Review Summary: Sleaze rockers turn hard rock and melodic with their sophmore album.
www.myspace.com/vainsofjenna
Vains of Jenna came out of the swedish glam/sleaze metal scene that gave us bands like Crashdiet, gemini Five, Hardcore Superstar etc. With their first album Lit up/Let down they gave us a glimpse of their edgy punk/sleaze sound that was compared to the raw vibe of early Guns N Roses era. With this sophmore album the expectations were huge. Lets see if they gave us a better album or not. Oh BTW Brent Woods produced this album and its obviously way different than the bands last product.
1. Everybody Loves You When You're Dead - One of the best tracks of this album. They didnt mess with the length of the track. Its quite appropriate with the whole michael jackson fiasco, though it wasnt written with that tragedy in mind. The Solo is short but the guitar work by both Nicki (lead) and Lizzy (vocals and rhythm) is gr8. (5/5)
2. Mind Pollution - This song was played live on several occasions since last year. A regular hard rock song with sleaze riffs. Nothing special about it. Also, I dunno why but the singer Lizzy Devine screams the chorus at the end of almost every song for no reason. Is that his trademark? (2/5)
3. Refugee - This is a tom petty cover. Its interesting to see a sleazy screeching lizzy doing the vocals over a more edgier guitar work than the original which was more melodic. (4/5)
4. I Belong To Yesterday - Looks like a pop song. Does not have a core guitar riff that usually drives a rock song. The lyrical content isnt even worth mentioning. (2.5/5)
5. Paper Heart - A lower octave vocals start of this love song. By the time the 2 minutes end it turns into a more sleazier ballad. It seemed like an over 6 minute song but turns out its just 5:22 min song and at the end its really a few chords being played at the background and some humming sounds. (3/5)
6. Get It On - The first single off the album. Dunno why they chose this as the single. Though its a nice sleazy song that is probably an outake of the last album but they couldve chosen another song off the album to show their progress. Its a nice in-your-face song with lizzy devine being in full form. The solo isnt that long and seems like ive heard it soooo many times. There was a minor controversy when another sleaze band claimed that the riff was very similar to their song. Still worth listening. (4/5)
7. Enemy In Me - The single Enemy In Me was featured on Bam Margera's CD Viva la Bands, Volume 2 which was released on September 4, 2007. Its a fabolous song and one of the best songs on the cd. Great lyrics and great solo. 2 videos (live and official) was also released in 2008. (5/5)
8. Better Off Alone - Another ballad which shows how a more experienced music producer can change the direction of the band. Seems more like a pop song but better lyrics than that yesterday track. (3.5/5)
9. I Don't Care - this shouldve been more like a b-side. It is probably the worst track off the album. Why be sleazy? Just to please the fans? Lyrics that dont shake up the world. Riffs that youve heard a million times. And lizzy screaming and screeching for no reason. Its more like a folk sleazy fun track that even sleaze lovers wont like listening live. (2/5)
10. The Art of Telling Lies - The title track and the best track off the album. Just as the track starts they seem to mean business. It talks about the lies and the fake world people live in and how it has morphed the society. Nice topic to talk bout. It turns melodic and makes the song even harder. The guitar and bass make a deadly combo in here. It builds up really well in the middle after a sudden breakdown. (5/5)
