Customer Reviews

Look At Life Again Soon

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My apologies to the Ettes, for waiting over a year to write this review and for being a fan.

When stumbling upon the "Marathon" clip on You Tube, while searching for running marathon clips, I was immediately attracted to the sound and pulled up the rest of their videos. Fell in love with the band. Bought the "Look at Life Again" album and had the same reaction I did when I first heard Animals, Anarchy In the UK, Combat Rock, White Stripes, and Van Lear Rose; and now for something completely different, to quote Monty Python. Figured it was some type of mid life crisis, since I already had the Porsche and had run the marathon. Just wait and it will pass.

Which brings me to the second half of the apology. I'm sure any self respecting garage punk band would be horrified to know that their music has attracted a rabid following of well- to-do, on-both-sides-of-50, male fans that comprise me and the friends I have introduced to the band. You're playing for "the Man" guys. Sorry. Although, having been around to see the Sex Pistols and others of the like, I have yet to see any of the Ettes spit on the crowd, vomit on stage, stab significant others or display any cool tattoos or piercing. So I really don't consider them punk. On to the review.

This is my new "desert island album". You know, the one album you would take with you on a desert island to keep from going crazy. About every 10 years it changes. It has been Animals, Combat Rock, White Stripes, and Van Lear Rose. I have listened to this album at least 100 times and if continues to give me goose bumps every time. Why this album?

1. All the great ones realized that 2 min. and 20 sec is the optimum song length; Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Berry Gordy, etc. "Yesterday" is only 2 min. 04 sec, I believe. Anything more is just ego. A hook or infectious beat gets old after 2:20. Look it up on Wikipedia, I just entered this fact tonight. The weakest song on this album is the last one and the only one longer than 2:45.

2. Always leave them wanting more. Various reviews have clocked this CD at less than 30 minutes and semi-complained. Back in the old days we had these things called albums and that's the way it was: 5 three minute songs a side. Total 30 minutes. It was only with the invention of the CD that total music package began to approach the expected 60 minutes and frankly most would benefit from the restrictive 40 minute max. album format. It was not lost on me that "Look at Life Again" is available on vinyl.

3. The beat. We old guy fans all agree they sound like the "GoGos" and the "Ramones" had offspring. The bass and drum work together on almost every song to create a toe tapping (head-banging if we were younger) beat that is not duplicated on any song in the album. This effect peaks on "Crown of Age", the group's well known song. But "You Can't Do That to Me" is a great defiant song with an awesome beat.

4. The voice. It's as if Nancy Sinatra could sing. Coco has a unique voice that makes one want to listen to her sing anything short of the phone book.

5. The chicks are hot. At the risk of sounding really old fogie, I like the clean-cut, no visible tattoo/piercing look.

To get serious for a bit. This is one of the 2 or 3 best albums I have ever heard. Why? I love good old fashioned rock and roll (sorry guys you're not punk-refer to paragraph 3 above), I don't want preached to, I don't want 10 minute guitar solos, concept albums bore me, my attention span is barely 2:20, I think "Johnny Be Goode" is the greatest rock and roll song ever (NASA sent it into deep space, look it up on Wikipedia), and I have always preferred female singers. This album has driving beats, unique sounding vocals, and is pure entertainment. It's as if the Ettes made this album for me, a rich, old, white guy. Again my apologies to the band.

Heads up, you Rock'n'Rollers. This release IS IT. No pretntions other than what this trio can deliver...this release is a beauty. 1966 ALL OVER again. That said, it's STILL 2008's best...not sure exactly how though...you'll just know it upon the first listen, upon the first chord. The tragedy is its length...but then, go get their first album too! Effin' awesome. Belongs next to Revolver and Aftermath. Incredible...and its in your lifetime even! Be among the first, and don't let that gimpy album art get in your way, clouding your judgement (although, umm, if you LOOK AT IT, the cover is actually a masterpiece too!).

The Ettes are easily one of the best bands of all time! This album is proof.

I was waiting in the wings for a new band to get into, and one day I dozed off and somehow heard some good music, since my tv was still on. I woke up just as the song ended with the overwhelming feeling that it was a great song. I rewound my DVR and listened to it again. It was the Ettes playing "Crown of Age" which was appearing on the "Whip It" soundtrack. I was blown away. By how great the song was; by the individual players in the band, and how cute Poni is!

I rushed out to find this cd at my local music store, but all they had was the new one, "Do You Want Power," so I subsisted on that until I ordered this one. Now I rotate between them in my car on the way to and from work.

It's hard to categorize their music, but it definitely rocks. And there is some ballad type stuff in there and a bit of hippie-flower-power feeling music too. Very eclectic, like myself. I guess that's why I like it.