Psycho Sonic Cindy
Start it up
Dead Frog Records
The music of this Stockholm outfit is fast, brash and melodic, with plenty of nods to early punk. Frontwoman Bea Persson's singing adds a poppier side to the sound, especially on the title track. The standout is "Pretty little thing", with Persson sounding a bit like Shirley Manson of Garbage and guitarist Johan Andersson weaving a hypnotic stairstep riff in and out of the faster parts. Parts of the album drag because some of the songs are indistinguishable. In fact, the whole thing has the air of a band fighting--with mixed results--to capture its live sound in the studio. Jacob Malmström's primitive, relentless drumming gives every indication that this a group meant for the stage. I'll continue listening to a few of these songs--but I'd rather see them in concert some time.
- Matthew W. Smith