Cobra Starship:

Hot Mess

(Decaydance/WEA)

Cobra Starship were shaping up to be a classic one hit wonder with their campy novelty soundtrack song from the comedy/horror film Snakes On A Plane three years ago. The band enjoyed a loopy, one-off dance-pop hit with Snakes On A Plane (Bring It) but their second album, ironically titled Viva. La Cobra, absolutely bombed soon after.

However, the group now seems to have landed back on its feet with a top 20 domestic release and a second and much belated hit Good Girls Gone Bad sung with the help of Gossip Girl actress Leighton Meester.

Band leader Gabe Sporta gave up his evil ways as an uber serious post grunge, emo rocker (his ex-band Midtown) to party hearty with Cobra Starship and he is enjoying success again with this colourful club-oriented album titled Hot Mess.

Don’t look for any gravitas with this full-on party album that often enters into some Beach Boys-like harmonies which may explain the title to the song The Scene Is Dead, Long Live The Scene as Cobra Starship add to the party flavour of California.

The opening song Nice Guys Finish Last even makes a sly reference to Adam Ants early ’80s new wave pop hit Goody Two Shoes.

Meanwhile, the words ‘girl’ or ‘dance’ are in just about every song.

C+

Daughtry: Leave This Town (RCA/Sony)

This second album sounds like it was cut from the same heavy gravitas hard rock cloth as any one of Nickelback’s albums.

The runner-up American Idol candidate has easily outstripped all other past winners with this second album that has been in the top 10 for most of this summer after his debut featured five hits.

Even Nickelback leader Chad Kroeger sensed a serious money maker in Daughtrey where he wrote two songs that will pay off big time as post grunge rock seems to have legs way beyond the genres’ ability to remain fresh.

Leave This Town is a no frills, no fun slice of modern hard rock that radio ought to gobble up as it fits right into the target market that can’t seem to get past boring post grunge.

There is one odd song here to break the over all monotony and that is a roots country ballad where country star Vince Gill helps out singing on Tennessee Line.

This disc is bound to realize at least a couple more hits and if the high rotation on radio just isn’t enough for you, there is plenty of similar commercial rock to be found in the rest of this CD seemingly about empty town.

C

Die Mannequin: Fino + Bleed (Warner)

I got a special delivery advance of this new album a month ago with a directive from the West Coast Warner rep informing me that this was a priority domestic release. So Die Mannequin ought to be happy with their recording label for its marketing push.

And the hard rock, power trio fronted by a young woman named Care Failure really do have the goods to go a long way even if they already are a buzz band.

Die Mannequin has opened for the likes of Guns N’ Roses, Deftones, Foo Fighters and Kiss on the strength of a couple of highly praised extended play releases.

Fino + Bleed (I don’t get the title either) is a solid slice of hard rock with some metal riffs as one time homeless teenager Care Failure belts out female screamo and punky pop with some pretty good hooks.

Her lyrics are hard to make out but titles such as Americant (my cleaned up interpretation), Where Poppies Grow and Guns Not Bombs suggest Ms. Failure isn’t too happy with the current state of diplomacies.

However, there are some pretty cool songs here with a load of brio, spit and vinegar. Check out the strong follow-up rockers with solid hooks in Caroline Mescaline (her ex street days?) and Bad Medicine which could be a major chart entry in the contemporary rock scene.

A band to watch especially with the dynamic Care Failure at the helm and reports of wild live shows.

B-

Shiloh: Picture

Imperfect (Universal)

Her label has been running TV adverts like crazy for this debut album from the pint-sized, 16-year-old Canuck simply named Shiloh.

She writes almost all of her own material on this impressive opening album. I really like her fix on things as a young person going through the trials and tribulations of high school and new relationships. She even sings about family squabbles on Better while Shiloh always expresses the need for self reliance and self empowerment.

She is a very short and stocky young gal which goes against the grain of all the scrawny young things being pumped out of Disney right now, but Shiloh has the songs and the impressive vocal range to make it happen.

An excellent role model for the tween and young teen set that will make moms, dads and the kids feel alright.

The occasional cool ska and reggae (Police style) are welcome too.

B-

bwcmitchell@shaw.ca