Search - Runaways :: Queens of Noise

Rockin' sophomore release from legendary all-girl `70s group

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 02/16/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Runaways second album is a more solid rock album than their self-titled debut, but it also has a more rushed and thrown-together feeling. The Runaways' erstwhile lead singer, Cherie Currie, was already sharing microphone time with the group's musical leader, Joan Jett. The album's title track went to Jett, and with her songwriting adding muscle to the song list, her fingerprints were all over the album. Currie was a compelling vocalist, able to sing both ballads and up-tempo numbers, but she was more theater than rock, and placing tunes like "I Like Playin' With Fire" and "California Paradise" back-to-back made the band sound schizophrenic. Currie would exit the band after a tour of Japan, and the seeds of her solo career can be heard in the highly produced vocal pop of "Midnight Music." It's a good track, but at odds with its segue from Joan Jett's "Take It or Leave It."



Earle Mankey's produced the album at Brothers' Studio, but any delicacy the Beach Boys achieved within those walls was quickly discarded. The CD transfer retains the original album's muddiness, which is how it sounded on vinyl in 1978. This is a sledgehammer recording, with Jett and Ford's guitars growling alongside the meaty, propulsive drumming of Sandy West. Though Jett later proved herself best suited for pop stardom, West's time-keeping (which lead guitarist Lita Ford occasionally seemed unable to keep pace with) has always been overlooked as the band's rock-steady core. The title track continued to capture the milieu of the mid-70s Los Angeles, but "Hollywood" seems forced and only a year into the band's tenure, their teenage spark was clearly being doused by the poor treatment from the band's minders.



The album's only real misstep is the 7-minute blues guitar showcase, "Johnny Guitar," which was filler then, and remains filler today. Cherry Red's CD reissue rounds up the original ten tracks without bonuses. The insert unfolds into a poster that includes a fan essay, liner notes by Michael Heatley, a note from label founder Iain McNay, photos and song lyrics. It took Cherry Red many years to gain license to reissue these albums, and they're just the sort of thing to drop from print without notice, only to turn up on eBay for $50. So if you think you want them, get them while you can! [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]"

The runaways mature... and a movie about them is coming out

Michael P. Dobey | colorado springs | 01/22/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I loved the first album by the Runaways. It was a great record that just was in your face rock and roll with young teen girls playing it hard and loud. By this time they had matured in playing ability and put forth a slicker disc. I personally loved every album this band every put out. This one had the classic 'queens of noise' song and other great ones as well. It's a great listen and joan jett , lita ford , sandy west , and cherie currie, put out a great disc with this one. The male rock press was savage against them back then because they were females! this was insane because this was a by any standards a great rock band. Today a band this good would be applauded but the runaways , were following on from other all girl bands who played in the man's world of rock circa 1950-1980. Only they really made it bigger than what came before (fanny was another pioneer) and they finally broke down the door. In fact this album was played at many a party back in 1977. This was a band making a aor disc that was just excellent in playing and singing. It's hard goddess rock at it's best. As these girls could sing and play very well. On their first one there was a few awkward moments but many great songs including the ultra classic "cherry bomb'

; just ploughing out at you; on this one they really moved forward. And soon would come the truly great live cd 'live in japan' which is great rock in it's purest form. This lineup would not be around soon after that but the band would survive for a the excellent 'waiting for the night' and another release put out as they folded. This band deserves more respect and finally we are getting a movie out in march 2010 about them starring the excellent Dakota Fanning and others. Grab this one if you enjoy great all girl hard rock (seventies style). This is their least protopunk disc by the way it was more album orientated rock but damn good aor. If you want their protopunk stuff you need the first one and "waiting for the night" which are mix of both hard rock and that style."