Folks, some of you may recall one of my Synic Selects compilations from early last year; it shares a similar title with this new one: Female-Fronted Favorites. Well, as a quick refresher, the inspiration behind that original compilation was the fact that I had almost exclusively been listening to hard rock and metal groups with female vocalists up until that compilation was posted. I eventually pulled myself out of that pattern, and commemorated it by compiling some of my favorite songs for you all to enjoy, and leaving them behind me (not permanently, of course, just metaphorically.) However, a little less than a year later, I fell back into my old ways and became addicted again. Perhaps this time was due to new inspiration from sharing this musical interest with my newfound love Lady Synic, though through her I found myself making a playlist not of female metal, but female punk and Riot Grrrl classics. Now, the sad truth of it is that if you had asked me 6 months ago to name my favorite Riot Grrrl and female punk bands, I would've mentioned L7 and The Gits, because they were my new discoveries from this time last year. However, I would've been fresh out of names after dropping those two. Of course I knew of the girl grunge giants Garbage and Hole, but I openly loathe their music and everything having anything to do with Courtney Love. So basically, I would've had no real answer for you.
But you need not worry, my friends. This tragedy has been remedied.
Something else that has changed in my little world of music, that coincidentally also came from my dear Lady Synic, was that yours truly is now among the paid-Spotify-subscribers community. Yes, it's true; while it may seem like very insignificant news to all of you, I had always felt that streaming music should be a crime, because the artists hardly see any revenue from it. I was a purchaser of hard CDs and Vinyl, (well I still buy vinyl, but not CDs anymore.) It took a hard kick in the pants for me to adapt to the 21st century, and finally see that this is how artists get exposure, listens, and even revenue/recognition for their work. While the best way to support the artist is still to buy a concert ticket and a tour shirt, streaming is apparently the future of music, whether I like it or not.
All of this seemingly incoherent babble aside, I promise you there is a point approaching. Through my new streaming service account, I started to craft a playlist of all female-fronted groups to satisfy my hunger. And as many of you already know, when you find an artist you like, Spotify will recommend a handful of similar artists that you might also like. Well, those bastards got me. And they got me good. Synic Selects Vol. XIII - Female Fronted Favorites II is entirely based on the larger all-encompassing playlist that Lady and I made together, and nearly every track you see below (with a few exceptions) comes from a Spotify suggestion. Exciting, no? I hope you think so, because this is what I'm going with for this month. Let me know what you guys think.
1. Steel Sharpens Steel - Sheer Mag
The first track on the compilation, also the first exception to the rule. This came from my discovery of Sheer Mag last summer, through the suggestion of course of Lady Synic herself. This song opens the album A Distant Call, and what a badass opener it is. Only seemed fitting to have it open this compilation as well.
2. M.I.A. - 7 Year Bitch
I had heard of these girls before, but never actually thought to look into their catalogue. I had heard of them as they were mentioned in the Joan Jett doc Bad Reputation that I watched a couple years ago. As it would turn out, this song, as well as the album it came from, Viva Zapata are dedicated to the late Gits singer Mia Zapata. See why it makes the list yet? Viva Zapata, indeed.
3. Seether - Veruca Salt
Truth be told there were 2 or 3 Veruca Salt songs that were competing for a slot on this list. I eventually decided on this one because, well, I don't really know why. But that's the beauty of music sometimes, isn't it? You don't have to know why you like something, all that matters is that you like it.
4. Less Teeth More Tits - Lunachicks
Of the Riot and punk bands on this list, this song has arguably the most Riot/punk lyrics of them all. If I had to pick a single song that would fully encapsulate the entire spirit and attitude of the Riot Grrrl movement, this song would definitely be a top contender.
5. Shut Up and Fuck - Betty Blowtorch
People used to say that the sex themes in rock & roll was a man's game. But that attitude expired 50 years ago and this song, this band, helped prove that it was never coming back.
6. Kiss Me Girl - Hands Off Gretel
This is one that I am very grateful to Spotify for. I forget which band led me to Hands Off Gretel as a suggested artist, but it brought me to this song. And full disclosure, the whole album this song came from is pretty damn good.
7. Society's Reject - The Soap Girls
This is another one off my playlist that I never skip when it comes on. As of writing this, I have not yet looked further into The Soap Girl's catalogue, but if the rest of it sounds anything like this song you bet your ass I'll be a regular listener.
8. Beat Your Heart Out - The Distillers
This song. This fuckin song, man. Hearing this song again brought be back to my days playing Tony Hawk video games. And looking back at Selects Vol. II - Best Of Tony Hawk, it's a damn tragedy that this song wasn't on there. But goddamn am I glad I found this band again now.
9. Walking in L.A. - Missing Persons
Okay this one is another big exception. Technically they were recommended to me based on another band that I like, Blondie or The GoGo's maybe? But they are not Riot or punk by any means. Full disclosure, these guys are actually pretty annoying. This song took a while to grow on me. But grow it did, and here it is.
10. Oh! - Sleater-Kinney
Ready to hear something embarrassing? I had never even heard of this band until earlier this year, and apparently they are some kind of Riot Grrrl pioneer group that everyone knows about. If not for Lady Synic correctly guessing a Jeopardy question while I was cluelessly sitting next to her, I would still be living in the dark. Luckily, even with all of its faults, there are no shortage of avenues in this world to discover more fantastic music.
11. Can't Get Me Down - Lo-Ball
Another one that had to grow on me. The constant adding of extra syllables at the end of words just to sound edgy will always annoy me. and the vocalist (Pauley Perrette of former NCIS fame) is very guilty of it here. "Can't Get Me Downnn-nuh" will agitate me forever. However the rest of the song is better than good enough for me to overlook this.
12. Flame Thrower - Janet Gardner
Another exception. You remember Janet Gardner from some of my earlier posts, yes? Former singer of Vixen, had a new album come out last year that was very OK? Well this song is from a previous record of hers, and it is the key song to listen to in order to understand her new badass sound since leaving Vixen.
13. Hate For Sale - The Pretenders
Another exception. I knew about these guys for longer than I've been blogging and obsessing over female vocalists. Chrissie Hynde is one of the all-time greats, and admittedly she had to warm up to me. I wasn't a fan when I was younger. But I sure as hell am a fan now. And I wanted to throw one of their songs on here that you guys wouldn't expect. So I skipped the hits from the 80s and I give you the brilliant title track from their last album. You're welcome.
14. Dawn On A Funeral Day - Tsunami Bomb
The last exception (and last song) of the list. I had heard this song many moons ago, and I remember liking it, but in the years since I had grown a little older, discovered hair metal, and forgot completely about this song. I have to thank my oldest sister for bringing it back into my life.
So gang, there it is. I am kicking my addiction to female vocalists once more. Will I relapse again in the future? Most definitely. Will another compilation post be a result of that relapse? Well, that remains to be seen. Be well my friends.
Synic Selects Vol. XIII - Female Fronted Favorites II
1. Steel Sharpens Steel - Sheer Mag
2. M.I.A. - 7 Year Bitch
3. Seether - Veruca Salt
4. Less Teeth More Tits - Lunachicks
5. Shut Up And Fuck - Betty Blowtorch
6. Kiss Me Girl - Hands Off Gretel
7. Society's Reject - The Soap Girls
8. Beat Your Heart Out - The Distillers
9. Walking In L.A. - Missing Persons
10. Oh! - Sleater-Kinney
11. Can't Get Me Down - Lo-Ball
12. Flame Thrower - Janet Gardner
13. Hate For Sale - The Pretenders
14. Dawn On A Funeral Day - Tsunami Bomb
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