Album Review: Suzi Moon - "Dumb & In Luv"

 

We first encountered Suzi Moon via her Animal single a few months ago and it was a good 'un, sounding like if the Donnas had grown up listening to the Dead Boys rather than Kiss with a bit of a Sweet style glam stomp to it as well. So I was intrigued to see what this, her first full album, would sound like.

The opening title track here reminds me of Texas Terri Bomb's guttural punk stylings and makes for an energetic opener while the barrelling Family Memories, a tale of Suzi's dysfunctional childhood while looking forward to the future, keeps the momentum going nicely. I could see this one sitting well on the recent Interrupters album. As befits its title, California has an almost glam-punk feel to it similar to some of the more stripped down Sunset Strip bands back in the day (think the likes of the Joneses or the Trash Brats) and Money has a similarly melodic take to it - maybe a bit of an obvious comparison this but it brings Celebrity Skin era Hole to mind before it builds up into a big multi-part five minute epic. The only downside is that after that, the chugging I Go Blind feels a bit sluggish by comparison.

Honey goes into more straight ahead pop territory, kind of like a heavier Voice of the Beehive before the two minute punk blast of Any Other Way thankfully picks the tempo back up with a prime slice of scuzzed-up Buzzcocks/Undertones indebted power-pop. 99 Miles To Pasadena is even better, sounding like an old Chuck Berry rock 'n' roller with a nitro rocket shoved up its jacksy. Believe In Luv is a freewheeling slice of Ramones style energy before the almost cowpunk style strum of Freedom brings this one to a close and shows another string to Moon's bow.

Although it's let down in places by a slightly over-polished production, there's enough enjoyable moments of scuzzy glam-punk in here to make Suzi's debut album worth a listen for the curious. Only slight bit of advice I'd give is to hit the throttle a bit harder next time and she could definitely be on to something here.

Bandcamp Link

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌑🌑🌑 (7/10)

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