Femme rockers show how to be women

Their stereotypical "girly" poses barely mask the smirking, not-so-subtle joke that even if they fit this traditional version of "feminine," then it wouldn't be all that it's cracked up to be. Merging the personal and political on its punk-spirited debut, the band has created an enjoyable document about life on this side of the "feminine" ideal.

Kaia Wilson, Melissa York (power hitters from Team Dresch) and Alison Martlew make up The Butchies, but don't expect this band to mimic the style of its members' other projects, or even adhere to a specific genre of music. In fact, the best songs are those that listeners might least expect from these ladies.

"Shooting Star" (a Cris Williamson cover) and "To Be Broadcast Live" feature hard-and-heavy classic rock riffs - complete with impressive guitar heroics for the disbelievers. And if that isn't surprising enough, just wait until the keyboard-heavy "Disco (Feminist Mix)" gets your groove on. With its catch-us-if-you-can beats, this rave-up would fit nicely between Blondie and Donna Summer at your local dance inferno. Elsewhere, the songs veer between folky, punky and anthemic. Cross The Butchies off the list of bands that find one formula that works, then use it to churn out identical songs like an assembly line.

Consequently, the album seesaws between tenderness and anger, laughter and disaster. It successfully balances lighter tracks with weightier subject matter. With a hip-shaker like "Disco" next to the wise-from-experience "Ellen D." (a tribute to Ellen DeGeneres), the album avoids sinking under its own weight.

Songs like "The Galaxy Is Gay" and "To Be Broadcast Live" rattle with political rage, but slower songs simmer with broken-hearted desperation. On the aptly titled "Heartfelt," Wilson confesses, "I am remembering why today is so hard," and signs off with the short-but-bittersweet "Unbroken." Despite the seemingly disparate subject matter, the album sounds surprisingly cohesive. And when the personal becomes the political on its best songs, the album truly hits the mark.

With Devo references fully intact ("Are We Not Men? We Are Devo!"), these women facetiously ask, "Are We Not Femme?" Proudly providing the answer on the back cover, they stand confidently, sans cheesy get-ups, proclaiming, "We Are The Butchies!"

01-12-99