April March Sings Along with the Makers

by Stewart MasonA departure from April March's previous solo albums, April March Sings Along With the Makers is much more along the lines of the shambolic punk rock of her records as lead singer of the Shitbirds. The album is a true collaboration with Spokane, WA's the Makers, who ignore the grunge explosion entirely, preferring to focus on the snotty garage rocking style of earlier Pacific Northwest heavies like the Kingsmen, the Wailers, and the Sonics. The songs are as stagey as March's previous explorations of French pop and Lesley Gore-style bubblegum, only this time the chameleonic March is affecting the persona of a black-eyeliner- and sunglasses-clad rocker chick, singing with her usual adorableness but with an extra hint of punky aggression. (Most songs include at least one ear-splitting yowl, but March even screams cutely.) The tunes are shamelessly derivative, but the Makers know this style so intimately that even the most obvious rip-offs somehow sound fresh and inventive. Above all, everyone concerned sounds like they're having a blast, which is all that matters in this style of music. Be warned if you're expecting more French pop, but this is a gem.