MENSEN
Oslo City (Gearhead)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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Norway's Mensen sound like what the Runaways would have sounded like had they gotten together several years further down the road in each player's musical development. The energy is there, but the slop is only hinted at when it's needed for atmosphere. On Oslo City, the band present a mesmerizing smorgasbord of melodic and heavily distorted and reverbed punk rockers, some with tons of drive and excitement and some with a wall of minor-keyed, ethereal sound. Mary Currie's doubled (and possibly tripled) vocals work so well with this music. It's like a punky take on the Shangri-Las (not like they weren't kinda punk in their own weird way). The perfect partner for Currie's voice is the chunky, hard driving power chords played to perfection by... ? That's my question. Currie plays guitar, as does Christine Sixteen. Both are obviously talented players. Whoever has the power chord thing happening is my new hero. The solos are pretty damned good, too. If this doesn't make my top 5 of 2003 list, it'll only be because at least 2 more unbelievably good albums come out before January.

© 2003 - DJ Johnson