The Original Sinners "The Original Sinners" 2002****

If you listen to Alternative Rock but the name of the band doesn't sound familiar, chances are you've at least heard of their frontwoman Exene Cervenka, formerly of legendary L.A. punks X. After that band fizzled out in the 90's she tried to do different things (acoustic folk, spoken word etc) before forming the Original Sinners for a welcome return to the X's signature sound: aggressive punk with country and rockabilly flourishes. Her co-travelers are two former members of The Distillers on bass (Kim Chi) and drums (Matt Young), and two guitarists, Sam Soto and Jason Edge. The album begins with Wipe Out-style surf drums introducing "Birds & Bees" in speedy Ramones-like pace featuring short and sharp rockabilly solos. After just over 2 minutes, it's followed by "Who's Laughin' Now" and "River City", both similar in style and duration, and exactly what any X fans would ask for. "Bringin´ Me Down" and "Aluminum Flavored Honey" are grungier with alternating quiet and loud passages, at times reminding me of P.J. Harvey's early albums. "Alligator Teeth" and "Mourning After" are a couple of short instrumentals, while "One Too Many Lies" is your typical my-man's-done-me-wrong country song, albeit played at triple speed and given a feminist twist. "Woke Up This Mornin'" and drunken duet "Whiskey For Supper" are also cow-punk, "Suitcase" and "Pretty" are more hardcore punk rock, and closer "Tick Tock" a fine surf instrumental. Fun album, finding Exene and the band on top form. If you like X's early albums, or if you're not familiar with them but the idea of mixing roots music and punk rock sounds good to you, this is an album for you.

**** for Birds & Bees, Who's Laughin' Now, River City, One Too Many Lies, Whiskey For Supper 

*** for Bringin' Me Down, Aluminum Flavored Honey, Woke Up This Mornin', Tick Tock

** for Alligator Teeth, Suitcase, Mourning After, Pretty