Breathe in the fresh air of Becky's arrival.
Becky (http://www.beckymusic.net), fronted by the pretty, sweet-voiced Rebecca Lord, drops the punk venom and heavy-metal posing that has characterized most female-lead alternative rock lately. Thankfully, this is not some vapid pop group like Morningwood, which sinks to the bottom of superficial thrills to entertain its audiences.
Becky had me fooled at first. The initial cuts, especially "Higher Ground," has the bouncy New Wave college-girl rock of late '80s lost angels such as the Darling Buds and the Primitives. A part of that is due to Rob Mailhouse's hyperactive drumming, which propels the beat on "Higher Ground." At times, Lord's voice recalls that of Garbage's Shirley Manson without the Gothic flavors.
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In the first half, Becky's tunes are Southern California sunshine, not just "Higher Ground" but "Joe" and "Constantly" as well. The spiky guitar riffs on "Joe" suggest Gang of Four; however, they're not as heavy or funky. The music evolves into darker shapes as the record progresses as on "Undertow," which is probably the most edgy track here.
Becky's influences span the decades - from '60s British Invasion jangle to '90s modern rock - and they blend together well, resulting in an album that can appeal to a diverse audience.
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