The Donnas: Bitchin' CD Track Listing

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The Donnas Bitchin' (2007)
Originally Released September 18, 2007 \n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: It's hard not to think that "bitchin'" has been used to describe the Donnas' music many a time, so it's an appropriate enough title for their seventh album. At the very least, it has a better ring than The Donnas Turn 27, but that might have been a more truthful summation of this record, because advanced age is beginning to hit the band big time. What was once snappy and energetic is turning a little bit heavier and sludgier, a sure sign of high mileage, and that's all the more evident because the band is doing the same thing it always has: turning out party anthems -- party anthems that are seeming a little less ironic each time around. It's hard to call this a holding pattern since the Donnas never, ever aspired to art, but this isn't quite like the Ramones, where the signature sound revealed new wrinkles along the way. This is more like the band is pounding out new tunes every two or three years whether it needs to or not. Working bands are always appreciated, but it's hard not to wish that there was a little more joie de vivre on Bitchin'. After all, if you're gonna be a party band, the least you can be is fun, something that used to come easily to the Donnas but now is a struggle on this maddeningly uneven album. When the Donnas indulge in their fetish for '80s metal -- whether it's on the Judas Priest pulse of "Wasted," the Def Leppard lifts on "Save Me," the arena-filling thump of "Here for the Party" and "Smoke You Out," or even "Don't Wait Up for Me," which comes close to ripping off the riff to "Don't You Wanna Touch Me" from Joan Jett, their biggest influence -- they fulfill the trashy promise of their title, but this doesn't happen often enough. The problem is, the Donnas once rocked as if they were tanked to the gills but they now sound like they're playing with ferocious hangovers they just can't shake -- and it's hard to have a good party if the threat of the morning after hangs over the whole affair. -- Stephen Thomas Erlewine\n\nAmazon.com Editorial Review\nGone from the ranks of the major label (Atlantic) that signed them, the Donnas return on Bitchin' to the ranks of indie rock while still reaching ambitiously for stadium-proportion rawk. From the leather trousers and dope-smoking feather on the cover to the album-opening chowder of slow kick drum thumps and chunky feedback-glinting guitar riffs, the Donnas are after the arena-rock vibe. And this is the stuff that made arenas churn in the 1970s, retro, yes, but potent. They go for AC/DC's simple one-two rhythms, the brawny choruses that became FM radio's signature, and lyrics like this: "The first time I saw your face/I got wasted on your love." Yes, it's reductionist as indie rock goes, but Bitchin' is also exhilarating--the chant-like vocal choruses, the guitar effects, the more-cowbell enthusiasm, the hands-in-the-air pacing. The Donnas are clearly looking to keep rock & roll a collective experience, the stuff, again, that made arena crowds pump their fists through blue smoke all those years ago. --Andrew Bartlett \n\nAmazon.com Product Description\nBITCHIN' is the aural thunderclap that is THE DONNAS' brand new record, an unapologetically anthemic hard rock album. Their luscious locks must have been a four-way blur of headbanging fury at this recording session. Thirty shout-along, swaggering rockers were slimmed down to an album-length fourteen tunes, all written or co-written by THE DONNAS' and co-produced by Jay Ruston (The Polyphonic Spree, Meat Loaf). \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\n3-1/2 stars -- Fortunately, Amazon has become more liberal with censorship, 10/4/2007 \nBy Anthony Rupert "shut up, Shut Up, SHUT UP!!!" (Milwaukee, WI)\nThe Donnas have been doin' their thing ever since they were in high school (or maybe before) and they went through a number of name changes, yet they really didn't get a whole lot of acclaim until around 2003, when MTV started playing their video "Take It Off". The album that was on, Spend the Night, didn't impress me because after looking at their previous albums and then that album, they seemed to be continually talking about partying and not much else. The following album Gold Medal was more varied, though. And now they come back at us (albeit on an indie label) with Bitchin'. \n\nGranted, Brett Anderson has never been the most amazing vocalist (in fact, she sounds more like she's talking instead of singing; she's a sight for sore eyes, though), but although the songs aren't filler, they really don't stand out either. The melodies are a little harder, but that's about it. There are some quality tracks though, like "Wasted", "Smoke You Out" and "Better Off Dancing" (but "Girl Talk" is pretty childish). \n\nIn the end, Bitchin' is another one of those "it's okay; nothing else to it" releases. I don't think the Donnas will lose any fans with it, but I'm not sure they'll WIN any either (especially since it debuted at #89). But if you already like their style, you shouldn't be mad about picking it up. -- Anthony Rupert \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nThe Donnas of the 80's, September 24, 2007 \nBy al27 (New London, WI)\nThe Donnas have always been a band that worships the music of days past. They started off lost in the 70's, sounding like the Ramones, then morphing into the Runaways, then going for AC/DC and Kiss. Around "Gold