Morningwood, "Morningwood"

Morningwood's self-titled debut CD is aggressive, guitar-driven disco-metal rock, delivering trashy retro with a wink. Just what the doctor ordered.

Morningwood's debut CD contains an appealing mix of several music genres - disco, heavy metal and rock 'n' roll - in a self-mocking but still sincere offering. It's as if they're saying, "Yes, we know it's all been said and done before, so let's just have fun with it!"

Fortunately Morningwood - comprised of Timo Ellis, Chantal Claret, Pedro Yanowitz, and Japa Keenon O - has enough talent to pull off musical pastiche. While they may be manipulating traditional forms and styles, the band stamps their own unique sound and vision onto the album.

"Nü Rock" throws down article one of Morningwood's manifesto for "a rock n roll revolution": include both sound and soul. "All you little kids that love the rock n' roll / You sure got the style but you ain't got the soul" Chantal Claret screams. It's a demand for full-on emotional involvement from their fans - because that's what they're giving.

The CD hits its climax with a trio of songs: "Nth Degree", "Jetsetter", and "Take Off Your Clothes".

"Nth Degree" is a glorious four-minute advertisement for itself in which the band introduces its members, spells out its name in a conceit similar to Bay City Rollers' "Saturday Night", and extends an invitation: "If you rock'n'roll / Disco / Heavy Metal Angel / Come on everybody / To the nth degree".

"Jetsetter" plays with alliteration ("This is a jetsetter music letter / From me to you") and is an extended complaint about the tour lifestyle and music industry.

"Take Off Your Clothes" is trashy fun, with Chantal alternating between a lazy, flirtatious vocal style and screaming at the top of her lungs. Clever, understated lines like "We'll get naked and we'll see how it goes" foil the insistent command of the chorus.

All songs have dramatic pauses, musical crescendos with raucous guitar chords and powerful baselines, and, above all, Chantal Claret's defiant, uninhibited vocalization.

Morningwood lays down the band manifesto ("Nü Rock", "Take Off Your Clothes", "Everybody Rules") while defining and promoting its own image ("Nth Degree"). What's more, it invites you to join them. All you need is an attitude of fun, and you'll get through the door.

Capitol

Rating: 3/5

Highlights: "Nü Rock", "Nth Degree", "Jetsetter", "Take Off Your Clothes"

Similar to: Joan Jett, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

First published on Suite 101