The Aquadolls
Charmed
Enci Records
Charmed is Los Angeles-based femme-punks The Aquadollsβ third album, and from the start, itβs noticeably more punk than their previous efforts. This album also marks the first time the trio have written as a collective, and itβs apparent that this has allowed every member to shine as soon as one hears the opening, and possibly strongest, track, βFar Far Awayβ, a fantastic, single-worthy slice of punchy poppy punk led by the ferocious, melodic bass of Keilah Nina and the deliberately opaque lyrics of lead singer Melissa Brooks.
The power and infectiousness of the rhythm section is apparent across the entire album, while Brooksβ honeyed vocals and lyrical ambiguity allow her to drip with vulnerability and menace all at once. Itβs a wild, fun, feel-good ride, with some wonderful highlights like the grower βSneakyβ, but it also maintains a dark, brooding edginess by brutally juxtaposing the likes of βYour Heart Belongs To Someone Elseβ and βBeachyβ, tracks which couldβve been grown in a laboratory to find the perfect pop-rock radio hit, with the straight-ahead punk thrash of the albumβs closer βCut Throatβ, a snarling, violent coda full of defiant feministic attitude.
Overall, Charmed is a great listen and fantastic album that does a superb job of meshing spiky punk with anthemic singalongs to make repeat listening inevitable. With The Aquadolls due to appear at Riot Festival on the back of Charmedβs release, you get the feeling this album could be a snapshot of the moment they hit the big time.
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SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE AQUADOLLS – CHARMED
John Porter