Finding out the Donnas had parted ways with their record label earlier this year was a big disappointment because it led me to wonder when we’d hear from them again. Thankfully, the answer was soon, and they’ve reemerged with a vengance (and one hell of an album to boot!) The girls are the spiritual successors to KISS and 80’s hard rock/hair metal bands. There’s a sense of familiarity listening to album as though it should have been cranking out of the radio years ago. There’s no bother with ballads or romantic love songs of any type, this is party based, hook-up rock and roll, done better than 95% of bands out there. Allison Robertson is perhaps one of my favorite guitarists around today because of her ability to channel 1970’s Ace Frehley solo licks and then take them farther than Ace ever did. (Speaking of Kiss, the title track does a quick quote of the Love Gun riff- so there’s a pretty clear influence there).

Bitchin’ is a high-octane, fun, party inspiring record that will get your head banging and fist pumping- it’s great for putting the pedal down and crusing down the interstate with the top down and the music blaring. These girls are so much more than their pretty faces, though it doesn’t hurt when Bret Anderson sings, “Don’t bother saying please if you want to ravage me” in Like an Animal. Standout tracks include “Save Me”, “Smoke You Out”, and Don’t Wait Up For Me”. If you like straight ahead rock and roll, but this album. You won’t be disappointed.