The Rogers Sisters

Three Fingers (2005)

Meet the Rogers Sisters. This cool band from New York has been compared to the likes of The B’52s and The Slits but, to be honest, they have a sound of their own. With its thumping drums, its screeching guitar, its catchy bass lines and its call-and-response vocals, this is a band that’s well worth checking out. Real-life sisters Laura (drums, backing vocals) and Jennifer (guitar, vocals) Rogers make a hell of a noise for 2 girls (hehe, I’m sorry did that sound sexist? lol). And Miyuki Furtado (bass, vocals), the honorary Rogers…sister provides the melodies and even more energy (on stage, he’s surprisingly nuts).  Their new mini-LP Three Fingers is a refreshing little album filled with some pretty rocky songs. The first tune, Freight Elevator, is excellent and is definitely one of their best songs. It’s just very energetic, original and terrific fun. 45 Prayers is also a good song, and it must be said that Laura Rogers could teach a thing or two to Meg White about drumming. As for Fantasies Are Nice, it’s a song that’s simply impossible to dislike. The lyrics are simple and even snotty, which isn’t bothering at all, quite the opposite. The song contains what is probably the best bass line in the album and gives Jennifer the chance to get a little crazy. The Secrets of Civilization is also great fun, with a terrific chorus and good vocals from Jennifer and Miyuki. Now we come to Check Level, arguably the most “kick-ass” song of the album. With a notably cool guitar line, B’52s-ish punky vocals and a screaming chorus, it’s a real rock song indeed. When you listen to some of those lame overrated new mainstream bands who pretend to make rock and roll it’s discouraging, that’s why the Rogers Sisters are a breath of fresh air. Five Months is certainly an odd song. I say odd because it’s just very different to the rest of the album: it’s pretty dark, with a strange, haunting chorus. It’s a song that does grow on you. You Won’t Believe It, my personal favourite of Three Fingers, is simply excellent. Great rhythm, very catchy chorus, I love it. The 4 remaining songs are “extra tracks”, Zig Zag wanderer and Object are both cover versions of older songs. They’re both raw, rocky tunes and Zig Zag Wanderer is especially cool. After that, we get a French version of Fantasies Are Nice, which I enjoy listening to purely for The Rogers Sisters’ interesting French accent…There’s also a Japanese version of 45 Prayers which, for some unknown reason, I slightly prefer to the original one. It’s a shame the album doesn’t have a few more songs but as it stands it’s a good introduction to The Rogers Sisters (it’s not their first record mind you) and is a lot more fun than Coldplay (Zzzzzz) for example. I highly recommend going to see the Sisters (and Miyuki, hehe) live because on stage they’re very entertaining indeed.

Overall: ****/5

 Don’t Believe The Truth (2005)

When Oasis made Standing on the Shoulder of Giants (their weakest album), they had undergone numerous changes in the band and found themselves with a messy mix of heavy inaudible bass-lines, loud thumping drums and unnecessary background effects. Heathen Chemistry was much better, with a more stable line-up, the band was now more confident and their new lighter, more acoustic sound was refreshing. Don’t Believe The Truth, which was recorded in L.A. studios, is arguably their best album since the slightly underrated Be Here Now (I mean, come on, it had Stand By Me, All Around the World, My Big Mouth and D’You Know What I Mean?). It seems the Gallagher brothers are  comfortable with this, admittedly less “electric” sound, and I find it admirable that instead of desperatly seeking their old Definitely Maybe sound (get over it NME, that was like 11 years ago!) Liam and Noel have moved on with a different, perhaps more mature one. Heathen Chemistry contained some terrific songs (the beautiful Songbird, Born on a Different Cloud and Stop Crying Your Heart Out) but sadly not enough. In DBTT however, all the tracks are worth a listen and grow every time you hear them . The single, Lyla, is very catchy and enjoyable and there are other energetic songs in there, like the Velvet Underground-ish Mucky Fingers and Liam’s The Meaning of Soul. More freedom is given to the other band members Andy Bell and Gem who write a few songs on the album. Andy Bell’s Turn Up The Sun and Keep the Dream Alive are the best ones (although the latter’s chorus is disappointingly mellow). The new single The Importance of Being Idle, sung by Noel, is a terrific song with a cool black and white video and is one of the best songs in the album. The Stranglers-ish Part of The Queue, written and sung by Noel, is also a great song and it seems that Noel’s dark side is coming out through these recent tunes. Liam’s writing is getting better and Guess God Thinks I’m Abel is a fine example of that fact. Love Like a Bomb is also a very good effort by Liam, very catchy with an interesting melody. But, it must be said, that it’s Let There Be Love which steals the show. Written by Noel and sung by both Gallagher brothers, it’s a beautiful, catchy tune that Lennon would most certainly enjoy thoroughly if he was alive today. Gem’s A Bell Will Ring is the weakest of the lot but is still better than anything The Darkness are likely to come up with in their lifetime. Overall, Don’t believe the Truth will charm and satisfy Oasis fans very much but those who live in the past and are still waiting for Morning Glory 2: Reloaded will probably keep whining. Oh well, I don’t think Liam gives a f*** and neither do Oasis fans, and rightly so.

Overall: ****/5