AUF DER MAUR AUF DER MAUR ALBUM VIRGIN, EMI RELEASE: FEBRUARY 18, 2004 REVIEW: MARCH 15, 2004

It’s always nice with records that aren’t easy to classify. Is this stoner rock? Goth? Pop? Grunge? Well, very cool and talented ex-member of Hole and Smashing Pumpkins Melissa auf der Maur makes music. It is as simple as that. But – to be honest – the traces of goth, both in the bass lines, the attitude and lyrics, are striking – giving me the opportunity to tell you all to listen to this very nice record.
Because it’s not just the cool cover – with the silhouette of Auf der Maur and her bass – that makes this album worthy of your attention. It’s simply a very good rock album, with lots of nice heavy guitars and the low, droning voice of Auf der Maur in the center of it all. Although the all-star line-up (consisting of, among others, James Iha, Mark Lanegan and Josh Hommes) tries it very best to steal the attention.
The main drawback is that some of the songs, although very atmospheric and hard-hitting, lack a discernible song structure. Had all songs been like sultry sexy "Taste You" and kick-ass "The Lightning Is My Girl", this would have been one of the top-ten albums of 2004. Now it is just a black laced, gothic tinged appetizer for the next record by Auf der Maur. But what an appetizer, at that! Listen to it and be seduced by the sheer sound – be it goth, grunge, stoner or whatever.

KALLE MALMSTEDT