RevelationZ Review of Miss Crazy "II"

Describing a sound as an amalgam of seventies glam rock, North American sleaze bands and eighties pop metal maybe doesn't sound too promising. But San Francisco's Miss Crazy are much more than the sum of these parts.

When glam rock, teetering on its stacked heels, ran out of dreams and direction in the late seventies, it survived only by mutating into a glam/sleaze/metal hybrid, marketed with not a lot of success by a handful of US rock bands in the eighties.You can hear distant echoes of those bands - like Kix, Tuff, Bullet Boys - in the music of Miss Crazy.But it's the fact that the band take the best elements of each source - simple yet infuriatingly catchy riffs and melodies, an in-your-face attitude and a tendency to dramatic, almost theatrical choruses - that makes all the difference.

In turn, this elevates Miss Crazy from copycats to innovators, much stronger and much more confident on this, their second album.Sonically too, the band sounds much more self assured, again thanks to Ronnie Borchert's firm hand at the studio helm.

All that said, it's the songwriting that makes the real impression.The band has clearly accelerated up a very steep learning curve and written a bunch of classy, catchy, ballsy rock songs on the way up, peaking with several genuinely outstanding rock songs.Buried on the second half of the album 'I Know What I Know' and 'I'm In The Mood' take a basic, bass heavy riff on a hard driving ride round a set of sensual lyrics that earn the album its 'Parents Advisory.' sticker.

But it's the openers and the closers that do the damage.'Mow' and 'Living Without You' are the early talent. Each a hard'n'fast, rock'n'roll roller coaster with a melodic heart and a well crafted, neatly harmonised hook.Closing duo, the wiry, barbed 'Say You Will' and the atypical, almost Yes like 'My Shining Star' might just be the pick, though it's a close call.

Any melodic rock fan who likes his music fiery and subdued in turns, filled with good tunes, slick hooks and finely cut axework will find plenty to salivate over here.

Rating: 7.5/10
Written by Brian
Sunday, May 25, 2008

Melodic Rock Review of Miss Crazy "II"

Review by Andrew McNeice

Produced by Ronnie Borchert and engineered by Johnny Lima, mixed by both fellows…you can just about guarantee that this album will both kick ass and appeal to many readers of this site. And it sure does….in both cases. US sleaze rockers Miss Crazy have delivered an album that out-sleazes most of their competition and finally takes competition from the genre born and bred in the USA, back to the Scandinavians who have been doing a better job of it in recent years.

Miss Crazy are as Californian as Motley Crue and LA Guns, as sleazy as Faster Pussycat and Pretty Boy Floyd and deliver their songs with all the energy and dedication of Cinderella. The rasp of vocalist Markus Allen Christopher take me back to the last 80s and the LA sleaze scene, dominated by Motley Crue, Faster Pussycat and LA Guns. Each note of this album does the same.

This is prime time sleaze and is well recorded and produced to deliver an in your face approach and the best out of these songs.Highlights include the moody intensity of The River; the free flowing rock of How Long Now; the commercial hard rock of How; the manic grind of Can't Sleep and the cool melodic bliss of I'm In The Mood. The album pulls back the intensity for one brief track – the closing pop ballad My Shining Star.

4 songs in 41 minutes showcases that there is no padding here or on any song. It's get to the point and then back to the grind.

If the aforementioned bands appeal – then this will no disappoint. The gruff vocal style is not for everyone, but like I said if faster Pussycat appeals, then you already know the style. A winner for sleaze fans, no doubt.