Stag
What's most astonishing about Amy Ray's torrid, ferocious solo debut is just how convincingly she wears the colors of the riot grrrl. Save the dreamy acoustic "Lazyboy," the record rages like a showdown at the barricades, with Ray and her cadre of subversives (notablySugar's David Barbe,Joan Jett, and Southern undergrounders theButchiesand theRock*A*Teens) tearing into mainstream rock critics, antigay violence, gender stereotypes, and thorny sexual politics--all with the punk brio ofBikini KillorHole. If the lyrics can be as strident as manifestos, the waves of ruthless yet melodic guitar rock are never less than urgent, and often exhilarating. Stripped of all earnestness, Ray lets loose an unvarnished rock & roll passion--taking no prisoners and offering no regrets.--Roy Kasten