She Wants Revenge - "Valley Heart"

To say She Wants Revenge has done another copy & paste job would be grossly inaccurate this time around. But that is almost a criticism as much as it refreshing. The pool of influences include "Joshua Tree"-era U2, the Psychedelic Furs, and incredidly enough a wash of peers that suggest Elefant, Uncut, and Audra. If you are going to borrow from another band, at least they chose wisely. Maybe borrow isn't the best choice of words - perhaps homage is more appropriate. This seems like a tour album - meaning it was written on the road. Lyrically, "Valley Heart" is far less provocative, musically mired in the She Wants Revenge cutting room floor. I'm not trashing this album, but I wish there were more tracks like "Take The World" and "Suck It Up" that offer a glimpse into stretching the boundaries instead of dumping some recognizable musical flavors into the SWR soup. It's like adding some spices to 3-day old leftovers; yeah - it's still tasty but it's awful fucking familiar and it's getting a little stale. There's no fucking in an alley, or mesmerizing under-age children into sexual experimentation on this album - it's all about the bigger picture... being alone; the stars and skies are endless; broken hearts; and the stars are endless (got it the first time). If this was my introduction to She Wants Revenge, I'd say, "Yeah, they're decent - I dig their influences." And probably never buy another album. They've clearly grown-up - a bit wiser and wizened in matters of love. It's not their fault, but next comes the sore joints in the moring and eventually the "approaching 40" mid-drift gut. Let's hope their vegetarians.