The Distillers "Coral Fang" Sire/Warner Bros. 4 Stars
Alex Kargher
Wrought with paradoxical lyrics fuming like an angry smokestack, The Distillers' major-label debut "Coral Fang" is a statement from cover to cover and start to finish. Needless to say, this is not the album anyone would have expected Sire to be resuscitated to release.
Featuring one of the most controversial covers of the year--Tim Presley's effigy of Christ, posed as a nude-but -for-her-flats, crucified, faceless woman with a blizzard of razor-blades bursting out a cut in her abdomen, is sure to make the censors circle overhead--"Coral Fang" is about as subtle as a brick to the face. But then again, this is The Distillers chance to solidify its name in mainstream music, and when "Coral Fang" comes to a caustic close on "Death Sex"--Flipper anyone?--The Distillers have unquestionably succeeded in its quest.
Produced by seminal studio-master Gil Norton (The Pixies, Foo Fighters), "Coral Fang" stands out from The Distiller's previous efforts, steering away from So-Cal punk revival and directing its energy towards late 80s/early 90s grunge. Norton's production succeeds on many levels; however his most powerful accomplishment comes through on Brody Dalle-Armstrong's voice. On "Sing Sing Death House," Dalle's vocals scratched and scrawled a portrait of female-empowerment onto the aural orifices of the listener. "Coral Fang" is in stark contrast to this.
Instead of falling in line with long-time fan expectations and further destroying her vocal-chords, Dalle saunters between harmonies and corrosive caterwauls, pulling off an interesting combination of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love. All opinions aside on any other similarities--which Tony Bradley, lead guitarist, let the Eagle know was a personal matter--Dalle's new vocal approach will enable The Distillers to cross the threshold. This notion is undeniably the underlying reason for "Drain The Blood," which opens the album, to be the first single. For, though it is a great song, it pales in comparison to more experimental tracks such as "The Hunger" and "For Tonight You're Only Here To Know."
Backed with fervor and compassion by Andy Granelle on drums, Ryan Sinn on Bass and new addition Bradley on guitar, Dalle and crew wraps the listener around a collective finger tearing through sing-a-longs ("Hall of Mirrors"), quintessential cruising songs ("Beat Your Heart Out" and "Die On A Rope") and veritable pop-culture masterpieces ("The Hunger" and "For Tonight You're Only Here To Know"). In fact, The Distillers' rarely miss a beat, with the exception being the intro to "The Gallow Is God."
When Nirvana released "Bleach," nobody outside of the Portland scene had heard of the band, yet, from the first time the public heard "Blew" or "Negative Creep," something was catalyzed and the status quo was felled. With the release of "Coral Fang" on Tuesday, Oct. 14, change is being filtered through the airwaves again.
Welcome the return of powerful women in music. Welcome the return of 'rock' to rock. Welcome The Distillers' "Coral Fang"
