aaamusic | On 28, May 2012

A rather simplistic and old-fashioned rock album, Dana jade’s eponymous debut record isn’t terrible, but doesn’t really stand out from the crowd enough to stamp a place in the memory. Take opening track Eyes Like Cinder; it has some fairly catchy riffs, standard rock lyrics and harmonies – all listenable for the most part, but lacking real punch or individuality.
There is something rather clichéd about a lot of the album’s aggressive, repetitive grimacing. Second track Shudder seems to want to rely on attitude all alone and consequently lacks any real musical substance. Far too monotonous and unoriginal, Jade’s howling vocals are competently executed but can’t compensate for the lazy songwriting. Up next, the song Jaded channels the central riff from The Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) and is actually all the better for it. If you can’t come up with your own memorable tracks, you might as well echo other people’s. The sexual imagery is still a bit cringe-worthy though. Strangely, Murky Tears then also borrows exactly the same riff from The Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This). Um, best not to copy the same song twice in a row on the same album.
The End of the Line features more lazy songwriting. It has a very repetitive guitar riff and derivative aggressive vocal style – the snarling of an angry and bitter lover bemoaning some partner who has upset her; I wasn’t really intrigued enough to pay attention as to why. It all sounds like any number of other songs, and at its very worst, recalls the musical offerings of arch-moron Courtney Love. Little Sister is better – not as good as the Queens of the Stone Age song, but less clichéd and more subtle in its vocal style than the rest of the album.
Sadly this is followed by Gritting Teeth, a more metal-esque track that returns to dull, overly familiar rock-and-repetition. Considering its title, Lust sounds incredibly antagonised and grim, enough to make you pity whatever poor soul is on the receiving of Jade’s wanton desire. She or I Go is yet more tedious moaning about cheating. If this album is meant to be such a powerful statement of strength and aggression, the phrase “Get Over It” springs to mind. Aptly, the music is monotonous beyond the point of exhaustion. Dark as Midnight is better – still unoriginal, but it has a decent swagger to it.
Overall, there a few ok tracks here, but Jade definitely needs to spend more time coming up with new, decent tunes, and less time moaning on and on about her ex-boyfriends.

★★★★★

Rupert Uzzell