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Punk bands are in short supply in these days of alternative and emo bands. I remember bands like The Clash, Iggy & The Stooges, Dead Kennedys, Misfits, and so on. There isn't a band out today that even somewhat resembles the lost genre of old school punk, except possibly Queen Bee.
These Detroit natives - fronted by their leggy, platinum blonde singer, Karen Neal, who is heralded as the Bee Queen - are a throwback to the golden age of punk. Sounding a bit like punk legends X, mixed with hints of early Soundgarden, and sprinkled with the salt of every other classic punk act of the past, their full-length disc "Girl On Top" is the treasure of a lost genre. Songs like "Happy Medium Rare," "Unraveled," and "Anatomical Gift" are filled with a minor chord drone that lays like lead upon your ears, while tracks like "Road To Good Intention" and "Tongues Of Fire" lean toward a smoother, Patti Smith style of angst. Then of course, there are tunes like "Wish You Dead" and "Wanna Bee," which are stamped with the Dead Kennedys trademark speed and melody combination.
Much of the appeal of this band comes not only from their welcome sound, but from their outrageous vision as well. Reminiscent of bands like The Cramps, you'll find this band dressed in a lot of wide stripes, candy apple red thigh high platform boots, and heavy makeup. Crotch grabbing and expletives are all part of the beauty of it, and they wear it all very well.
MySpace profile: www.myspace.com/queenbee
Official website: www.thequeenbee.org
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Strutting the halls of my high school in my jean jacket that was riddled with patches that displayed my love for hard rock / metal bands like Maiden, Priest, Sabbath, and about 800 others, I really felt at home with the music of the era. Since then, there have been very few bands that remind me of that time enter Legion. This is a band that places me in front of my high school locker again with their nod to the classic Rainbow sound, and high-pitched Grim Reaper-style vocal tones.
All of the music from their 8-song CD "Shadow of the King" has that classic metal appeal. You know, &the dual guitars &what sounds like a nine-armed drummer bashing away &the singer that sounds like his testicles are in a vice &you know, all those things we love about metal. Tunes like "Shadow of the King" and "Illusion" have that Ronnie James Dio-era Rainbow glow to them, while "The Watcher" and "Heart of Stone" have the Joe Lynn Turner-era shine to them, and "Deny Yourself" could fit on just about any Dio record. But, the band's impressive guitar work and excellent drum tracks (check out some of the cymbal work on these tunes!) keep the material genuine and honest. This is a band that loves the style and their not afraid to use it.
Every time I turn this disc off I feel like I've hung up my denim and slammed my locker on it. But with Legion nestled between Led Zeppelin and John Lennon alphabetically in my collection, the portal to those metal glory days is never too far away.
MySpace profile: www.myspace.com/legionnjusa
Official website: www.legion-music.com
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Here is another band fronted by an amazingly beautiful woman. Niki Saletta, with her long blonde hair and angelic face, has a beauty that cannot be seen in the pictures that grace the band's MySpace profile. Niki Saletta has the voice of an angel as well. This band is empowered by Saletta's vocal talent, and a series of wonderfully written songs. Xü (pronounced "zoo") is a quintet from Los Angeles that has a particularly unique sound. I was about to say that they sounded something like Queensrÿche with a female vocalist, but that really doesn't sum things up entirely. The soul and savvy of a track like "Waiting For You" doesn't really sound like anything but Xü. This is one of those bands that seem to bounce around inside your head for months. After listening to their 6-song disc for a few weeks now, I find myself waking up in the middle of the night with one of the tracks banging around in my skull. Although Saletta is the horsepower here, the rest of the band burns some rubber as well. Very stylish and patient guitar parts that enhance the song and a rock solid rhythm section are something that can be found on every song. "Roll By" and "Tainted Freedom" are a helluva hard rocking one-two punch that gets this disc flying; and "Laugh" and "On The Run" are two superbly written songs that still deliver a chill or two.
I must admit, Niki Saletta's overwhelming appearance is what initially glued my eyes to Xü's page, but it's the power and passion of her voice and the excellence of the band around her that beckoned my ears. This band is the perfect example of sound and vision coming together for the complete package.
MySpace profile: www.myspace.com/xuworld
Official website: www.xuworld.com