The Unforgiving Sounds of Maow
The Unforgiving Sounds of Maow is a 1996 album by Vancouver punk band Maow. It was the band's only full-length album, 21 minutes in length. The album is notable primarily for being Neko Case's debut as a lead vocalist, although her loud, punk-rock singing on this project is not typical of her later style. On the album, Case shares lead vocal duties with bandmates Tobey Black and Corrina Hammond. Many of the songs are about partying. The album's best-known song, "Ms. Lefevre", celebrates the character "Renee Lefebvre" from Woody  Allen's movie "What's New, Pussycat?" A music video was created to publicize the song. The album also includes covers of songs by Wanda Jackson ("Mean Mean Mean") and Nancy Sinatra ("How Does That Grab You?"). Critical reception. Jim Smith compared the group's style to early work by the Go-Gos. The Washington City Paper called the album "unexceptional". Robert Kaups at AllMusic gave the album a mixed review. Michael Panontin of Canuckistan praised "Ms. Lefevre".