The Donnas - classic or dud?

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Their last two albums did nothing for me (apart from their cover of the Crue's "Too Fast for Love"), but I'm starting to enjoy their new single ("Take it Off"). What say you?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I nearly had to stop the car the first time I heard "Take It Off," because that song quite thoroughly KICKED MY ASS. I decided to check out some more songs by the Donnas, but unfortunately they all failed to kick my ass. Maybe some of the other songs from their new album are good.

I was TWO SECONDS away from starting this thread.

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Neither. More good than bad but I don't care for what they play.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:21 (twenty-two years ago)

The second best band to have ever signed to Lookout, definitely. Sure, the last few years have been very "page 29 of Rock Sound", but they were so amazing in 1999... the Evening Session tour especially, supporting (I think) 3 Colours Red meant they were on Radio 1 nearly every night for a few weeks, it was just incidenary. "Hyperactive", especially, is one of my 100 favourite songs ever. Just... grrrr.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the hype around this band is due to the fact they are 4 fairly attractive girls that play instruments.

Also, who would be the best band signed to Lookout! records?

― mallory bourgeois (painter man), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:27 (twenty-two years ago)

"The second best band to have ever signed to Lookout,"

The first being.....?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:28 (twenty-two years ago)

op ivy

― chaki (chaki), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Third best if you count The Smugglers not being signed to Mint.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Got by for a long time on the "aren't they so adolescent and cute" thing... but I wonder what they'll do when they're... oh wait, they are old now. Neither classic or dud.... somewhere inbetween, I guess.

― maria b (maria b), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, who would be the best band signed to Lookout! records?

There's a brand new sound that's sweeping the nation. Every mall, every radio station. Kids go crazy to the driving beat, cars go driving to the crazy street. The girls look tough and the boys look sweet dancing to the crazy beat. The name of this soundL alternative. And that's the way I want to live. Alternative, if you'll turn it on, we'll alternate all night long. Let's dance to an alternative song and alternate all night long. Alternative is here to stay. It will never go away. That's another reason why alternative will never die. Alternative will never go, everybody loves it so. And I think it's safe to say, alternative is here to stay. Some people like to rock, some people like to roll, and that was cool in days of old. But all the kids where the action is, got to have alternative. I'm in love with an alternative girl, she's not like the other alternative girls: she's pierced and dyes and scarified, she hates Tom Cruise, she loves Anne Rice. We're gonna be an alternative sight when I take her out on Saturday night. Alternative is something more than number 1, 2, 3, and 4. It's 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. Alternative is doing fine. Alternative is how we live, we believe in alternative. And I think it's safe to say alternative is here to stay...

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd vote the (young) pioneers, but i'd get my eyes boiled out.

― mallory bourgeois (painter man), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:39 (twenty-two years ago)

The new album swerves them back to classic status after their last few weak albums (of which sadly the metal covers were the best tracks). This one group I'm glad that they sold out. Donna A's vocals are less tired, and she's found a way to be sexually assertive without resorting to "40 Boys In 40 Nights." Donna R always rocked, and the rhthym section is great now. Video is a hoot too. Spend The Night is probably the best yet, arguably excepting Teenage Rock'n'Roll Machine, depending on whether you prefer pop-metal or the Ramones.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:44 (twenty-two years ago)

the oranges band is my favorite band on lookout!

― gygax!, Monday, 13 January 2003 21:51 (twenty-two years ago)

mr t experience? better than the queers?

the queers invented mr t experience!

― ddd, Monday, 13 January 2003 22:00 (twenty-two years ago)

the donnas = rubbish

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Monday, 13 January 2003 22:08 (twenty-two years ago)

ddd- that much is true, but when did the Queers release "Love Is Dead"? Answer: never. Thus MTX win.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 13 January 2003 22:09 (twenty-two years ago)

how do they compare to, say, Sahara Hotnights?

― Vic (Vic), Monday, 13 January 2003 22:13 (twenty-two years ago)

In the same way that fillet steak compares to my last shit.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 13 January 2003 22:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Dom covered it quite nicely. does any sahara hotnights song make a lick of sense?

