The Cherry Dolls, Viva Los Dolls. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Once upon a time, in a land far away from the shores of Britain, was a place in which almost anything seemed possible, it was to many who heard the sound of the siren like adverts, a place of opportunity and sunshine, of a fresh optimism, a definite sense of positivity compared to the grey and the soggy brow beaten of the British Isles.

Australia was fashionable, it had great music, the sense of humour, the passion, it was almost like a ideal match in which everybody wanted to date, everybody wanted more and more, till perhaps arguably the love bottomed out and the next big thing came along fluttering its eyelids and pouting, flexing its muscles and draining a beer with casual affection.

Once upon a time…fashions change but the terrain stays the same, the decent music is still to be heard, invigorating with a contemporary sense of 21st Century outlook to it and all the while retaining what could arguably be thought of as packing a punch but with lyrics that scream glitz and glamour in the waiting. Viva Los Dolls, the cry from the balcony, a flowing chant follows and for The Cherry Dolls, it is a cry from the masses that is exhilarating and rings true to form as they pursue the tightness of their sound after two critically acclaimed E.P. releases with their debut album, Viva Los Dolls.

The quintet, Joshua Aubry, Jakob Kagan, Thomas van der Vliet, Brandon West and Jim Stirton capture a vibe that many this side of the globe might have believed was lost to either indifference or the shunning of the limelight, that the endless advertising campaigns had finally dug beyond the soul of the angry and the passionate. Not in the least it seems, The Cherry Dolls are uncontainable, they ravage wonderfully the sense of entitlement that has crept into the genre and torn it apart with the grip of a crocodile and cheekiness of koala bear after several photo opportunities too many.

In songs such as the opening salvo C.O.P. Out, Bottom of the Wall, Hollywood, Lemon & Lime and Begging You Please, all the vibrancy and cranked up enthusiasm is on show, the joie de vivre is kicking down the door of lethargic intent and taking the modern age to task for its lack of ability to rebel.

A tremendously enjoyable album, one that perhaps joins the past loves offered by the Australian music scene and yet still sees the optimism in a future, Viva Los Dolls, for they have come here to party and kick down doors.

Ian D. Hall