Music review: Brody Dalle – ëƵDiploid LoveëƵ
ëƵIëƵm gonna burn this city down,ëƵ snarls Brody Dalle on the opening track of her first solo release.
The stylishly aggressive ëƵRat RaceëƵ motors at full speed under the weight of grinding guitars and DalleëƵs raspy, muscular vocals.
The former frontwoman for the Distillers and Spinnerette pulls no punches with a nine-song set of diversely engaging arrangements for ëƵDiploid Love.ëƵ
Dalle powers through the revealing material with touches of Debbie Harry, Joan Jett and Courtney Love as her inspiration.
Being a huge fan of HoleëƵs ëƵCelebrity Skin,ëƵ it is understandable that IëƵm absolutely giddy about DalleëƵs latest project.
ëƵUnderworldëƵ is fueled by a punk guitar riff that ultimately bleeds into a spirited mariachi band serenade, while ëƵDonëƵt Mess with MeëƵ smolders with a sexy toughness mastered earlier by Jett on songs like ëƵBad ReputationëƵ and ëƵI Hate Myself for Loving You.ëƵ
Just like Love on ëƵCelebrity Skin,ëƵ Dalle delicately polishes her punk edges to produce a more mature and dramatic sound.
While Dalle can still growl out a grunge number with the best of them, ëƵDiploid LoveëƵ also saves room for the Australian nativeëƵs softer side on the hauntingly eerie ëƵI DonëƵt Need Your LoveëƵ and the soaring ballad ëƵCarry On.ëƵ
ëƵMeet the Foetus/Oh the JoyëƵ features Shirley Manson of Garbage and Emily Kokal of Warpaint joining Dalle on an unconventional ode to motherhood.
Married to Queen of the Stone AgeëƵs Josh Homme, Dalle recorded the new
album at her husbandëƵs studio.
Dalle wrote all the new songs and co-produced the album with Alain Johannes.
On offerings ranging from ëƵBlood in
GuttersëƵ to ëƵDressed in Dreams,ëƵ Dalle proves itëƵs still cool (and entertaining) to be both tough and sensitive.

