A few concessions first. Yes, it’s difficult not to admire JULIETTE LEWIS for sticking with her buncha guitar—slingin’ honchos THE LICKS and taking the hard route when I’m sure she could pull some of her Hollywood strings and get herself into the public eye by means of some nice easy arena supports. After all, when you’re a relatively credible approximately A-list celebrity it can’t be exactly second nature to slog around playing in places like Portsmouth and Cardiff instead of Beverly Hills, not to mention being paid a pittance for it into the bargain.
So all credit to Ms.Lewis, because she’s just clocked up another independent chart success with The Licks’ second album ‘Four To The Floor’ and she remains determined to make it via hard slog and working from the bottom up, paying dues and playing regular tours. If she’s slumming it, she’s becoming accustomed to the circumstances and getting on with it.
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So for this much, our respect is surely due. The trouble is, you’re then forced to accept her on the terms of The Licks’ music alone. Ah. Because, ‘Sticky Honey’ – like virtually everything else I’ve heard by this Stooges-lite quartet – is utterly swimming in cliché and propelled by riffs that have been mopped up from more small venue floors than most of us have had the proverbial hot dinners. I’m sorry to have to say it so baldly, but if Juliette is determined to be ranked with the Debbie Harrys, Chrissie Hyndes and even Wendy O.Williamses, she’s going to have to come up with something that sounds like her own. Otherwise, she might as well go back to the casting couch.
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