Customer Reviews

Lullabies

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

 

 

Whenever I hear Miss Derringer, either live or on CD, I feel like I'm in a forgotten desert town BAR... tumbleweed rolling in the wind. It's dark and I'm drinking whiskey. Her voice is the only connection to hope and something beautiful.

Think: David Lynch soundtrack. Beautiful country/surf guitar sounds and brutally honest lyrics.

I had never heard of the band or the album until they were the opening band for Blondie at the Key Club a couple of years ago. The band was awesome, the songs a combo of Blondie, the Shangri La's and the Western influenced guitar sounds of Concrete Blonde, this band was great live and just as good on record. A collection of snappy bitchy songs and uber cool ballads, Miss Derringer is a band of outlaws full of angst and talent. Snappy and fun the best cuts include "Don't Say I Told You So" and "Better Run From Me" and did I mention Clem Burke of Blondie plays drums on here?

Gretchy guitars, sepia back alleyways, seemy seedy 1950s LA, Bukowski, James Dean, beehives, stilettos, off-duty waitresses, beautiful losers, car crashes, some guy striding out of a Western, whiskey, tragedramcomedy, gallows, public hangings, tequila in adobe bars with dirt floors this side of the border, drives out in the desert heading straight toward a little place you may know...called Trouble.

These guys are really good. They have a definite "thing," a consciously applied affectation and schtick, but it's not run-of-the-mill-silly irony-laden kitch. It's also not about taking themselves seriously (except, musically--but even that's not pretentious). The song writing, vibe, sound, musicianship, arrangements, Liz McGrath's voice and personas--it's all a joy. And they're damn funny.

4 rather than 5 stars because--while it's great there are so many songs on this album--unfortunately a few begin to blend together due to musical and thematic similarities.

Check out clips of: Better Run Away From Me, Tonight I've Got a Bottle, He Hung on a Sunday, especially.