Del Cielo - Us vs. Them

To get an idea of what the female threesome Del Cielo sound like, think of pared-down mainstream rock radio without the ‘benefits’ of glossy production. Us vs. Them is filled with anguished lyrics that reek of banal high school insecurity. To sum up the drive of the album, apparently some people suck, and being in a band is traumatic. Oh yeah, and they can overcome it. Del Cielo are rebelling against everyone that never really liked them, and they sure don’t care what those “jerks” think anymore. This uninspired territory might be bearable with the proper presentation, but the lead vocals lack the guttural, primal qualities that are required. Instead, the delivery seems whiny and lacking. Have you ever been stuck listening to someone with a nasal voice who won’t stop complaining? It’s not pleasant. To be fair, the lead singer Andrea Lisi hits her stride for brief moments, doing her best Amy Lee impression, and the choppy beat of the opener “Too Scared” wants to be catchy. The cover art suggests a more sophisticated effort, but Us vs. Them is high-energy rock that just misses the mark too many times. Brief, enjoyable moments aren’t enough to punch through the tedium that builds while you listen. [www.delcielorock.com]