Reviews

Ladyhawk

Shots

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Review Date: 2008-05-27

I'll come right out and say it: Shots had me outright confused when I received it for review. Let's start with the name, which instantly brought both "Ladytron" and "Falconhawk" to mind. I'd never heard any of Ladyhawk's prior releases, and already my mind was filled with images of indie rock featuring heaps of synthy goodness piled on top. Being released by Jagjaguar didn't give me any hints either, as they're quite varied with their roster of bands. So when I popped in the album and was welcomed by driving guitar rock with very little synth to be found, I was surprised.

Hailing from Vancouver, the band has released one prior self-titled LP which received some good press and positive reviews. They're back with Shots, a strong second album from a band that still has some time to grow.

The write up on Jagjaguar's site describes them in an almost gothic tone, which actually does the band some disservice. It's true that lyrically they take a darker approach, but with more of a country or even blues feel. Album opener "I Don't Always Know What You're Saying" is instantly enjoyable, and almost overshadows the rest of the album on first listen. But Shots is a grower album. You won't love it instantly, then at just the right time, it will catch you.

Musically, Ladyhawk play riff-heavy indie rock that occasionally dips into jam-territory. The guitar is the star of the album. Duffy Driedger and Darcy Hancock both know their way around their guitars, and they show it regularly with some great solos. On "S.T.H.D." vocalist Duffy sounds like he's ripping off Wolf Parade wholesale, but it's the subtleties underneath that elevate him away from becoming a con artist. For example, as in "Corpe Paint", where his vocals build to a howl that reminds me of label mates Okkervil River. "Faces of Death" has a similar vocal style but drags down the album a bit for the first few minutes. Luckily it saves itself when it bursts into rock mode for the great final half.

Anyone who is a fan of a solid rock record should check out Shots. It may take some time to warm up to the vocals and lyrics, but upon further listening there's a satisfying record here. I've found myself re-listening to the album more and more and it's still enjoyable. There are a few songs that I'll often skip on certain listens, but for the most part it's a well-rounded album, and it will be interesting to see where they go from here.

Score: 7.5

- Dan Gorman