Customer Reviews

Transmiticate

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Long overdue in this bleak musical sea we're all traveling through, Sparky returns to save the day!

I bought this from her website just to have a hard copy (plus I can rip the songs at the higher/better sounding 320 kbps), and got a bonus sticker - pretty cool & all for $12, including postage.

I've been a huge fan since I saw L7 twice in the mid '90's - both great shows. Every album is a gem (especially the frequently overlooked "Slap Happy", the band's coda).

In this bleak era of corporate manufactured pop-metal-rock nothingness, Donita provides a jarring and sweet reminder of what good rockin' fun is all about.

Do yourself & a friend a favor - give this a listen then go catch her live.

I'm an L7 fan from way back, so of course I am being a little biased. I was psyched to hear this album when it came out. I hadn't heard anything good from Donita since The Beauty Process in 1997. Slap Happy came out in 1999 and left me with the same feeling that Transmiticate does. The musicianship is good and rocking, but nothing new is brought to the table. Recycled guitar riffs are found througout this record. It actually reminds me of The Beauty Process, but not as good. Donita's vocals are great, but there are no memorable melodies or choruses to be found. I could not remember any of the songs when I was done. Still, I recommend it because Donita (and Dee Plakas) still rock on here and its better than anything The Donnas will ever do (biased again). However, what I recommend to you more (especially if you end up feeling the way I did about Transmiticate), is that you check out Jennifer Finch's (long time L7 bass player/vocalist) latest project called The Shocker. Its straight-up fast and in-your-face punk rock and just rocks the walls off. I'm forced to compare the two bands because both women were huge parts of what made L7 so good. In this case, Jennifer Finch prevails. Bottom line though, check this out anyway because it is not bad, just nothing spectacular either.

It's odd to think I've been listening to Donita sing for 20+ years. Solo records like this rarely do well, as most fans want to hear a record that sounds like the old stuff. If the artist strays too far, people lose interest. Donita did an excellent job at growing musicly and keeping a touch of her L7 sound. When the album starts, the drums almost sound like the B-52s. Then that fuzzy bass/guitar that IS Donita comes in. You know it's her before she starts singing. But musicly it's nothing like L7. That takes careful crafting, that holds up throughout the whole album.

Dee Plakas' drums sound awesome. A little more flair than L7, catchy beats laced with Donita's clapping and tambourines. She sounds like she's having a blast playing. You can almost hear her smiling through the drums.

Now the album is great, I think way better than The Shocker. But oddly you know LOVES this album? My 6 year old daughter. She loves rock, but lyrics can cause a problem. These songs are catchy, simple, with clean lyrics! Well, My Skins Too Thin says "up your a#@", so just one song to skip. But she requests it all the time. I wish this album sold better, I would really like a follow up record. Great job, Ms Sparks.

This is a nice change of direction for Donita Sparks' career. If you like L7, you should enjoy this album. The sounds is similar, but a but less dark, and a bit less metal. I think it is an album very similar to L7's Slap-Happy... At the low price of 1.77 (used) it's well worth your money. Even the 8.99 download is a good price for these awesome tunes.

Also, the case is a cardboard tri-fold. I think they're called Digipacks. Very average packaging; but well worth the price.

I've said this before that Ms.Sparks voice is that of a wicked witch, She's a villain. She puts it down and slams every track against the wall.

Her solo album is definitely what I would define as pop/rock. The main review defines it as dance-rock or "DARK" pop gems?, I guess that works too. It's more pop than dark and more dark than pop. So... All the beats, rhythms and music just sound like "Pretend We're Dead" rearranged in several different ways from (Bricks Are Heavy). Sparks adopts a groovy sound throughout the album, simply just cool, smooth and groovey dance rock songs that you can cruise to. The songs on this album are definitely something to ride to. Imagine yourself cruising LA or Miami, with the top down and the sun blazing or going 95 on the freeway with all the windows down and this CD turned all the way UP!!!. I'm relieved she decided to release a solo album after so much time has passed. It's so much fun and smooth, smooth, smooth. Smooth is all I can say to describe this album over and over again. "Pretend We're Dead" would not be out of place on this record, It can blend right on in with everything else on it. she did a fantastic job on these songs, I'm satisfied. My favorites are "Dare Dare", "Curtains For Kathy" and "Fly Feather Fly". I would also put this album in the same category with Brody Dalle's new band 'Spinerette's self titled album. If you're into album's like L7's (Bricks Are Heavy) or (The Beauty Process) you should enjoy this album.

