Brody Dalle and Spinnerette
A Mature Version of the Distillers
Watching the video for Spinnerette's single 'Baptized By Fire' the viewer observes an attractive, gowned woman wandering a desolate shoreline singing. The tattoos partially visible on her upper arms seem out of place, for she looks more like Kate Beckinsale than she does like a tattooed rock star. But this is Brody Dalle and so the tattoos may be the only thing that seems right about this image.
Brody Dalle of the Distillers
Seven years ago the punk band the Distillers were making a splash with their sophomore album Sing Sing Death House. In heavy rotation on MTV2 were the videos for the singles 'The Young Crazed Peeling' and 'City of Angels.' Both catchy punk anthems saw Dalle as the head of a three-piece punk outfit- but a very different Brody Dalle.
Pale, heavily tattooed and pierced, wearing leather pants and cutoff t-shirts, and heavy lipstick and makeup around her eyes that made it look like she never slept- this was the Brody Dalle of 2002. Of course at that point she was still Brody Armstrong, the 23-year-old punk married to Rancid's Tim Armstrong, not the 30-year-old married to Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme and mother of a three-year-old daughter.
Brody Dalle in 2009
Now a more mature 30, as well as a wife and mother, Dalle has left much of the Distillers behind. Dalle herself has said in 'Spinnerette: Web Sight' by Alan Di Perna, Guitar World October 2009, that the Distillers, which released three albums before disbanding in 2004, were 'kind of one-dimensional.' The Distillers were known for their punk aggression but not for their diversity of sound- they were a band with a lot of bark but little bite.
Now Dalle has returned with her band Spinnerette, which may not have the bark of the Distillers but is able to sink its teeth in. Having a much deeper, more diverse sound than the Distillers, Spinnerette doesn't hit the listener in the face like the Distillers but instead slowly draws them in for the kill. Dalle's songs often make less of a first impression now but on repeated listens leave much more of a lasting imprint.
Spinnerette Arrives
After releasing an online EP in December 2008, Spinnerette released their self-titled debut in June 2009. Joining Dalle in Spinnerette is her former Distillers band mate Tony Bevilacqua, as well as Alain Johannes (Eleven, Queens of the Stone Age) and Jack Irons (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam). Dalle and Bevilacqua are the only touring members of the band's recording lineup.
Standout Spinnerette tracks such as 'Bury My Heart' and the addictive 'Valium Knights' were not included on this debut album. These tracks are possibly the closest to the sound of the Distillers, having more of a punk vibe to them.
Instead, Spinnerette features a more diverse array of sounds. The textured chorus of 'Baptized By Fire' demonstrates that Dalle can really sing- something that albums by the Distillers only occasionally hinted at- and has an almost danceable beat. 'Sex Bomb' continues with electronic undertones and pop sensibilities. Yet there is still plenty of aggression on Spinnerette, as well as nods to Dalle's punk rock past.
With their debut album Dalle and Spinnerette are now likely to get more comparisons made to Siouxsie and the Banshees or Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders than to Courtney Love and Hole. While with the Distillers Dalle was never able to avoid comparisons to Love, based not only on their similar vocal styles but also their marriages to high profile musicians being perceived as calculated career moves.
Taking her career and personal life in a new direction could finally distance Dalle from this association.
Spinnerette gives Dalle much more room to grow and to take creative risks. And though it's hard to tell which Brody Dalle will show up on the next Spinnerette release, it's something to look forward to.
Brody Dalle
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