ROBIN BROCK - review added 4th January 2010
Album Review: Monsters (2009)
For fans of: Alt Metal... and strong voices
Robin Brock, who does look surprisingly like the arty looking lady on the front of her album, was born in Calgary in Alberta, Canada. When she was still a baby her family moved west to British Columbia, although she has moved back and forth since.
It's therefore no surprise that the sound on Monsters is of an independent woman making the music she wants to make. Robin clearly isn't pandering to any supposed market demands with this album. Of course that could mean the album ended up being terrible - different for the sake of difference - but it isn't.
She lists her favourite artists as Kiss, Bryan Adams, Def Leppard, Richard Marx, Bon Jovi and more. Those sounds only rarely peak their heads through; Monsters has a different vibe than the majority of the material by any of those aforementioned artists. The writing skills of John Capek (Rod Stewart, Joe Cocker) undoubtedly goes someway towards that, as does Robin's none-mainstream (but excellent) singing tone.
The title track kicks things off and the closest associations I can make are Nine Inch Nails and White Zombie. There's a heavy electronica sound woven into a hard rocking lead riff. It's a groovy, catchy song...maybe not classically brilliant but certainly contagious. 'New Addiction' is a little weak in the verse but saved by a very catchy chorus.
'Two Words' doesn't do a lot for me. Fortunately, the superbly sleazy 'Master and Slave' follows. If you've never had a song make you feel dirty before, you need to hear this. It's mesmerisingly, filthily brilliant. And it needs a video. It really, really needs a video! '7 Pieces' is another song that's average through the verse and excellent at the chorus. It's a shame that the verses are a tad flat as there really is some superb material hidden away in these tracks.
'Solitary Girl' is pleasant, if understated. It demonstrates what a nice, slightly unusual voice Robin has. There's no doubt she can 'do beautiful' when she wants to, even if her main approach is full of fluid power. 'Fuel' is an intriguing, moorish song that's stripped back and synthesised yet cool and rocking. 'Power It Through' is even more synthesised and suffers as a result. 'Warrior' heads strongly back in the right direction. It's characterful, strong willed and has a great sound. It's the sort of music Doro should be recording. Final track 'The Witching Hour' references Black Sabbath in a big way. It's a fine way to finish the album.
Bit of a mixture this album. Some of it is distinctly average, some is good and some great. Overall it's a fine listen and works better as a whole than as individual songs. Saying that, there are a couple of tracks that really are genuinely good. I'd definitely like to hear more from Robin as I think Monsters only scratches the surface of what she's capable of.
Check out... That dirty track. I need a shower...
Track List:
1. Monsters
2. New Addiction
3. Two Words
4. Master and Slave
5. 7 Pieces
6. Solitary Girl
7. Fuel
8. Power It Through
9. Warrior
10. The Witching Hour
Artist's website(s): Robin Brock , MySpace
