Artist: The Pretty Reckless
Album: Light Me Up
Out: September 7th, 2010
Little J.
Sweet, adorable, young, niave, Jenny Humphry.
What the hell happened to you?!
17 years old and wearing hooker shoes, with nighties in public. Racoon worthy eye make-up. Packs of cigarette's a day. And you never smile. I guess you're just going through what we all went through at 17, just with a lot more money.
Regardless, your music is, in one simple word: awesome.
Yeah, I know. (Your thoughts) Me too.
Fine, fine. I'll call her by her real name, Taylor Momsen. Who's been working in this industry since she was five years old hawking things in commercials, singing along with Jim Carey in "Grinch" remakes, and being the pain in the ass existence known as Jenny Humphrey on my favorite television show, Gossip Girl. But who knew the girl could rock?
She formed a band two years ago, with three other guys who are far too old to be hanging out with a then 15 year old, and started writing songs. She grew up in a world similar to that of Gossip Girl's Upper East Side bitch brigade, so I imagine she has quite a bit to talk about. And she does. You'll be surprised at this youngster's wisdom and charisma when she hits a studio mic. (Same can not be said when she hits a live mic).
The disc opens with the sound of Momsen lighting her cigarette, as she dives into a dark and moody rock and roll of a song, My Medicine. Yes, this song is exactly what you think its about. And lets face it, very few teenagers in this world haven't seen a doobie before. And yes, teenagers do drugs. It happens. Another reason why you can't help but love Momsen's brash attitude while singing about a bad trip.
The record then moves onto an angsty teen-hate filled break up song, Since You've Been Gone, and no, its not a cover of Kelly Clarkson's brilliant pop anthem of the similar name. This song is actually a look into how passion filled jilted teenager views break-ups. You can remember your high school break up, and how it was the end of the world. In this look on the process, Taylor just does it with a little more bass guitar then we did.
Make Me Wanna Die, the surprisingly good first single, moves the CD along with ease, and sits in your ear just the same as when you first heard it several months ago. A little sprinkle of pop, mixed with dark heavy rock. Light Me Up, the title track, is the closest thing to a rock anthem the band offers. With a soaring chorus, you'll find yourself reflective of your lower moments in life, and how sometimes a cigarette and a stiff drink is all you need. Mind you, this is all coming from a then 16 year old. So you'll have to get past your, "what the fuck does this little twat know," attitude. Be honest with yourself, what she saying rings true, and you've been there. She's the only one not afraid to say it.
Just Tonight, is one of the three moments where Momsen gets soft. But the results are gut-wrenching. She captures the aftermath of that serious relationship spat we've all had before with intense honesty. How many times have you done something with someone you know you shouldn't have? Well here's your song...
The albums next, and brilliantly soaring next single, Miss Nothing, is anything short of awesome. Its everything a rock song wants to be. It's loud, its boisterous, it's nonsensical, and its perfect. Its heavy and its one of the most playful tracks on the record, right next to Goin' Down, a comical trip to confessional with the screwed up Catholic church. Taylor playfully flirts with danger and her priest, in this campy, and light, single worthy cut. Its shocking, its brash, and its just what Momsen and her boys like to do.
Nothing Left To Lose, continues the softer side of Taylor. It's the albums most skip-worthy track, but it reminds me of something Led Zeppelin would create, with a higher then the Rocky mountains guitar lick in the background as Momsen lilts through a reflective moment in her life. But with Factory Girl, the last heavy beating rock song on the record, you have a spiritful T-Moms ready to hit a party, waxing philosophically about bi-sexual randevouxs and drinking herself into a tizzy. It's young, and its exactly what we did at that age, so pick your jaw up off the floor, because lets be honest here. You did it too. And if you didn't, you thought.
The album's closing track, You, is the LP's only acoustic set. Its vulnerable and honest. It's an angsty teenagers love song. It's heartbreak, and its the end of the world. Just like it always was at that age.
In the end, I'm sure one day, Momsen will look back at the lyrics she helped write on this album and think to herself, "What was I thinking, and who did I think I was?" I, for one, am glad she chose to put her growing pains into compact disc form. We'll all hit that moment in our lives, when we realize we don't know everything, like we thought when we were teenagers. But this journey is worth a listen, a few times over.
Bottom line: This teenager has a lot to say, and surprisingly its worth your time to listen. Rock, pop and edge at its best.
Must hear song(s): Light Me Up, Just Tonight, Miss Nothing & Goin' Down.
Obvious favorite: Make Me Wanna Die
Be sure to pick up a copy of Light Me Up when its hits stores, September 7th.
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