Every now and then a song just seems to encapsulate a time or a place. It’s usually different for each individual, but there are a few songs that do it for a broad spectrum of people. Think American Pie or Hotel California. Well, the first song on The Beauties self-titled first album, Fashion Blues, kind of does that for me. It’s almost the essence of early 70’s rock on both coasts. It starts with the quintessential west coast sound that’s part Eagles and part Buffalo Springfield/CSNY with a touch of CCR. Then, half way through it suddenly changes to the New York rock sound that mashes up Velvet Underground and New York Dolls before punk was cool.
The Beauties are a Toronto band that up until now has made their name as a local favorite on the club scene. That seems obvious in some of the better songs in this effort that have a catchy verse or chorus that you just know everyone in the room sings along to. Devil Do, for example, preaches that “ain’t nobody gonna love me like the devil do”. The driving roots rock of Die, Die, Die paints a picture of fist-pumping club fans shouting out twenty-eleven rounds of the chorus to end the night. And even the Gram Parsons-sounding, cry-in-my-beer honky tonk of You and Me seems a natural for a live setting.
Where the album loses its momentum is in some of the slower songs. Heaviest of the World is a dirge that makes Margot Timmons sound like a spunky pop star. And You Wish Better For Me is a muddled chant with chord changes and strident guitar that never really finds its stride. I also wish the production value were a little higher on this collection. Some of the muddier mixes certainly give the songs a live feel, but I tend to be of the opinion that if you want to do a live album, do a live album.
Overall, the Beauties debut effort has a number of gems on it. Fashion Blues is a radio-friendly cut that’s easily identifiable with the band. Tired Fired Blues is an ode to the working man that’s bound to be covered by others. Heart of Stone has an early Neil Young feel. Plus, the aforementioned sing-along anthems more than hold their own. So bottom line, this is a good effort from a newish band, and don’t be surprised if they refine their studio sound to see them on a list of Juno nominees in the future.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.