Customer Reviews

Fixin to Thrill

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Five ROCKIN' Stars! Canadian/British techno pop/rock super group Dragonette serves up another winner and they continue to be fronted by one of the best rock/pop singers on the planet: the amazing singer/songwriter Martina Sorbara whom I believe is heavily influencing some American girl stars (you know who you are). As on their debut Galore, the group is rounded out by Martina's husband, bassist/producer Dan Kurtz (of Que Vida! & The New Deal), the high voltage guitarist Chris Hugget, and drummer Joel Stouffer forming a hard-driving rhythm grouping. Now operating out of England, Dragonette plays with power, abandon, and skillful intensity, with Martina's sizzling vocals of her own slick, clean, but highly-suggestive lyrics soaring over a wide variety of pumping dance beats that keep things fresh.

The 'best of the best' begins with the free-wheeling "Fixin to Thrill" title track with Martina belting it out with a Mick Jagger-like swagger. "Liar" changes direction with a cooler sound. "Gone Too Far" is a hot R&B groove that shows Martina's ability to switch genres and nail a performance over an off-center backbeat. The hot dance grooves of "Pick Up The Phone" are so good they have been re-mixed over and over at YouTube. "You're a Disaster" is a very cool ballad that Martina sells with subtle nuances. Her "Stupid Grin" and "Liar" lyrics show the power of physical attraction over logic. This is a really fun, techno-dance recording with a lot of production values. Dragonette is a hot group that could make an even bigger beachhead of fans in the States through this recording and during their future tour, equal to the stir they have created in Europe, Canada, and on YouTube. Highly Recommended!! Five BIG Stars! (Trivia: Dragonette sometimes tours with Little Boots (Victoria Hesketh). Martina Sorbara is called Martina Bang in her cameo on Basement Jaxx's Crazy Itch Radio.)

I first listened to Dragonette because of the free download of Pick Up The Phone, and it intrigued me enough to preview the rest. Then I downloaded the whole album. Dragonette has the flair of early eighties new wave - a bit of Christina Amphlett from the Divinyls, Missing Persons, and a bit of Patti Smythe. Best songs are Pick Up The Phone, Big Sunglasses, Gone Too Far, and Stupid Grin.

**Originally posted on "#1 Hits From Another Planet" - 10/1/09**

Dragonette's second album was just released in Canada and Australia. I am nowhere near Australia, but do live right across the Canadian border, so I snagged myself a copy and have some early thoughts for you.

1. Fixin' To Thrill - I love the video for this song! On the record, it's one of the hardest, edgiest tracks and although it's not instantly memorable, it's a fantastic taste of what's to come. 9/10

2. Gone Too Far - This is a weird one, probably the strangest on the album. It's like an electronic hoe-down. Whether that's a good sound or not is debatable, though it's certainly interesting. Sometimes I think that the quirkiness gets in the way of melody, though. 8/10

3. Liar - My favorite track on the album, this has a poppier dance sound. The chorus is astoundingly catchy--subtle yet hard-edged at the same time. It would do wonders as a single in Sweden (is their stuff even out in Sweden?). 10/10

4. Stupid Grin - Fine uptempo stuff, it sounds a lot like their debut. The melody could use a little oomph, but this will definitely get you dancing. 8/10

5. Easy - A slower song, supported with some great, minimal electronics. It builds throughout, and the lyrics are especially nice. There's more of a melody here, which is always a plus. 9/10

6. Pick Up The Phone - Another single, I think this is the stronger of the two. The verses are truly gorgeous, as are the vocals. This is one of those stately pop songs that grows better with each listen. 10/10

7. We Rule The World - Though the 80's are obviously an inspiration throughout, this track especially sounds like it could have been on the radio beside Human League and Tears For Fears. The synths here are gorgeous. 10/10

8. Big Sunglasses - This has the same bright, dancey sound as track four, but it's better. The chorus is almost Beach Boys-esque, though twisted to fit Dragonette's style. Another winner. 10/10