Medal" they even went for some 60's rock influence, but they also attempted to be taken seriously on that album, and it didn't really work out. \n\nYou see, the Donnas have never been a serious band, just fun, derivative party music for people who like intentionally shallow but very enjoyable rock 'n' roll. \n\nWhich brings me to my point: "Bitchin'" is typical, shallow, fun Donnas, only now they're stuck in the 80's. \n\nEverything about this ablum, from the chiches bombarding all the album art and lyrics, to the music itself, just SCREAMS cheesey 80's rock. \n\nLuckily for us, they're actually GOOD at it, and we get an enjoyable set of tounge-in-cheek, ironic-yet-respectful hero worship inspired by the decade when feathered hair, men wearing eyeliner, and hammer-on guitar solos ruled MTV. \n\nIf that sounds like you're kind of thing, you'll probably dig this album. \n\nThose of you who don't like the Donnas will still find the same weaknesses here, namely Brett Anderson still has a really flat, personality free voice (don't get me wrong, this is easily the best she's sounded but she still doesn't show much range, power, or attitude when compared to other female vocalists), the lyrics have no substance, and all the music is still really really derivative (obvious lines can be traced from certain songs to the music of Joan Jett, Judas Priest, Def Leppard, etc.). \n\nBut thats okay. The Donnas have always had those problems, and their music has never EVER pretended to be anything other than big dumb fun, and thats exactly what you get here, only with more 80's. \n\nBut I don't mean to sell the Donnas short, "Bitchin'" is a very solid album, and showcases not only some fantastic guitar work, but also some of the Donnas strongest songwriting. This is the first time I listened to a Donnas album where every song DIDN'T start to sound the same by the end, partially due, I'm sure, to the fact that they've stopped writing songs using nothing but pairs of rhyming couplets. \n\nSo enjoy, the Donnas are maturing as musicians, and "Bitchin'" is a very strong effort. \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nA blast from the past, September 22, 2007 \nBy J. Greco (Bergen County, NJ)\nIn my opinion, The Donnas are one of the best rock bands to emerge within the last 10 years. I've been listening to The Donnas since the late '90s and what I've liked about them most is with each album, they've consistently progressed and developed their sound. With the release of "Gold Medal," while many think it was a "sellout" album or an abandonment of their raw, punk sounding music, I felt that they finally evolved into a solid rock group. They really matured with that album and I was looking for that to carry over into "Bitchin'." This new album is really solid and Alison's guitar is heavier than ever. It melds both their sound from "Spend the Night," with '80s metal/arena rock. However, it doesn't seem like the logical progression one would expect from their last release. They really grew up on "Gold Medal." But this album seems to take a step back. It gives you the impression that when they wrote these songs they specifically set out to sound '80s, rather than just build off the sound that came naturally on "Gold Medal." That being said, it is still classic Donnas and a great listen. \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nHard to believe they're pushing 30, September 18, 2007 \nBy F. Hartung (Denver, CO USA)\nI'm not gonna waste a lot of time here. Suffice it to say that after the (deservedly-) ill-fated sellout that was "Gold Medal", the Donnas have apparently come to the realization that they are not going to blow the likes of James Blunt and Hannah Montana off the charts. . .so, they've started their own label and have decided to turn up Alison's guitars and Maya's bass for a new album that I could best describe as sounding like a combination of Joan Jett (the rhythm and tempo on many of the tracks) and Girlschool (the overall spirit and "shout-along" choruses). Gets better with every listen, so if your opinion isn't immediately tainted by the inexplicably awful opening track, skip ahead and have fun guessing what old songs they stole the hooks from. A nice turn for the Donnas, even if the "leather chick" persona so strongly cultivated here is a bit self-consciously over the top. \n\n\nHalf.com Details \nProducer: Jay Ruston, The Donnas \n\nAlbum Notes\nThe Donnas: Brett Anderson (vocals); Allison Robertson (guitar, background vocals); Maya Ford (bass guitar); Torry Castellano (drums, background vocals).\n\nPutting aside entirely their early roots in the post-Green Day pop-punk scene alongside fellow Lookout! Records alumni like the Mr. T Experience, BITCHIN' completes the mainstream makeover of the Donnas as a sort of post-modern cross between Pat Benatar and HYSTERIA-era Def Leppard. BITCHIN' is a glossy-sounding hard rock album that features only the barest trace of the band's earlier sound.\nHowever, this is no bad thing: the Donnas' clear antecedents, the Runaways, were never interested in staying in the punk rock ghetto: witness the far more commercially successful careers of Lita Ford, Joan Jett, and even bassist Michael Steele in the Bangles. The candy-coated pop rock of BITCHIN' is entirely in keeping with the sound and spirit of the Donnas' pioneering forebears. Highlights include the snarky title track and "Wasted." YEAR: 2007
This rock cd contains 14 tracks and runs 44min 47sec.
Freedb: c90a7d0e
Buy: from Amazon.com

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