The Donna’s have me baffled, as they seem themselves. I think they’re these hard rocking punk tramps who just want to be loved. After enduring numerous injustices at the hands of the other gender, they realize that they really don’t need guys, and are better off not wanting them, until the next hot thing comes along. They want us to think that they want only to get laid and hang out with their friends. I’m not buying it. Hell, maybe they are just a bunch of crude broads on a free wheeling joy ride. Maybe the fleeting glances they offer at vulnerability are full pictures. Either way, this album, Get Skintight, is a huge improvement from early 1998’s American Teenage Rock ‘n’ Roll Machine.
Their ideas are crude and their lyrics are simple. “You Don’t Wanna Call” is one of those songs that hints at something more than just a good time. Maybe I’m an emotional idiot, but when she goes on with, ‘So, I guess I’ll just stare at the wall/ ’cause i know/ you’ll never call,’ I can identify. We’ve all been there. ‘You know, I got nowhere to go/ unless you take me to that midnight show.’ Then later, keeping her chin up, she sings, ‘I’ll pretend everything’s all right.’ This isn’t the type of music I usually listen to, but I love that song. I wanted to go over to her house and drag her out for a few drinks; let her know that someone understands, someone cares. You know? Screw that guy. He’s not the only one. Okay, enough.
Next, “Hook It Up” bombards you with punk rock straight out of the early 80’s. In “Searching The Streets”, they profess, ‘I got a dark side/ and I’m searching the streets/ and baby you better run.’ The objective? ‘Fresh meat.’ Scary. They’re right; you should run.
They are so hard. These are women that will tear a man up, and then put him down. But only if he deserves it. They tell you in “I Didn’t Like You Anyway”, ‘You thought/ I would be brokenhearted,’ and then they add, ‘B-o-r-i-n-g’/ too bad you’re not the boy for me.’ Guys can knock The Donna’s down, but they can’t keep them there. ‘I didn’t like you anyway/ I was just lookin’ for fun/ uh-huh.’ Ah hah! Watch out for trouble ahead. From “Get U Alone”, ‘I gotta get you alone/ and lure you into the danger zone.’ Take heed. Other good songs are “Hot Boxin’” and “Skin Tight”. Use your imagination.
The Donna’s rock a strong punk vibe. They are not trying to be anything but what they are, and that isn’t anything you could safely put a name on. They are a good time; all you have to do is play along. They are carefree, but they aren’t careless. They wrote all of the songs on this album, except “Too Fast For Love”, a Motley Crue cover. There is something really cool going on here, you just have to sift through the trash to get to it. And that’s how they like it.
+ alissa shugats
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.