Heartless Bastards

After hearing the interview on NPR, I bought the album. After 2 listens, I think I like it. There's a certain sadness (I can't quite put my finger on it), but a strong sense of defiance that infects almost every track. The rhythm section is polished and professional, but they could use a little more swing: sometimes it seems like the 4/4 might devolve into a march. The whole thing, though, is driven forward by Erika Wennerstrom's incredible vocals and credible lyrics. Her voice, which seems to have the same sonic range and quality as a young Robert Plant, thoroughly dominates the same way Bowie's dominated Tin Machine.

BTW, in the NPR interview, they said she was shy, even to the point of having meltdowns, seemed to be obsessed with being a rock & roll musician for much of her life, has been described as quirky, and she even has a certain look about her ... does she know she's autistic?