9. Okay Dolore - Weird little song with one half of Tegan & Sarah on background vocals. Though still very pop, this has a bit of an indier vibe to it. Very enjoyable, nonetheless. 8/10

10. Come On Be Good - I love the melody of this, especially the bridge and the chorus. It sounds like something I've heard before, though I can't put my finger on it. Another uptempo. Very good. 9/10

11. You're A Disaster - This is the slowest song on the album and the least electronic. The melody's pretty good, but it cuts the energy right out of the record. Pretty, but my least favorite track. 6/10

12. Don't Be Funny - Another one I can kinda take or leave. It's a nice mid-tempo piece, but I feel like the melody is missing a little oomph. 7/10

Album Grade: 8.7/10

I have bought hundreds of records, 8 tracks, cassettes and CD's and have ALWAYS found one or more songs that I truly didn't like. I think the last CD I bought that was the exception was in 1990, Rumours by Fleetwood Mac.

I've had Fixin To Thrill for 3 weeks now and can't stop listening to it. While I like some songs more than others, I enjoy each and every one of them. With a release date of 10/09, I can't understand why she hasn't been on any radios that I listen to. Even though I can't understand or follow many lyrics, the more I play it, the more I get it. Dragonette takes the best out of all current music and trends, and makes it even better. Best $[...] bucks I have ever spent.

I rediscovered this artist after a combination of hearing them on a tv show and through slacker radio. after listening to the cd on myspace i decided that i liked the album to purchase it, and no regrets. since then i've heard another song off it used for the teaser for some new series, all in all a very catchy and entertaining album!

This is one of the best albums I've heard in the past year. Using rock, dance, and electro-pop elements, the band manages to capture the feel and enigmatic undertone of the 80's missing in other new retro attempts. Pick Up the Phone is not only catchy but builds suspense and ironic romance. For those looking for car mix pop tunes, Okay Dolore, Big Sunglasses, and Stupid Grin are great additions to your collection.

I bought this album when it was listed as one of the most underrated albums of 2009. I've thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end for the whole past year. This is some of the catchiest music I've ever heard. It's danceable. It makes you feel good to listen to it. It's original, quirky, and intelligent. Martina Sorbara has an incredible voice. I loved this album so much, I bought Dragonette's first CD, Galore, and Martina Sorbara's solo album Cure For Bad Deeds. I recommend this album to my friends when I get the chance, and they've loved it.

This album is a lot of fun! At first I thought I had made a mistake by buying this whole album, but the more I listened to it, the more I liked it. Her lyrics are no holds barred! She breaks social rules in her songs. Dragonette is a mix of sexy, fun, and free spirited! My favorite songs on this album are Fixin to Thrill, Gone Too Far, Liar, Stupid Grin, Big Sunglasses, You're a Disaster and Don't Be Funny. I know that's like all the songs, but they are all great! :)

My wife loves this band, and I like them too. I love their pseudo-80's sound (let's just say this statement exposes my age) and their lyrics. I tend toward heavier material (Tool, NIN, Metallica, etc) and classic rock (Pink Floyd, Tom Petty, etc), but this album is definitely something I would listen to even alone.

But, the most important opinion is that of my wife, who said that she liked this album better than the first. That right there is enough for a 5 star rating.

So, if you're unsure (after all, there's a reason the music industry has the term "Sophomore Slump") don't be, get the album, you'll be really happy with it.

As a fan of Ladytron, Metric, Goldfrapp, and even the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' last album, I was hoping to like "Fixin To Thrill" a lot. Unfortunately...not so much. Most of the tracks underwhelm, failing to hit the electro-pop dance-rock target they're aiming for. The title track is an exception; an unqualified winner, it's easily the best song on the album. After that, however, it's mostly downhill, with "Gone Too Far", "Easy", "Pick Up The Phone" and "Big Sunglasses" being the only tracks worth a listen. The rest are mediocre and forgettable. For the price, though, I don't feel burned: I basically paid for five good songs, and that's exactly what I got.