THE VALENTINES Life Stinks Tres Accordi Records ________________________________________________________
It’s been a long time since the
Valentines released
a new rekkid. Hell, it’s been a long time since they recorded this one
(May, 2004) but you know the Italians, man. They do things on their own
goddamn time. But much like a slow-roasted leg of garlic-pesto whatever,
it was-a worth-a the wait, comprende? If you haven’t had the pleasure of
hearing the Valentines before, they play glammy, poppy, hard-rock, 80’s
style: think Transvision Vamp with a dark, sadistic streak, or Joan Jett
on Quaaludes bashing out a Clash cover for a teen sex comedy soundtrack.
Lead singer/fishnet abuser Vale Valentine has a smoky, snotty voice that adds a
uniquely Italo-punk texture to songs like the dramatic glam-goth riff
rocker “Puppets and Poison”, or the driving power-pop rush of “The Push”,
darkening the lighter spots with a surprising amount of youthful venom. In
fact, were it not for the chiming guitars and pop-hooks on the choruses,
you’d think this was some kinda drug punk album, what with titles like
“Life Stinks of Human Beings” and “Downers and a Lover (That’s All I
Need)" and lines like “Black painted my disgrace/And red are the lines
that cut my veins”. Hell, maybe it is, with some bonus anti-Government
sentiment thrown in for good measure. But Vale is so good looking you can
HEAR it, and the songs are catchy and fun, maybe even despite themselves,
so riot if you wanna, but don’t forget to dance on the ashes.
It’s been a long time since the
Valentines released
a new rekkid. Hell, it’s been a long time since they recorded this one
(May, 2004) but you know the Italians, man. They do things on their own
goddamn time. But much like a slow-roasted leg of garlic-pesto whatever,
it was-a worth-a the wait, comprende? If you haven’t had the pleasure of
hearing the Valentines before, they play glammy, poppy, hard-rock, 80’s
style: think Transvision Vamp with a dark, sadistic streak, or Joan Jett
on Quaaludes bashing out a Clash cover for a teen sex comedy soundtrack.
Lead singer/fishnet abuser Vale Valentine has a smoky, snotty voice that adds a
uniquely Italo-punk texture to songs like the dramatic glam-goth riff
rocker “Puppets and Poison”, or the driving power-pop rush of “The Push”,
darkening the lighter spots with a surprising amount of youthful venom. In
fact, were it not for the chiming guitars and pop-hooks on the choruses,
you’d think this was some kinda drug punk album, what with titles like
“Life Stinks of Human Beings” and “Downers and a Lover (That’s All I
Need)" and lines like “Black painted my disgrace/And red are the lines
that cut my veins”. Hell, maybe it is, with some bonus anti-Government
sentiment thrown in for good measure. But Vale is so good looking you can
HEAR it, and the songs are catchy and fun, maybe even despite themselves,
so riot if you wanna, but don’t forget to dance on the ashes.