By Anthony Swinnich
Buffalo’s power-pop trio The Juliet Dagger has been a busy band. They went on a month-long tour across the US with Shonen Knife (one of Japan’s biggest current bands), and recorded a new CD. Hi-Ya!, the band’s latest effort, is a light-hearted-but-heavy collection of songs that will do more to make you smile than get your blood pumping.
The first track off the album is called “Champion of the Universe.” It begins with a chorus chanting “C-H-A-M… P-I-O-N” over and over. The guitar tones are deep and brooding; the tempo is intense, but lead-singer Erin Roberts’ pleasant voice stands in stark contrast to the dark mood. It sounds like the Go-Go’s discovered distortion pedals and a sense of triumph to go along with the dual-female vocals and catchy guitar riffs. The song also features vocals by Naoko Yamano of Shonen Knife — fitting since she sings the Japanese version of this song at the end of the CD.
Hi-Ya!‘s packaging has as much Japanese influence as its opening track, and is cleverly designed. The cover is vintage otaku, with an anime-influenced child, karate-chopping an octopus tentacle. The real genius, however, is how the package is opened. When pulling the rounded flaps on the back of the cardboard case apart, you discover that they’re actually tentacles, and are greeted by the open mouth of the album cover’s giant monster. It’s an awfully inventive and unique package.
“Hold My Breath” is less anthemic, but does a good job showcasing Roberts’ impressive vocal range. “Hit Me Natasha One More Time” does a good job showcasing the band’s punk roots, complete with both a Pennywise-style pick-slide to kick off the song, and a verse structure that clearly echoes the same band. Of course the song veers away from punk territory when it reaches the chorus, with a sing-a-long style that reminiscent of The Donnas. Both “Leave Me Alone” and “Slamburg” follow the same formula, though the songs employ brighter chords and faster vocals.
“Hangman” is a bit more melodramatic than anything else on the album. The beginning sounds panicked and desperate, partially because of the moody bass and stilted vocal melody, but also because the constant palm-muted guitar creates a sense of tension. The refrain opens things up to a more traditional rock sound, but the band returns to the dreary opening to create the song’s second verse.
The disc closes with “Minute,” a more complex effort than anything before it. The guitar work in the second part of the introduction is sharp and edgy, and the lyrics are more thoughtful as well. The piano that pops up toward the end of the song is also a nice touch, creating an almost ambient mood when mixed with the clean guitar, despite its brevity.
While Hi-Ya! seems to be aimed more towards a younger demographic, older listeners looking for something upbeat and energetic will find something of value here. The Juliet Dagger will be playing a CD release party for Hi-Ya! with Mother Red at Nietzche’s on April 18. Hi-Ya! can be purchased at http://charamelmart.stores.yahoo.net/judah.html
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