Music review: Lovebettie – Rise
Once named 鈥淧ittsburgh鈥檚 Hottest Band鈥� by Microsoft Windows, Lovebettie鈥檚 latest release only reinforces the accolades bestowed upon the hard-working local band.
The band鈥檚 new six-song EP 鈥淩ise,鈥� is a stimulating and infectious combination of rock, pop and soul.
Lovebettie鈥檚 exclusive sound can be attributed to the sultry and gutsy vocals of Alexandra Naples. Naples鈥� commanding presence channels the youthful fervor of Hayley Williams of Paramore and the zeal and bravado of early Maria McKee from Lone Justice.
鈥淔ollow鈥� opens the album with a full-throttle pace as Naples engagingly sings, 鈥淐ome and share your breath with me/Kiss me hard and kiss me deep.鈥�
Drummer Larry Shotter frantically belts out a thunderously chaotic beat on drums as guitarist C.T. Fields lays down the hard-driving riffs keeping pace with Dan Mulkeen鈥檚 unifying bass groove.
To oversee the production of the new material, Jim Wirt (Fiona Apple, Incubus, Live, Hoobastank) was brought in to add his extensive and unique musical vision to the band鈥檚 freshly focused songs.
The unflinching muscle of a relationship-gone-sour is flexed on the enthralling and biting 鈥淵our Own Worst Enemy鈥� and 鈥淕one Since Today.鈥� 鈥淣ight is Coming鈥� closes on a dark and haunting note as Naples once again seeks redemption from a contentious relationship portentously singing, 鈥淚 did my best to feed your appetite/But you just chewed me up and spit me out.鈥�
Lovebettie will be performing at Musikfest 2013 with Carly Rae Jepson in eastern Pennsylvania and Summerfest 2013 in Milwaukee, Wis., as direct support to Rick Springfield.