“Fuck everything” is just one of the many far-from-vague declarations of advice on the third, most recent record from São Paulo dance-pop quintet, CSS. Though the majority of La Liberacion has a more positive outlook, it is often all too easy to sift the bold notions from the overly cliché. Now that the new rave scene that rocketed the band’s take-off back in 2003 has been almost entirely snuffed out, does CSS still have a place alongside the buzz bands of 2011 – or are they even trying to fit in at all?
La Liberacion overflows with Lovefoxxx’s confident and heavily accented shouts and at times, borderline-angsty vocals. The mood is juxtaposed with the band’s new rave revival dance-inducing melodies, which, this time, are less disco and more indistinctly punk rock and pop. Inspiration for the record included Dinosaur Jr. (QRO live review), Liz Phair (QRO photos), and Nirvana (QRO DVD review), which are pretty decently represented. Think of La Liberacion as the mildest, most effervescent and elementary riot grrrl record ever recorded.
Although what the album opener, “I Love You”, lacks in title originality what it fails to make up for in content, the rest of the album is simple, spirited and pleasant. If you aren’t expecting auto-tune straight off the bat, you may be a bit confused with the first few seconds of “I Love You”. The subsequent single, “Hits Me Like a Rock”, is without a doubt the record’s standout. Tracks like this are where CSS really get it right -pseudo-reggae synth melodies and funky rhythmic ‘oh oh oh’s make for one hell of a dance-worthy gem – and guest vocals from Primal Scream’s Bobbie Gillespie only add to the enjoyment. “City Grrl” is almost an unintentional riot grrl satire. It’s the polar opposite of the song preceding it with a dated electro-tune, chant-like vocals and a puzzling Spanish guitar opening. Look to the feisty title track for the album’s much needed redemption. “La Liberacion” delivers with a punk vibe and explosive Spanish vocals. The rest of the album is somewhat unmemorable apart from “Red Alert” and closing track, “Fuck Everything”. The former is set apart with sunny beats contributed by Ratatat (QRO live review) and lyrics insinuating the pleasures of casual sex while the latter explodes with the implied message and a trace of the kind of girl power you’d find echoing from a pre-teen bedroom. The album closes with a long pause leading up to an outer-worldly tune and message from Lovefoxxx herself. “I’m twelve years old… I like buying pencils and pens / I like cooking and… cookies.” Cute, huh?
La Liberacion may just be exactly the kind of liberating you need. If nothing else, “Hits Me Like a Rock” will undoubtedly get buried in your head like a bad ‘80s single you heard on the radio at the supermarket – all so that it can hit you like a rock when you heard it again in 5 years at the same store.
MP3 Stream: “Hits Me Like a Rock“
