Down and Out
Suffrajett, a quartet from the Big Apple, spills onto the scene with a five song EP designed to whet the tastes of punk fans clamoring after their brief tour opening for MC5. Utilizing a female lead, they try to instill some life into a riot grrl landscape that has floundered since the recent outbreak of the Donnas and Liz Phair.Sadly, the album is a complete mess. Never has 15 minutes ever felt so long. With the opener “Mister Man,” lead vocalist Simi attempts to create an anthem for female empowerment against men, while the other nondescript members meander in the background. The whole focus is obviously on Simi, as no second goes by without her voice resounding. While the goal is to emulate Joan Jett or Liz Phair, she instead gives off an Ashlee Simpson vibe, punk without being so.
The entire album continues this way, with every song attempting to be a spotlight for her and her grade school lyrics and faux angry voice. The few bright spots contained are from Jason Chasko, who (surprise, surprise) co-wrote Phair’s whitechocolatespaceegg album. His onetime emulation of Sabbath on “Down and Out” amuses for a few seconds and his noise outro for “Shake Your Heart” earns a smile. Bass and drums are almost non-existent by way of drowning production and boring fills.
On their first EP, Suffrajett tries desperately to get people to care about a burgeoning punk rock band and fails. This three man/ one woman group go through every cliché in the book in 15 minutes, leaving no reason for anyone to care what will come next.
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