DIVISION OF LAURA LEE
Black City (Burning Heart/Epitaph)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

---

Man, what the hell are they smoking in Sweden? Because, hey, fuck the war on drugs, I want them to import it to the bands in the US and UK that are making garage music that has no sparks flying from it. Okay, let's be fair here; there are several good bands in America and England, not to mention Canada, Peru and the former Yugoslavia. It's just that this outpouring of Swedish brilliance has reached the point where it can no longer be called a fluke when a band like Division of Laura Lee shows up and takes your breath away.

If you're on your way to the CD store, do not go there expecting The Hives. Division of Laura Lee have fused high energy rock and roll with ethereal influences that probably come from the 80s. I'd pick a band but, to be honest, there are 30 candidates and I'd be shooting in the dark. What they create is a haunting sound that sometimes pulls you into a trance and tricks you into thinking words like "mellow" and "tranquil" while the sticks are actually slamming holes in the drum heads and the guitarists are attacking the strings hard.

What's the difference between the thousands of garage bands in every city and the one that goes somewhere? One has a collective attitude that translates to every song, OR they create their own aural atmosphere. Division of Laura Lee are surrounded by a most intoxicating atmosphere of power and mystique.

© 2002 - DJ Johnson