The Donnas - What say you, rock and rollers?

[tigereye]

I am listening to them as I write. You can hear a progression from recording to recording and the playing seems to get stronger. Subject matter is fairly predictable. I think I prefer L-7 and the Runaways. (Cherry Bomb has not been topped in my opinion.) Why worry about the state of the world when I can debate the merits of all female bands?

[Ellen Forradalom]

1. They rock my world

The subject matter is predictable, but timeless.

[mvd]

2. The music is a bit samey, but..

Donna A. is a powerhouse vocalist, and the fun subject matter is very rock and roll. :-)

I enjoy them a lot and probably prefer them to L7. Will have to hear more of L7.

[Whitacre D_WI]

4. Donna A. is also very pretty!

[tigereye]

9. well yeah we all know how critical that is....

[Whitacre D_WI]

10. Well, doesn't mean anything for rockin'

But it sure is nice for lookin'! :P

[tigereye]

13. let's not go there

I don't have enough time today to debate the sexual politics of this!

he-he. I think they seem to be "getting more" than I ever remember getting when I was in a band. Maybe I just wasn't cute enough. Pout.

[Whitacre D_WI]

17. Hey, now. It's a little late for jealousy.

What would Jung have to say about living vicariously through the rockers of the next generation?

More on topic -- they're good, but you're right: sure 'tis no "Cherry Bomb."

[tigereye]

24. who said anything about living vicariously!

just kidding.

[Whitacre D_WI]

25. Hit a nerve there?

:evilgrin:

[tigereye]

28. yeah I think so

Am I that transparent? :)

I am at a phase in my life when it seems rather unfair to be so comfortable with myself and unable to pursue certain urges that I was too tense to pursue when I was in my college and band years. I mean I did pursue them, but. And now it is all in my mind. Is that too much information for you?

translation: Nostalgia is a powerful aphrodisiac.

[Whitacre D_WI]

30. I'm surfing on a wave of nostalgia for an age yet to come.

If they made a movie of my life, Peter Shelley would do the soundtrack. Okay, just part of the soundtrack. But he'd have a couple songs on there. Including that one.

[tigereye]

32. sounds oddly like today's Garfield cartoon

"I like the future just the way it's going to be."

but deeper... sorry I am not trying to be sarcastic. I actually think that makes a lot of sense, kind of zen-like. :) I was just raised to be sarcastic. Can't help it.

[PragMantisT]

3. Hell yeah, rock and/or rollers

Like the Ramones with PMS.

I have the first album. It's great. Does it get even better?

If you like them, try the Dictators "Go Girl Crazy". Mid-seventies, but hilariously tongue-in-cheek.

Let's go mano, here we go!

[tigereye]

11. hey I resemble that remark!

early stuff sounds like the Ramones, I agree. But do all female bands sound like they have PMS? Hmmm. Many of these bands are pretty upfront about their sexuality and their desire to "get some" whatever that may be. :) I think L7 and probably Joan Jett could take them in a fight!

[PragMantisT]

18. Sorry, I was just utilizing a tired stereotype.

Actually, the Donnas are hilarious. They do not sound in a bad mood at all. They sound like they are having a blast all the time.

As for the girl band rumble, the Runaways may win the day, but then everyone will go back to the Donnas room for a round of Freon.

[Beware the Beast Man]

5. They're not too bad...

Their more recent stuff reminds me of Fu Manchu with estrogen.

[Whitacre D_WI]

6. I honestly haven't heard much from their last two albums.

I like what I've heard. Their playing has definitely taken a step forward from their first two LPs (and the recordings they made as the "Electrocutes") -- of course, that was when they were in the Fowleyesque tutelage of Darren from Supercharger, so I shouldn't be surprised that the earlier playing was sloppy. :P

[tigereye]

14. never stopped Shonen Knife

philosphical question... do you have to be cute to make it as an all female band. Electrocutes. Funny.

[Whitacre D_WI]

19. Not really a philosophical question, more a practical matter.

Yes. Yes, you have to be cute to make it as an all-female band. It ain't so much right, but it is the way the world works right now.

Can you think of any (commercially) successful female bands who weren't cute? Nor can I.

Really a shame, too -- we all know that ugly men make some of the best rockers (Lemmy, Mick & Keef, Joey Ramone, et. al.). It's unfortunate we don't offer the same opportunity to less-physically-appealing women.

[tigereye]

22. that is what bothers me!

not fair for the guys not to have to meet that same criteria. Luckily it doesn't matter for all forms of music... or does it? read Midori and some of the other attractive female violinists.. Sigh

[Whitacre D_WI]

26. I'm not saying it doesn't suck.

I love plenty less-than-beautiful female musicians. But they don't sell. Yoko Ono (do you honestly think people would have so much animosity toward her if she were pretty?), the Raincoats....

[tigereye]

31. some people probably thought Yoko was pretty,

pretty unvacuous. How's that? And John Lennon thought she was hot ( good for him), so that covers that. The Raincoats weren't that bad, were they? I'll have to get my albums out and look. Ari Up? Hey, all guys like dark brooding raven haired lasses, anyway or leggy blondes, don't they? ;) cue the Smithereens, suffering for love all the way to the bank.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

23. Keef not cute? WHAT IS THIS HERESY!

[Whitacre D_WI]

27. You ain't right, boy.

[furrylitldevil]

35. Wilson Phillips

Not cute.

[Fenris]

7. They are nice to look at and play well

Check out Sahara Hotnights if you like that kind of girl group rock.

[bif]

8. My daughter loves them

I think they're okay. Haven't given them a close listen though.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

12. In girl groups terms they beat Kenickie, but they're no Breeders.

[tigereye]

15. good point

as I said before L-7 would kick their asses around the block.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

16. Yup.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. They're Good and Getting Better

I like them. That lead guitar player has some chops!
The Professor

[CrownPrinceBandar]

21. L7 was far better............

The Donnas feel way too bubblegum for me.

[Taverner]

29. Nice retro band

did a good cover of "Strutter"

[tigereye]

34. yeah they are kind of retro aren't they

the metal hooks, with a little rockabilly thrown in.

[jonnyblitz]

33. I have been listening to them for awhile...

I like em!