Back in the early 1990s I was a big fan of L7. They were my favorite band out of the entire grunge music scene. Unfortunately as time went on, my taste in music evolved and I stopped listening to the band after HUNGRY FOR STINK. Eventually the band called it the day. Now that I am in my thirties, I have re-discovered L7 and now Donita Spark's new band The Stellar Moments. I recently got TRANSMITICATE, the debut album by Donita Sparks and The Stellar Moments. While the music has that familiar grunge sound that permeated L7's albums, there is a definite sense of familiarity with Donita's new project. "Fly Feather Fly" has that familiar grunge sound that I loved as a teenager. Her vocals have actually improved. She really wails on "Headcheck". When she was in L7, she was pretty much screaming for most of the time. I say the music is more in the garage punk rock sound. I am very pleased to see that she is still collaborating with ex-L7 drummer Dee Plakas, my favorite drummer from my teenage years in the '90s. I have to admit the music isn't nearly as catchy L7's music was and the music took some time to grow on me. It will be interesting to see where Donita's new project goes from here. I look forward to hearing more music from her.

"Transmutate" that could also be a good title for this album. Donita has evolved from her L7 grunge hey day to create a fresh pop rock sound that is much more polished and harmonic, but don't worry rockers, those busy guitar riffs are still there. What is most notable on this record is the production. For an independant record this album is extremely well crafted.

The album starts out with "Fly Feather Fly" a great opening song, minimal lyrics, with driving guitars that really begin to set the mood. The second song "Dare Dare" is by far one of the most catchy tracks on the album. The song that is most L7esque is "Infancy Of A Disaster" which she also did a video for. The guitar riff brings memories of "Pretend We're Dead" to mind, but Infancy has a psychedelic tinge to it that harkens all the way back to Hindrix.

"Creampuff" is a well crafted ballad that has a very 50s sound to it. Probably the most memorable song on the album though is "He's Got The Honey" no doubt influenced by The Jesus and Mary Chain by the music as well as the title.

"He's Got the honey, for all the bees..

"but kindness is, his best quality"

definately a lyric you would have not heard in an L7 song.

All in all a great album, and a fresh new start from one of the boldest women in rock. I only hope that Donita and her Steller Moments continue and make another album, she's got the honey, and hopefully it won't end any time soon.

I have been a fan of L7 for years. I was pretty upset when they

split, This album from Donita is pure entertainment , its gonna make you rock

its gonna make you dance and sing . The guitar is exceptional....@#@

I have been waiting for this CD eversince I heard about L7=Nevermore :( I was so bummed out by the news, they are/were Creative Genius to a T ! The Don Rocks Yet again, in this amazing CD!!! Every Song is amazing & her artistic vision superb!!! Every once in a great while a Cd & Artist come along that can captivate & has timeless staying POWER!!! This CD Rocks out from Start to Finish, every song is either deep or super catchy! Kudos to Donita!!! I am also Super pleased that Lady Dee is also involved with this project! Thanx Again Ladies!!!

Even if you were'nt a L7 super FAN, Check this CD out, It's a GRRREATTT! addition to anyones' collection!!!

* The samples of this CD don't let you really hear how Amazing it really is!!! * Ciao!!!! Kym D

Donita Sparks is one of my heroes.....A woman who tells it like it is, and really doesn't care if it makes you cry.

Her new stuff, if not as crunchy as "Hungry for Stink", etc., still rocks hard and smooth, and her lyrics are still to the point: "If I didn't have so much class/I'd whisper to you (what you can stick up your a**).

Classic!

(And 5 times better than most of the cookie-cutter junk passing for "rock" these days).

It would be nice to see her (and Dee and the new band) get some radio play, but unfortunately, it'll never happen...

Anyway, If you like L7, or just good rock in general, give this a listen.