Mary`s Danish
American Standard (Morgan Creek) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) 1/212
Two years ago, with only one rather raw album under its belt, Mary`s Danish had the audacity to release a live EP of songs from its sole album, a rather raw one. If that wasn`t enough, they titled it ”Experience” and covered Jimi Hendrix`s ”Foxy Lady.” The six-member Los Angeles group should have waited for a live recording-they could have included the great songs from ”American Standard”-tunes that are far more melodic and prove that they`ve attained musical acumen too. Siren singers Julie Ritter and Gretchen Seager belt out ”Leave It Alone,” a speed-metal oeuvre in which guitarists Louis Gutierrez and David King fire up the grunge. The ebullience is matched with jadedness and beatnik humor on ”Weeping Tree.” ”Porcupine” and ”My Dear Heretic” are terrific pop songs with groovy warbling. The blues-infused ”O Lonely Soul” rounds out the troupe`s best record yet.
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