Morningwood

Morningwood | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 10, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B000CELOEA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,293 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Retro Punk Sound with Superb Energy, January 14, 2006

By 

Debbie Lee Wesselmann (the Lehigh Valley, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Morningwood (Audio CD)

Morningwood's albums mixes a retro punk/new wave sound with the attitude of a garage band. Lead singer Chantal Claret has a voice that recalls the Go-Gos, Joan Jett, and Pat Benatar, though the music itself is more grunge than the clean, no-frills sound of the eighties (except for maybe "Televisor"). The band's name puts them squarely into the raunch school of music. The biggest flaw with this album is the lyrics, which aren't humorously inane enough to be punk nor meaningful enough to be good rock; they are lusty, lewd, gritty, but never deep. The guitar and percussion-driven music itself is great, especially with repeat listening.

"Nu Rock" is a fine opening track, with its aggressive, high-energy punk beat. "Televisor" shows more musical range; it may not be the catchiest song on the album, but it suggests how far this band can go. "Nth Degree" is perhaps the most pop of the tracks. It has a catchy tune and a strong dance beat, and Claret's spelling out of Morningwood's name at the end is oddly addicting, much like a commercial jingle. "Jettsetter," one of the best songs on the CD, gives us a sexy Claret whose voice shifts from baby-face crooning to the gritty delivery of hard rock, and back again. The opening guitar solo of "Body 21" sets the stage for Claret's sweet-baby vocals that are punctuated by an explosive chorus.

With Chantal Claret's charismatic vocals and the rest of the band's willingness to explode behind the strength of her voice, "Morningwood" is a treat. -- Debbie Lee Wesselmann

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Trashy, January 12, 2006

By 

CGC (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Morningwood (Audio CD)

I have the import version, and it sounds like the version of Jetsetter here has been edited. Shame. Here's my review anyway:

Morningwood has a fun, lewd sense of humor. That's obvious from their name. That fun, lewd sense of humor is also central to their musical identity. This is one group that doesn't believe punk rock has to be angry or dour. (Okay, punk-influenced if you want to get all technical about it.) Morningwood is aggressive and trashy, but this New York City-based group also has infectious melodies and a bit of glam, all of which is well-served by crisp, expert production from Gil Norton (who previously worked with Echo & the Bunnymen, The Pixies, and the Foo Fighters).

Comparisons to the Divinyls, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, and the Pretenders have been made, but you can also cite other bands like Concrete Blonde, Bikini Kill, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs--and that's just sticking to groups fronted by women. Fact is, this is a band that goes from sounding like Romeo Void on "Take Off Your Clothes" to the Pixies on "Body 21" to L7 on "Nu Rock." In other words, they've got a lot of different sounds to offer. In addition to the aforementioned, standout tracks include the fairly straight-ahead "Televisor," the very new wave "Nth Degree" (which spells out their name in the chorus), and the very bawdy, very naughty, and possibly disturbing "Babysitter."

You never know what radio decisionmakers will do. But if Morningwood gets the airplay, they should have a hit on their hands.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very fun CD, March 17, 2006

By 

Parkin (PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Morningwood (Audio CD)

Even though Morningwood's self-titled CD will likely not end up on my Best Albums of 2006 list, it's a CD that I will definitely keep playing. Because these songs are well constructed and because of Chantal's very charismatic vocals and lyrics, there's no reason to feel guilty while listening. Those who want the energy hardly ever ebbing will be happy.