Anne Summers
Very Classy (Beatville Records)
By: Alex Steininger
Strong, hook-laden power-pop, Anne Summers' Very Classy catches you singing along track after track, while the rumble of the rhythm section gets you shaking and enjoying the sunny, youth-filled rock that shines throughout this collection of eleven pop tunes.The delightfully bouncy, lighter-than-air pop of "King of Disaster" reels you in with tongue-in-cheek humor wrapped around teen doubt and confusion. The lyrics leave you wondering if you should be laughing or picking up on a serious message that seems to allude you at the moment: "I am the king of disaster/ Always following some tragedy/ I am the anti-King Mitus/ My touch creates misery/ It's sort of a talent/ Not like Michael Jordan/ More like Kurt Cobain.
The intro of "Vitamins" slowly builds in to a power-pop rocker, crashing down on you with pumping beats. The slicing guitars of "Robots" makes you want to spin around until you're dizzy, and the crunch of the rhythm section has you dancing around with a smile on your face. Than the sugar-coated hook pops out of nowhere and melts you like butter.
The quirky, power-pop/rock 'n' roll disco of "Road Rally" stuns you with its off-beat pop approach, while the flying guitars and concrete hooks of "Real Life" knocks you off your feet with plenty of energy and aggression. And the bouncy, mellow, lemonade-on-the-back porch of "Octoberfest" has you singing along with every word.
They may be young and still have plenty to learn, but with solid pop chops already in place, Anne Summers delivers infectious rock music that will make you come calling more than once. I'll give it a B.