RSSL7 rock. Spurred by an uncommonly quick and muscular drummer,Dee Plakas, this all-female quartet rocked on 1990's punkySmellthe Magic. They rocked plenty on 1992's better manicuredBricks AreHeavy. And on the loud newHungry for Stink (Slash/Reprise),they rock harder still. Let suspicious souls mutter about the grungebandwagon--the new album's buzzing textures and heavy hooks havebeen prime weapons in their sonic arsenal for years. Sure L7 helpedfound Rock for Choice and aren't afraid of the three-syllable F-word.But after eight years on the club circuit, it's clear thatthey live to rock. The lyrics matter whether they're about fear,anger, or triumph (race car driver Shirley Muldowney is theirdesignated speed queen). But whether the surface style is pop,punk, or metal, what I love about this album is how many ways itfinds to push the beat.
OnViva Zapata! (C/Z), another all-female quartet, Seattle'sSeven Year Bitch, show similar commitment but less versatility andpower. They get points for attitude. Maybe when their three yearsof gigging get closer to the promised seven they'll have skills tomatch.
Fast Cuts:Monkey Hips and Rice: The Five Royales Anthology(Rhino), which documents the surprising raunch and soul of r&b'sfirst great guitar band, and the Drifters'Greatest Hits 1953-1958:Let the Boogie Woogie Roll (also Rhino), which showcases thefrankly sexy falsetto of Clyde McPhatter, are the two-CDretrospectives the two greatest doowop groups deserve.
Playboy, Aug. 1994
 | July 1994 | Sept. 1994 |  |