Album Review - Cherri Bomb "This Is The End Of Control"

Back in the 70s, a band hit the scene that broke all the rules. They were all girls, they were playing punk music like no other, and they were only sixteen. Since then, many have attempted to follow in the footsteps of The Runaways, but none have been able to accomplish that until now.  Appropriately named, Cherri Bomb may be seen as the heirs to The Runaways' throne, but they are certainly making their own path through the music industry.

This album is definitely one to impress. It may not be my usual thing, given that it isn't pop or made by drag queens, but I have followed these girls since their days as independent artists, so I really want to see them succeed.

This work of art is full of potential hits. The song they are promoting heavily right now is "Shake The Ground." While not my favorite song, it showcases everything they are about -- hard guitars, crazy drums, and strong vocals. The title of the album is lifted from this track, and gives everything a more solid feel as a whole. Featured on the soundtrack for the hit movie Marvel's The Avengers, it's obvious that these girls mean business and are well on their way to becoming famous.

There are two types of songs on the album. There are the high energy tracks and those that are more classic sounding. The high energy vibes of songs such as "Better This Way" and "Drawing A Blank" are more what I'm drawn to. Lyrics like "I'll admit I miss your face" remind us all that there is always a hint of humor in rock music, as well as show us exactly what generation they hail from. Regardless, their high energy rock vibe that shines through in roughly half of the album keeps in line with their predecessors while still giving them their own identity.

The darker, more classic tracks like "Sacrificial Lamb", "Paper Doll", and "Hold On" are proof that they are not only serious about their music, but can hold up in the rock-n-roll industry. Unlike pop music, rock musicians are examined much more closely for their instrumental skill as well as their lyrics. The dark metaphors of "Sacrificial Lamb" crossed with the proclamation of independence in "Paper Doll" send a message to the musical community that they are not going to take insults sitting down. It may be a message of girl power, but it's in a much stronger and different light.

What I really love about this album is that it works as a unit. The songs have a common theme, but each tell an individual story, and leave you feeling a distinctly different vibe after each one. While the experimentation may not leave you loving every single track, there are still many reasons to love the album, and I was easily able to isolate the songs I can listen to over and over again.

I know this album won't be for everybody, especially when it comes to my core readers, but with it's message of girl power, even in the extreme, it still has it's place here, and it's worth giving a shot if rock is your cup of tea. Check them out on iTunes, preview the tracks, and let me know what you think about it. For only $7.99 (two bucks less than the average digital album) it's not a bad deal.