The Vincent Black Shadow - Fear's In The Water Album Review

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

The Vincent Black Shadow
Fear's In The Water
Label, Bodog
Album Review

Fear's In The Water doesn't need a review. If you ever wanted No Doubt to rock out and go a bit Goth, Vincent Black Shadow are your band. If that doesn't sound like it would appeal to you, there's nothing further to say. The band claim a 'cabaret' sound, by which they mean goodness knows what - occasionally it goes as 'cabaret' as Madonna's Hanky Panky. Mostly it's a rock version of Gwen Stefani's determinedly feisty-female-fronted sound, with Cassandra Ford taking on the mantle. It's all fine, but it's difficult to know if they're attempting a novelty record, or something more serious. It's certainly competent, but it's hard to detect any real spark, anything that would take them towards even the standards of Garbage. There is a horrible sense that Ms Ford is undermatched by the 3 brothers that play behind her - their pub-band backing can sound more than a little karaoke, or even, daresay, Eurovision. The band's name is from a motorcycle in Hunter S Thompson novels - it is tempting to suggest that style over substance is harder to sustain these days.

2.5/5