All hail the return of the grungy female US college rock band! Here we’ve a band who look like Veruca Salt, have pinches of the (more accessible sounds of) Courtney Love and Hole, all in a poptastic non-threatening way, unlike for example the used-tampon-chucking ladies from L7.
The ladies from THE LIKE give us a cheery grunge-lite, rather bouncy little number, “June Gloom”. Having been pigeon-holed as the new Grrls on the block, one would expect (as indicated from the song title) a whole load of anger, a bit of thrash, and maybe the odd guitar hurled into an unsuspecting amp. However, June Gloom is totally on the vanilla-rock side. Very well sung, polished and slick, and would not be entirely out of place on a Buffy the Vampire set.
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Saying that, The Like simply are what they are, and that is nothing short of, well, likeable. “June Gloom” is a really catchy pop song, and Z Berg’s vocals are powerful and striking. And they look the part as well, all emaciated, pale with panda-black eyes, looking very sullen.
So if you’re looking for the “Fork Down Throat” shrieking from Babes in Toyland, or the wit and ballsy attitude from Veruca Salt, then look elsewhere. But if you take The Like for what they are, which is a wholesomely nice rocky pop group, you’re sorted.
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