Australian punk rocker Brody Dalle has undergone many transformations during her music career, beginning with The Distillers and Spinnerette. Dalle’s latest reincarnation as a solo artist brings out a new intimacy and courageous delicacy to her sound.
Her recent album, Diploid Love, proves that her scratchy, smoky voice has not changed. She now has a stronger, more mature sound with a greater emotional range, as well as fully developed songs.
The first track, “Rat Race,” starts the album with a fist-pumping anthem. Dalle shouts defiantly, “I’m gonna burn this town to the ground,” as a chorus of trumpets rip up and down.
The album slows down in the middle with “Carry On.” Dalle demonstrates she is still a powerhouse belter by commanding listeners’ attention without overwhelming them. She is comfortable letting a more gentle side show through—something difficult to find on past albums.
Dalle has never been afraid to push boundaries, and this is evident on the quirky “I Don’t Need Your Love.” A sudden break in the middle replaces her foreboding crooning with a giggling baby and violin plucks. This surprise certainly makes the track more memorable—but it’s hard to determine if that’s a good or bad thing.
“Parties For Prostitutes” wraps up the album with slick, futuristic guitar riffs as Dalle’s husky voice soothes over the top of the urgent rhythm section. It builds to a dramatic climax, but instead of ending the album on a high note, the track slows back down and fades out, providing an anticlimactic conclusion.
Rating: B
