Patach's Full Review: Luxury Problem by Lunachicks
We’re plunging into an age of music that lacks seriousness to women musicians. Oh c’mon, be honest, who takes Britney Speares seriously? Sure, she’s good looking, sexy, beautiful, a great dancer, but who actually thinks she is a great musician? Your lack of hands tell me all. We got girls in music, but not a lot of them are actually taking the seriousness as musicians (well… sort’ve… I guess breasts can be part of music), besides the fact we got a small band nobody talks about anymore called Kittie, and a band which is losing popularity (thanks to the guys at MTV for draining them out and putting on more of Speares) Snake River Conspiracy. And who actually listens to Tori Amos, anymore? Or Alanis Moursette? Or Fiona Apple...people that actually took the liberty of creating serious music?
That’s where Lunachicks comes in. They are one of the original serious girl bands that want to win a foundation from the music business, and have luckily pulled it off pretty well in the underground market for almost 10 years. But when it comes to Lunachicks, songs aren’t made about “love” or how they “did it again”. These songs are angry, and not always about a cheating boyfriend either.
Welcome to Lunachicks’ 1999 released album, Luxury Problem, an album dedicated to all the rich people that STILL complain about their lives. It’s also dedicated to the men and women that discriminate, plagiarize, preach, and commit hypocrisy. Let me assure you that “love and beautiful, flowery life” has little to do with this album. This four member band is chocked full of the angriest rock songs to be enjoyed by me at a medolic level instead of a “screaming level” of music (as in reference to Scorched Earth). Its style is apart from most of new rock music now which lean towards “Industrial Rock”, instead, they use the “basement recording” feel of people just playing instruments than fiddling with the computer all day. With just instruments in their hand they play this entire album on a level of almost all fast pace rock songs. Less Teeth and More T*ts, is simply an introduction of how exciting and fast these gals are. Their style of playing is closely related to a hard rock song from Social Distortion, a blend of Alternative music with heavily pounds of heavy metal rock. After Less Teeth and More T*ts, Lunachicks move on to their theme song of the album, Luxury Problem their simple “Sod off” against those rich, arrogant people who complain about their life not being good at all. The first few verses of the song isn’t even singing, it’s just a description of who they describe in this song:
Can you believe it?
How F*cked up.
Bruised knee
Sh*t outta luck
My VCR broke
I'm all out of coffee
I'm all out of smokes
Isn’t it hard when you’re
Spoiled rotten?
Then the song breaks into a hard rhythm, as the singer of Lunachicks does a weird routine of “screaming and singing” at the same time, which I find is pretty impressive, especially for a heavy metal band.
The songs are technically all fast paced, exciting, and enjoyable. What Lunachicks is able to pull off from all these songs is using the same style of music, without making the listener tire of the songs as he goes along the CD. They actually find variety in the same style that they play, which is what many excellent bands lack when it comes to “one style”. Lunachicks highlight song would have to be Say What you Mean, which is a “scatting-like” song of vocals and the fast beat spined by the bass guitar. Another highlight is the impressive 80s-like rock that they portray in Badass B*tch, a song I'm guessing technically talking about Feminism. This “threat to mankind” song is the “in your face” sort of song with lyrics that are humorous and enjoyable to singalong to:
She’ll kick you with her 6-6 heels
While your chewing on her cleavage…
Oops!
Now your blind!
This humorously lyrical song is also apparent in Down at the Pub which shows the “British” side of Lunachicks. The singer switches on the heavy English accent and starts singing like a drunken English person at a “pub” having a party.
With all that said, between these highlights, the songs are still ultimately good. Shut You Out’s extreme “Anti-love” lyrics and fire death metal-like rhythm is the hardest song on the album and impressive to say the least, Crash is a slow song at first, but surprises you when it instantly switches to hard rock, something we don’t a lot of when it comes to “soft songs” in albums. The only “breather” in the entire cd is Subway, the softest song on the album which is still good for its difference.
This entire album is great for any fan of rock. It sets a new standard for the people that do the “basement recording” old style of heavy metal and rock music with its addicting songs and fun lyrics, you’ll be listening to this cd for a long time.
Lunachicks is THE girl band of rock that isn’t going to lose their momentum for quite a while, at least I hope so. There is a new album that is out from Lunachicks called Babysitter on Acid, which I'm going straight to the stores to buy soon just because of this excellent cd Luxury Problem. Remember, buy it if you like rock.
Best Song of the Album: Say What you Mean
Worst Song of the Album: None
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