PICK OF THE MONTH

THE DONNAS >> THE DONNAS TURN 21. LOOKOUT 2001

Cutesy. Gimmicky. An endless string of adjectives ending in “y” could describe an all-female band whose four members all share the same first name. The concept’s credibility lands somewhere between the Everglades skunk ape and an Olson twins’ magazine which, unlike the swamp big-foot, sadly exists. But that’s just a first impression. Truth is that these young women have been earnestly ripping up the stage and winning over crowds since their high school years. In fact, the title Turn 21 is an appropriate description of their current ages, but despite what the programmers at VH1 believe, you’re not expected to buy a CD based on a band’s story alone. The Donnas’ assault begins the moment you hit Play. Though the loud rock sound borrows a few chords from ‘80s metal and poppy new wave, the overall tone is completely modern. Testament to their prowess is a cover of the Judas Priest song, “Living After Midnight.” The track fits in so well with their repertoire that you would swear it was a Donnas’ original. Songs about picking up boys at concerts, sneaking out for a quickie, and activities generally appropriate to their age are what makes Turning 21 the perfect antithesis to the dreary Grrrl Power propaganda of just a few years ago. It might not adhere to the rules of female empowerment that Gloria Steinem envisioned, but it’s much more realistic and honest when you consider the flaky MTV state of society. -By Eric Seeger