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Fragile Firebug Buddha Belt Records, 2001 Reviewed by Aaron Blanton
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With Firebug, it's helpful if -- the first time you hear them -- you listen without seeing or otherwise knowing what they look like. I'll tell you why this is: The message that their styling sends out -- dark shades and quirky leather on the sidemen, a comical hat and interesting suit on guitarist and co-founder Jules Shapiro and Pippi Longstocking-style hair on frontperson Juliette Tworsey -- gives you the idea that you're in for a certain type of sound. The visual clues make you think of some type of alt-rock or post punk. But spin the disc: this is alt-nothing-at-all. The band's PR material describes Firebug's sound as being "almost undefinable." I don't agree: definition is easy here if, as I've suggested, you listen with your eyes closed. Big drums, whaling guitars and Tworsey's occasionally over-the-top vocals prompt me to slide Firebug -- at least on their most recent album, Fragile -- neatly into the category of classic rock. As varied as Fragile's 11 tracks appear on the surface, a solid rock 4/4 beat runs through Fragile, seasoned occasionally with tell tale guitar solos of the kind that we haven't seen a lot of since the 80s. True, there are elements of delta blues here, but that's true of most "traditional" rock, as well. However, it's Tworsey's vocals that pitch Firebug neatly into the arena of rock for rock's sake. And that's not a bad thing. There's no two ways about it: Tworsey wails on Fragile. All of it. And occasionally, while she's wailing, she soars. On several tracks -- notably "Be Like You," "Old Friend" and "Least You Can Do" -- she evokes Janis Joplin at the top of her form. As well, Tworsey's voice can put you in mind of Chrissy (The Pretenders) Hynde, Joan Jett and Gwen (No Doubt) Stefani: rocker chicks, all, and good company to be in. This is not to suggest that Tworsey's style is derivative of these noteworthy singers: it's not. In the final analysis Tworsey is using her vocal instrument to good effect: rending -- at fairly high decibels -- the most from her quite excellent pipes. Strong musicianship, distinctive vocals
and intelligent, original songwriting combine to make
Firebug a nominee for band most likely to in 2002. On
Fragile, Firebug is tight, solid and ready for the
next level. Expect to be hearing good things about this Los
Angeles-based foursome. | February 2002 |
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