The Donnas - Gold Medal

The Donnas have long been lauded as rocker girl darlings, with rock magazines like SPIN almost launching parades each time the group puts out an album, and magazines like Jane fairly salivating over every word uttered from the girls’ lips. So it’s safe to say that Gold Medal, the first full-length album from the Donnas that I have ever heard, was fairly built up in my mind, as I subscribe to both of the aforementioned magazines. And it’s not bad. The Donnas play forthright, straightforward rock in the same vein as AC/DC. The guitars are warm, loud, and the licks (played expertly by Allison Robertson) are remniscient of something you’d hear blasting from the speakers of a fast-moving Camaro, driven by that numchuck guy from Ghost World. Rythym, like well-pummeled drums (Torry Castellano) and head-bobbing bass (Maya Ford), is best highlighted in songs like “Don’t Break Me Down” and “Gold Medal.” Vocals and lyrics (Brett Anderson) are solid and simple (“Is That All You’ve Got For Me” is one of the better songs that push the simplicity). The band is a tight package, and their musicianship is better than some bands double their age. I enjoyed Gold Medal, but I never bothered to really think about it because you don’t need or have to; just like I enjoy Joan Jett but I never have invested much interest in her. Good summer CD (after a few listens you can move on), good background music, but nothing on this CD lived up to the hype, even though it was quite good. Thank God my little sister likes it. The Donnas’ music and emotions are portrayed hella better than what she was listening to. [www.thedonnas.com]