Album Reviews

I did not know that Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty had kids! Apparently they do though and they are already old enough to be in a band called The Royalty. This El Paso, Texas outfit draws its influences from sixties girl groups and  garage-y rock n roll alongside whatever else they feel like injecting their songs with. It makes “Lovers” a fun mess to listen to.

On their second album they’re all over the place with Cameron Webb holding the reins… check out that Vampire Weekend-inspired riff in “Please Lie” with Nicole Boudreau’s plaintive vocals draped over it. Or try “Mr Hyde” on for size, a song that could’ve been on The Sounds’ “Dying To Say This To You” whereas “Other Boys” has to be a No Doubt leftover that the band recorded during a Caribbean retreat. There are just so many ideas floating around here that it’s hard to pigeonhole The Royalty and while female-fronted indie pop is technically correct, it definitely doesn’t cover the load. Check ‘em out… there’s a lot to fall in love with!