The Femmes can do better.
To be honest, this is one of the poorer Femmes albums. I like to think that they were capable of doing something much better. I feel that after the release of New Times in 1994, they just lost their edge and I think that's apparent on albums like Freak Magnet and Rock. The Femmes probably aren't capable of making anything completely disasterous as there is a hidden gem or two on even the worst Femmes albums (like "Didgeriblues" on this album or "Forbidden" on Freak Magnet), but I would avoid this one unless you are a hardcore fan or completist.
Weird and scary again - Violent Femmes are back!
Rock!!! was at first only published in Australia - apparently Australians have much better music tastes than Americans. Then it was released in the U.S. and life got much better. Coupled with the single album Tonight (songs: "Tonight" - album version, "Tonight" - edit, and "Didgeriblues"), Rock!!! is a back-to-basics CD for Violent Femmes offering a great range of VF's repertoir - from folk to punk, all rock and beautiful, Violent Femmes are still alive.
This is definitely the least overplayed and most rich VF album - listening to it doesn't get old, there's always something else to discover in their music. Any hardcore VF fan must own this CD or else!!! Violent Femmes Rock!!!
Back to the basics
Once only sold in Australia, "Rock!!!!!" has finally been released in the US. Hard-core Violent Femmes fans will have already got their copy and like them the average admirer will definitely appreciate this piece of music. The Violent Femmes stormed the musical world in 1981 with their debut album, "Violent Femmes", and have since then released several albums. This one will take its listener back to the roots as they experiment with various instrument and flavour the whole album with that taste that enriched their debut. The album has twelve tracks that are as different as they are many. As before, they are never afraid of experimenting as shown in their most unusual track, "Didgeriblues", where bassist Brian Ritchie basically has an improv-session on this ancient instrument. Their satirical lyrics, written by guitarist and leading vocalist Gordon Gano, hold no punches in tracks like "Life is an adventure", "She went to Germany" and "Dahmer is dead". "I danced", which lyrics are taken from Max Dunn's poem "I danced before I had two feet," is possibly one of the best tracks this band has released in the humble opinion of the one who writes this. Last but not least, "I wanna see you again" and "Sweet words of angels" are yet another testimony of Violent Femmes' ability to write amazingly beautiful ballads. In all, "Rock!!!!!" is a worthy possession for all Violent Femmes admirers.