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 00:04 (twenty-two years ago)

They were absolutely great on their first album when they were signing about Pescadero and hanging out at Pollos and "Baby baby you're such a goner / You wanna go out but I don't wanna" and "I'm gonna get in his pants tonight / And I'm gonna make it right". That's probably one of my 10 favorite albums ever, sometimes number 1. They fell about as hard and fast as any band I can think of after that. Now they're alright as sort of a generic Runaways type thing, and I heard a couple good songs from the new album, but rather than "selling out" I'm afraid they just adopted a much less interesting personality.

― Kris (aqueduct), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 00:14 (twenty-two years ago)

The Donna's were OK as long as Darin Raeffelli still wrote all of their songs. Without Darin Raeffelli, however, I'd have to pass on the Donnas.

― jack cole (jackcole), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 00:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Sahara Hotnights are better, btw.

― Sean (Sean), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 03:43 (twenty-two years ago)

agreed

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 03:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Weren't Spitboy on Lookout? If so, I say them.

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 03:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I think they're pretty good, sort of like a more suburbanized Runaways. Not as good as that, naturally, but the songs are loud and catchy and that's what I care about. For the record, it ISN'T because of their looks: I don't really find any of them all that attractive, except in that obvious "generic cute adolescent girl" way.

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 05:40 (twenty-two years ago)

the donna's are fairly attractive? they're the fucking omega mu's of rock.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 17:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm sorry. I don't find them attarctive personally because of looks. The Runaways weren't particularly hot either. It's just the idea of 4 girls in a rock group. Isn't that appealing?

― mallory bourgeois (painter man), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 20:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Sahara Hotnights were all the rage in Sweden when I went to visit a friend. We stayed up all night just to catch a video of 'em and I was like "uuuuurgh", but put that down to, y'know, lack of sleep, so I bought the first album, which was one of the dullest listens I've ever had. The Donnas are superior in every way (aside: I also bought an album by the similarly hyped Hakan Hellstrom, and still play it regularly- now there's a performer who needs to crossover...if only it weren't for that pesky language barrier!)

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 01:17 (twenty-two years ago)

hey, what do you all think of the Donnas dis in this Kittie review for the Voice? I'm especially curious if other women agree with her. I know my sister certainly doesn't consider the Donnas to be strictly for old men.

http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0303/fissure.php

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 01:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Too boring to read, but there's absolutely nothing good about Kittie at all, so fuck'em. Compared to Kittie, the Donnas are positively celestial.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 03:24 (twenty-two years ago)

thanks. Just needed some corroboration.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 03:25 (twenty-two years ago)

They are horrible. Find me one interesting thing about them.

― Clarke B., Wednesday, 15 January 2003 03:49 (twenty-two years ago)

say the Donnas audience is mostly "old men" (including me?). are girl bands not allowed to appeal to them? what if they're a good band? both and?

― gabbneb, Wednesday, 15 January 2003 04:23 (twenty-two years ago)

old men aren't allowed to like anything except the canon, apparently.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 05:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I think that article's condescending rubbish, for so many reasons ("the juvenile clumsiness and naïveté of a young woman," eh? oh no! less-than-profound and humanistic sensibility in heavy metal lyrics! OH NO!!) but mainly I distrust the notion that bands shouldn't be allowed to "take themselves too seriously." Bands that try to be funny almost never are. "Does Gene Simmons know he's funny?" is the stupidest thing I've read all week. Who gives a fuck if he knows or not? He is funny! "Oh dear, should I be enjoying this? I don't think it's IRONIC enough for my urbane, educated tastes..."

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Thursday, 16 January 2003 02:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I loved the stuff during the AT THE DRIVE-IN/I'M GONNA HUFF ALL NIGHT eera and even liked SKIN TIGHT a little but as they have grown up I find that there is only one Donna I'd have yank a load from me.

― Wink Martindale, Thursday, 16 January 2003 03:05 (twenty-two years ago)

They're playing an in-store at my record shop next month, I'll let you guys know what I thought afterwards.. in the meantime, I like them, but not obsessively. The new album is enjoyable enough.. I try not to analyze them any more than that, for fear of spoiling the fun

― Bobby D Gray (bedhead), Thursday, 16 January 2003 04:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Also any Minneapolis-based ILM-ers are welcome to show up, it'll be at Down in the Valley in Golden Valley. It's a lame store but it's free...!

