Stretch
Princess – Fun With Humans
by Marc Wiggins
Overall, Stretch Princess' newest CD, "Fun
With Humans" provides a fun, vibrant sound with a some witty lines delivered
by it's lead singer, Jo Lloyd. "Humans" is the band's second CD since
their self-titled debut in 1998. The long wait was due to drummer
Dave Magee's 'inoperable brain tumor' that he ultimately beat. The
feisty attitude Dave must have had to fight that hopeless situation and
the fortune the band must have felt from being whole again seems to have
influenced the tone of their latest release. Most of the songs sport
a crisp, playful attitude.
Having long abandoned mainstream radio,
this reviewer wouldn't normally enjoy Princess' style of music. However,
Jo Lloyd's vocals are attractive in its confident sweetness and the way
the turns in her voice carries one moment into the next. That and
the imagery from lyrics such as "Talk s*** with an Elvis look-alike" from
'You've Should've Come;' "There must be a better way/Cut my heart with
a razor blade" from 'Favourite Lunatic;' or "I just want a boyfriend with
a brain cell" from 'Freakshow,' creates vivid and entertaining scenes in
the listener's mind. If popular radio gave more play to bands like
Stretch Princess, it would actually be bearable to tune in.
This would be a great CD but there are
a few "bubble gum" songs in the middle that seem misplaced and interrupt
a strong and entertaining first five tracks.
Luckily, it picks right up again with a
few more tunes that flaunt a great sense of sarcasm. Nevertheless.
all songs are presented with crisp instrumentation and brought to life
by Jo Lloyd's smooth and flirtatious voice.
"Fun With Humans" is a good CD. Though
I do find myself skipping through a few tracks, I have listened to it more
much than the customary two or three initial run-throughs I give all the
CD's I'm asked to review. More importantly, "Humans" has stirred
my curiosity into giving their earlier release a try.
I give this CD a solid B and worthy of
your hard-earned money if this style of music is your thing.
CD Info
Stretch
Princess – Fun With Humans
Rating: B
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