Morningwood

Morningwood is childish yet rockin'.

Related Content

• Grouplove
  October 20, 2011
• Trampled by Turtles
  December 8, 2011
• Chris Gray Day: A Few Auction Item Photos
  January 12, 2012
• The 11 Best Female Rock Bassists of All Time
  November 4, 2011
• Lita Ford & Five Other '80s Hard-Rock Hotties
  September 16, 2011

More About

• Morningwood
• Joan Jett
• Gil Norton
• Chantal Claret
• Pixies

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Music Newsletter: Keep your thumb on the local music scene with music features, additional online music listings and show picks. We'll also send special ticket offers and music promotions available only to our Music Newsletter subscribers.

Privacy Policy Cancel Continue

Once you get past the sophomoric band name (huh-huh, they said "wood") and the junior high-level double entendres -- e.g., the single "Take Off Your Clothes" references both tits and hits "rocking hard" -- Morningwood is pretty darn irresistible. The NYC group's repeatedly delayed full-length debut whirls in a hormone-charged haze of fizzy new-wave cheerleading chants, punkish dance beats and vocalist Chantal Claret's little-girl-lost coos and snarls. Gil Norton's production touch feels heavy (check the protruding bass lines and super-crunchy guitars à la his famous clients the Pixies on a few tunes), but a better touchstone for Morningwood is Le Tigre -- had that band skipped current events class to go smoke in the bathroom and make out with boys behind the bleachers. "Nth Degree," a multicolor-keyboard explosion destined to pack dance floors, and the punchy Joan Jett-makes-out-with-electro-divas "Jetsetter" particularly shine. Unfortunately the second half of the disc can't maintain this tireless energy, so consider Morningwood the equivalent of a hot 'n' heavy smooching session at a party that doesn't end in a walk of shame the next A.M.