors a very electronic melancholy feel. The track feels a lot like a Garbage track and Dalle provides an excellent feel for the song that make it one of the high points of an already great album.

The next couple tracks, “A Spectral Suspension” and “Distorting a Code” delve even further into the more ethereal feels that differ greatly from the explosiveness in the albums opening. While, “Sex Bomb” gives an entirely different feel from anything else on the album.
Featuring heavily placed distortion and unexpected layered instruments, this Queens of the Stone Age-esque track favors a sex appeal style that is heavily complimented by Dalle’s sexy drawl.

“Driving Song” reverts back to the medium-paced build that was featured in “Ghetto Love” at the beginning of the album. “Rebellious Palpitations” however, brings back the explosive chorus that feels so natural for the band. Dalle calls forth her inner Courtney Love to bring life to the lyrics and give the song a strong combusting feel.

“The Walking Dead” brings back the bass-driven track seen back towards the middle of the album and provides a simple song to set the pace for the albums closure. “Impaler” features an almost haunted-bluegrass feel, with a washboard and acoustic guitar providing the background to a song that feels as if it could be used in any Halloween-themed movie and fit right in.

The album’s final track, “A Prescription for Mankind” which feels like the embodiment of the entire albums general sound in one final climactic song. The album also features a hidden track after a few minutes of silence that amounts to a strange ethereal scream with almost a rock-egyptian style track behind it.

All things considered, Spinnerette really hit the mark on their first attempt to deviate from the sound of Dalle’s previous band, The Distillers. However, despite the new feel and the excellent execution, the band still leaves something to be desired as many of the tracks feel like
fillers for the more interesting tracks like “All Babes Are Wolves” and “Baptized by Fire”. The album is still spectacular and remains highly recommended.

Spinnerette recieves 4 stars out of 5.