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GRETCHEN & PUNKYFISH – Rock or Die!

Review

GRETCHEN & PUNKYFISH

Rock or Die!

Genre
CD
Datum
11.03.2008
Autor
The King Det.
7 /10
I've been in contact with this band via email for a while now, but unfortunately, I've missed the chance to see them live multiple times. Yes, that's a real shame! "Right on target," I say about this new Cologne rock band with female vocals. Since 2006, the 3 gentlemen and 2 ladies have been making music together as a rock band. It took a long time, but then came the day when the good Lord looked down on them kindly and let them complete this very fresh work in just 8 hours. It's truly a production that can stand out for a debut work. Right from the first track: "You Are Afraid," they captured me, or rather, the frontwoman Mel O'Dee. Not necessarily because of her way of starting the song, no, it's clearly the lyrics that fit like a glove. The verses in this song are particularly noteworthy. The band approaches their works in a more personal way than the usual socially critical or melancholic counterparts. They just keep saying the same thing about how shitty life can be sometimes... Here, freshness can be felt along with a lot of love. Occasionally, you find a healthy dose of energy that, however, sometimes demands a certain increase. Because unfortunately, it's still not completely refined. This shouldn't sound negative, as it also contains something positive, since the music can show its own roots and doesn't come across in a generic way.

Mel O'Dee's voice isn't exactly fairy-tale-like and probably wouldn't enchant an old hand like me, but it's raspy and very clear in expression, which makes understanding the lyrics quite pleasant. Her way of delivering the choruses invites you to sing along. Occasionally, there are backing vocals, which I don't find very good. This might be different live than on this demo release. Regarding the music, it's not necessarily new rock sounds hitting the ears, but the riffs are okay and don't annoy. However, the guitar sound doesn't convince me at all, as it's way too high and mid-range. The sound is scratchy and not the deep, booming sound I expect from a rock band. This already earns them the first minus point. The second one goes to the bass sound, which is just farting around and has zero groove. However, it's played quite well with nice lines from Jsis Cry. All of this could also be due to the mushy recording, which doesn't fill the space with a powerful sound... maybe I've just become extremely spoiled and have too high expectations for a recording as a musician. After repeated listening and adjusting my setup multiple times, a better rehearsal room recording still comes to light.

CONCLUSION: It's a shame that they only took 8 hours for this recording. This, in a way, presents what they've sweated for as a formation during all their time of existence. I believe that with more time in the studio and a little more love for detail in the sound, a great work could have emerged here. All the songs definitely have potential and it cries out for more! This release features 8 songs with about 30 minutes of playtime. This story can be ordered on their own band website. If you're okay with the German releases from the early 90s, you certainly won't go wrong here. Otherwise, check out their page, keep an eye on the dates, and visit one of their concerts, as it will surely be a bit better there.
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