Ride Your Heart

Los Angeles-based, guitar-driven pop-rock songs that stand out thanks to the harmonizing of sisters Jennifer and Jessica Clavin. This record very much evokes the sounds of Los Angeles -- from X to the Bangles to the Runaways to Best Coast to even Linda Ronstadt at times -- with the last few songs veering dangerously close to "wannabe C86" territory. Bleached is definitely capable of tearing it up live, but lose some of their edge in the studio. I enjoy this album, but I wanted to like it more (if that makes sense).

1. * med(+), some minor key flourishes but otherwise straight-ahead
2. * med(+), driving, propulsive rocker, cold-ish end
3. FCC ("fuckin' away"), med, vocals aren't dark enough for this song
4. med(-), an intentional downer (lyrically) that could have been a minute shorter
5. med w/ slower bridge, sad pop
6. med(+), super poppy, cold end
7. med, slight rave-up bridge with false end, a classic "first song on side two" offering
8. med, too sweet for my tastes
9. * med, strummy and almost jangly with buried synths
10. med, sunny and bright and very "OC"
11. med(-), in one ear and out the other
12. med-, but builds to a jam before fading out, very snotty Joan Jett feel in places