― Bobby D Gray (bedhead), Thursday, 16 January 2003 05:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Are Kittie still going? TATU do it better, plus they combine it with, you know, actually making music.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 16 January 2003 11:50 (twenty-two years ago)

what did folx think of the snl performance. i thought it was pretty good except i couldn't hear the bass on my tv. also, i'm afraid that donna a. might be lacking in the charisma dept, at least in terms of fronting a rockin band. but that's a very high profile gig, so i cut some slack. i have never seen a donnas show

― ron (ron), Sunday, 19 January 2003 17:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe she was on the drugs that night.

― jm (jtm), Sunday, 19 January 2003 18:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I was just wowed by the drummer Donna. I always am--why can't all drummers look like that when they play? She's my favorite drummer--in the looks dept.--since Neil Smith of Alice Cooper.

― Arthur (Arthur), Sunday, 19 January 2003 18:22 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, she's fun. it's just a flurry of hair and arms flailing about

― ron (ron), Sunday, 19 January 2003 18:29 (twenty-two years ago)

"i'm afraid that donnas might be lacking in the charisma dept."

Really? I think they've got more charisma than, say, talent (and that's not a put-down!) I'm just hoping they're not some svengali-manufactured vehicle.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 19 January 2003 19:47 (twenty-two years ago)

It would be better if they were.

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Sunday, 19 January 2003 19:48 (twenty-two years ago)

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

― Jonathan Williams (ex machina), Sunday, 19 January 2003 20:15 (twenty-two years ago)

re the fat donna: i would so hit it.

― chaki (chaki), Sunday, 19 January 2003 20:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Heavy D. Yeah, I love her, too.

― Arthur (Arthur), Sunday, 19 January 2003 21:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I haven't paid any attention to them since they first got started, but I did catch the SNL performance and largely agree with Ron. Also I think their Guitar-Donna has gotten very good -- she's very on-point with everything and her lines are at this great midpoint between functional and wanky. Unfortunately I'm not much into this sort of thing, so my thoughts on this are largely theoretical in nature.

― nabisco (nabisco), Sunday, 19 January 2003 22:54 (twenty-two years ago)

yes! i love the guitar player. the dvd that came with the current cd has two clips of her in the studio playing 'who invited you' and there is something i LOVE about watching her strumming hand. she rocks, and has the most presence.

― ron (ron), Monday, 20 January 2003 01:36 (twenty-two years ago)

She's my favorite drummer--in the looks dept.--since Neil Smith of Alice Cooper.

Love you, Arthur!

― Sean (Sean), Monday, 20 January 2003 01:54 (twenty-two years ago)

They are ugly. And fat.

― , Monday, 20 January 2003 02:11 (twenty-two years ago)

idiot

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 20 January 2003 02:17 (twenty-two years ago)

They're like Guns and Roses, if they didn't like music. Em@il you're suffering from fatness yourself.

― maryann (maryann), Monday, 20 January 2003 02:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought they were a nice reminder to the nation that women can
a) play live music
b) that they wrote their damn selves
c) while fully dressed

And yeah, the Donnas' drummer kicks ass.

― mike a (mike a), Monday, 20 January 2003 02:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I mean, WE know that stuff, but we're a minority.

― mike a (mike a), Monday, 20 January 2003 04:53 (twenty-two years ago)

c, unless you think they're stupid, then d

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 20 January 2003 20:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Clarke -
Interesting bands are boring.

― Nick A. (Nick A.), Monday, 20 January 2003 21:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Sorry, change to:
"Interesting" bands are boring.
I am the indie rock Zen master.

― Nick A. (Nick A.), Monday, 20 January 2003 21:52 (twenty-two years ago)

One great thing about Kittie: THE SINGING

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 20 January 2003 22:08 (twenty-two years ago)

two months pass...

Bizarro Donnas career revival - Take It Off is IN WITH A BULLLL-ET at #38 in the UK top 40 this week.

So probably time to wallop this thread back to the top.

Personal opinion - Hyperactive very good, rest leaves me a bit meh. One of them looks very like Christina Ricci. Draw from that what you will.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 6 April 2003 15:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Christina Ricci: absolute screaming mega dud.

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Sunday, 6 April 2003 20:47 (twenty-two years ago)

you gotta be shittin me, right? Ricci is roX0r

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Sunday, 6 April 2003 22:54 (twenty-two years ago)

three weeks pass...

What about this cover of Dsico Does the Donnas "Take it Off"

― Savin All My Love 4 u (Savin 4ll my (heart) 4u), Monday, 28 April 2003 04:21 (twenty-two years ago)

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