subject: Taylor Momsen and The Pretty Reckless Light Up Rock Scene [print this page] Seventeen-year-olds aren't very credible artists, and TV-to-music crossovers, especially at that age, are usually reserved for manufactured Disney teeny-boppers like Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers. Still, once in a while, a surprise comes along with a decent sound to catch the ear of even the most stubborn music curmudgeon. Fronted by Taylor Momsen of the CW'sGossip Girl, The Pretty Reckless is a rock band from New York City that is already gaining attention thanks to Momsen's TV fame.
At just seventeen, it's hard to believe that Momsen can actually front a rock band, especially when she cites influences like Nirvana and Joan Jett, both before her time. With her bleach blonde hair and heavy eye makeup in the vein of a young Courney Love, she looks like she's trying too hard. Still, the band's debut,Light Me Up, is reminiscent of a time when rock music was real and not too overproduced, before the teen music scene was overrun by Disney kids.
"My Medicine" starts out with a simple distorted guitar and seemingly unedited vocals, with breaths and other sounds left in the mix. It's obvious from the start that the band wants to prove that they are genuine rock. Momsen's vocals are first high and melodic and then deep and gritty, yet she still holds her tune even at her most raw.
The angst-ridden "Since You're Gone" is the album's first breakup song, but instead of the usual angry lament, Momsen insists her life is going "quite nicely, actually" and that she was ready to move on anyway. It's a short but catchy track, perfect as a breakup anthem for all ages.
"Make Me Wanna Die," the first single, is a gothic love song that is thematically a bit generic, but the music gives it an almost orchestral feel with big guitars and a hint of strings in the background to fill it out. Funny enough, it was featured in the movieKick-Ass but would actually fit more in an epic vampire movie with its lyrics about the night and wanting to die for a lover.
Next, Momsen goes a bit more pop with "Light Me Up." While it's not the catchiest song, its lighter feel is welcome among all the hard guitars. Along those lines, "Just Tonight" is musically reminiscent of a Kelly Clarkson song, perhaps like a slower "Behind These Hazel Eyes," but it features more distorted guitars and a nicely arranged string backing. The vibe makes it out to be a love song, but instead, Momsen sings about going home with a guy that she doesn't want after getting too messed up to function. That's pretty rock n' roll, right?
"Miss Nothing" serves as the album's second single. The track is like a popped-up version of a classic Hole track, with Momsen finally showing a bit of teen angst and perhaps ironically declaring that she wants to be a disappointment and waste away, perhaps breaking away from any "good girl" image she may have had.
Perhaps one of the most fun songs on the album is "Goin' Down," about murdering a cheating lover and regretting it simply because he was the best she ever had. Meanwhile, "Factory Girl" definitely has a Joan Jett flavor and a party girl attitude. Both tracks are upbeat and encompass basic rock lyric themes and guitar riffs, but Momsen's performance doesn't feel very sincere near the end of the album. "Nothing Left to Lose" is obviously not autobiographical, but with its rock-country crossover vibe, the story feels more genuine than many of the album's other songs.
Out of nowhere, "You" closes out the album on a soft note, with a country-like acoustic guitar and a slow violin in the background. Momsen's voice is also softer with a bit of a twang, more like Jewel, and the music is somewhat reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide." It's definitely an unexpected closer but perhaps the most genuine song on the album, and for once, the party girl is humanized, singing about unrequited lovesomething we all can relate to.
The grunge influence onLight Me Up is apparent, but so is Momsen's youth, as many of the adult-themed songs come off as insincere. Still, nobody can blame her for having fun, and it's pretty undeniable that she can sing and that she knows rock music back when rock was real. As a debut,Light Me Up shows Momsen's songwriting and vocal talent as well as her urge to produce quality work in an industry overflowing with studio-created pop acts. Maybe it could even be the album that introduces teeny-boppers to good music for once.Light Me Up is in stores now.
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Taylor Momsen and The Pretty Reckless Light Up Rock Scene
