 |
|
Superchick It's not often that a band that is very intentional about their Christianity is right on top of what's happening in music. Remember when Christian teens had to wait 5-10 years for musical styles to permeate Christian labels? (Quick test: What were your friends listening to while you were thrashing to Buzz by Guardian? Or were you still clinging to your Amy Grant and Petra tapes?) Well, wait no longer. After years of developing the indie chick and grrrl scenes, girl-fronted bands like No Doubt, Save Ferris, and Letters to Cleo (think Josie and the Pussycats and 10 Things I Hate About You) are hitting it big. And Superchick is right there to cash in on it. It's a great time to be a Christian music-listener. Superchick makes me smile. This is the CD you want to have in your car this summer. Pop the blaze-orange disc in your stereo, and you will find yourself turning up the volume. Hum the melody to one of the singable choruses, and you will find your body moving uncontrollably to the music in your head. Superchick might not have the highest quality musicianship, but it is well produced and it is oh-so-much fun. This debut album has catchy melodies, hard-rocking guitars, and a good variety of musical styles. In their own words, they are "just your average girl-fronted, pop-punk, hip-hop, disco-funk, garage band with something to say and pyro to prove it." The band was formed in direct reaction to the unhealthy stereotypes of beauty and popularity that the band members see particularly affecting junior and senior high girls. Consequently, the lyrics are often mini-homilies on the theme "God's way is the best way." The words try too hard, and the point is harped to death, or sometimes it is only partially redirected. 'Barlow Girls,' for instance, is so clearly written from a male perspective it is disturbing; it perpetuates the notion that a woman's beauty is dependent on the reaction of the men in her life. But that's not as disturbing as the chorus, which chimes about girls who wait for marriage and don't dress to be noticed: "boys think they're the bomb / cause they remind them of their mom." You don't have to be Sigmund Freud to cringe at that. So rather than be an innovative concept band, poor lyrics turn Superchick into a gimmick band. Yet I keep coming back to this album, because it is just so much fun to listen to (and sing along with). When the lyrics don't try too hard, like on the radio-friendly 'Karaoke Superstar,' the music takes over and you can't help being in a good mood. 'One Girl Revolution' is the other standout on the album; it is the one song that really pulls off the Superchick concept. 'Not Done Yet,' 'Big Star Machine,' and 'Super Trooper' are also noteworthy. That's the way this album is: a song or two grows on you; you find yourself returning to the CD until suddenly you realize you know the words to all the songs. And then you, too, are a Karaoke Superstar. (Timothy Y.) |
|
 |