The title of this sophomore album by New York’s The Pretty Reckless screams that the band want to be as rebellious as possible. Also they want to disassociate themselves with the fact their lead singer Taylor Momsen had a main role on TV’s Gossip Girl.
If you didn’t hear anything from their 2010 debut Light Me Up, the young band play a brash and attention-seeking brand of dark pop-rock. Having supported Marilyn Manson recently, the band sound exactly like what you’d imagine a 20-year-old who idolises that man would sound like. However, that’s not as bad a thing as it sounds.
While there’s plenty of recording clichés and cringe-worthy lyrics, not to mention the try hard “bad girl” artwork, there’s something that just makes this album pretty likeable. Not great, but it’s easily consumable and contains hook laden songs, nifty riffs and Momsen’s vocals are rather impressive to her credit.
The opening track Follow Me Down is one of the strongest and features a chorus that’s hell-for-leather one moment and then slow and understated vocals the next. However, it opens with the sound of a young woman moaning. Whether in pleasure or she’s being tortured it’s hard to tell, but it’s annoying and unnecessary, and unfortunately there are similar corny sound effects throughout this album.
It’s a pity as the music itself is quite good and certainly catchy, even if it shows just how young they all are as songwriters.
BY ALEXANDER CROWDEN
Best Track: Follow Me Down
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: PARAMORE, HEY MONDAY, EVANESENCE
In A Word: Overblown
