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| Wow, this is so nineties. So, incredibly awesomely nineties. |
Bratmobile is one of the original riot grrl bands, right up there with Bikini Kill. Just like Bikini Kill, there's a huge emphasis on screaming lyrics, pounding beats, clashing sounds, and nearly impossible to hear lyrics. I had to listen to everything at least twice, while looking at lyrics. The effort is almost worth it, though- while the lyrics are very repetitive, they're also kind of fun, in that violent snarky way that I happen to love. Like any band that's been around for twenty years, they've developed and changed.
Pottymouth, 1993. "Panik", "Cool Schmool", "No You Don't"
This is the most raw we see Bratmobile- vicious screaming balanced by quiet moments, and a feeling of girl power in a "Don't mess with me, I'll fuck you up" way (speaking of Girl Power, we're going to get to the Spice Girls soon. Muhahah.) These girls come off as being really... cool, actually. Like if you hung out with them, you'd probably end up doing something very feminist and possibly illegal, and you would love it. "Cherry Bomb" is probably the best known song off this album, and it's snarky in a good way, but I didn't choose it as a top song because I think the others were more interesting to me. "Panik" is one of those that I think it's pretty easy for everyone to identify with- an ode to the straightest girl in town, who's also the hottest girl in town. "Cool Schmool" taunts and boasts at the same time, and the beginning is so catchy that I often sing it to myself like a little theme song. "No You Don't" is a song about an uneven relationship- the singer is more interested in the relationship and is frustrated that the other person doesn't care about fixing it. The lyrics are pretty amazing, and the style goes between singing to what sounds like snippets of conversation, and is my favorite song on the album.
The Real Janelle, 1994. "Brat Girl", "Yeah, Huh?", "And I Live in a Town Where Boys Amputate Their Hearts"
This is an album that needs to be listened to in order, because it works best that way. The EP takes us through emotions and differing energies in an interesting way, and it makes you want to listen again and again. The tone has changed a bit- less snark, more screaming- but it's still very listenable. Though "Die" is hard to listen to more than once, just because of all the screaming.
Ladies, Women, and Girls, 2000. "It's Common (But We Don't Talk About It)", "You're Fired", "Affection Training".
This album is much more verbose than the others- there's more lyrics, and the songs are a bit longer, too. Even though this is their first album after a hiatus, the energy is still raw and the tone is still incredibly snarky. I love that about riot grrl music- time may go by, but these girls don't mellow out with age.
However, after listening to this much, it all... well, it all begins to sound very very similar. That makes the last song of the album incredibly refreshing, "Girlfriends Don't Keep". It's a soft and bittersweet song about the expiration dates of lady-friends. This would probably make a good breakup song, actually.
Girls Get Busy, 2002. "Shut Your Face", "What's Wrong With You?", "Take the Pain and Use It".
This album really feels more settled- they know the routine, the songs and the lyrics are all patterned with no real surprises. They've become comfortable. That's not to say this feels aged or boring- Girls has all the energy we're used to, the only difference is less experimentation. All the above songs are politically and socially charged, but in a good way, especially with "What's Wrong", which states that they wouldn't be known as man-haters if some men weren't such easily hated assholes. And it's true. Just because you hate one guy who won't stop hitting on you doesn't mean you have blind hatred for all men. Duh.
Honestly, after The Real Janelle, Bratmobile isn't nearly so interesting to me. I listen to those first two albums all the time, but I tend to forget Ladies and Girls even exist- they just aren't really the music I love from Bratmobile, and there aren't any real standout tracks from those albums. Check them out for yourself, and I heavily encourage you get the first album- it's definitely the most fun of them all!
