'Life is Here! Wish You Were Great!' The No-Goodniks CD review

No-Goodniks CD cover

I’ve always wished Josie and the Pussycats were a real band. I've listened to the movie soundtrack countless times, singing along to Kay Hanley's (Letters to Cleo)  power pop vocals, wondering why there aren't more real-life punk bands with frontwomen who can actually sing. 

Sure, there's plenty of punk bands with female vocalists, but I'm talking about chicks who have such a pretty instrument that they could cross-over to pop, but instead choose the less traveled path of punk rock. Dance Hall Crashers and Save Ferris come to mind, but really, those are ska bands. Sacramento's own Luckie Strike fits the bill, but they broke up in 2001, leaving a void in my heart and in the scene that hasn't been filled until now.

Enter The No-Goodniks and their first full length release, Life is Here! Wish You Were Great!

Led by Jessi Rose on vocals, with Tom H. on guitar, Cary Rodda on bass, and Skott on drums, this band looks nothing like the comic book trio, but the sound the foursome creates brings to mind an edgier, grittier, tougher Pussycats with male instead of female background vocals.

"I Don't Care" opens the record with a classic punk rock attitude: "I don't want to go to work/I don't want to have to be another stupid jerk."

The roughly two-minute track is typical of the 10-song album's short and simple approach. With songs centered around relationships, guys and drinking, and written with simple rhyming couplets, you will be singing along by the second listen. Take note: Simple does not mean shallow.  The No-Goodniks are not The Donnas.

On harder songs like "Wasted," Jessi's vocals take on more of a Joan Jett/Brody Armstrong (The Distillers) quality while softer songs like "I'm Sorry" bring out the vulnerable side to both her vocals and lyrics.

"I'm Sorry" has an instrumental beginning powered by chunky bass lines building the anticipation until the vocals proclaim, "Well I'm sorry I believed your lies/And I'm sorry there's no compromise/And I'm sorry but there's no f***ing way you'll ever get me to apologize."

The speedy "I'm Not That Kind of Girl" could be the riot grrrl's dating anthem: “The movies have been done before/And dinner is a f***ing bore/Take me out/We’ll go get drunk/And listen to some f***ing punk!"

“Nothing Special” is a bitter and snarky little ditty: "You quit your job, you lazy slob/You know it's true/Be glad you have your mom and dad to take care of you."

The CD closes with probably the most catchy and melodic tune, "It's Not Alright." Backed by beautiful (dubbed) harmonies and a true pop punk sound, "It's Not Alright" is ready to conquer the radio airwaves and have everyone singing along, "It’s not alright to be left alone again/It’s not alright to leave me stranded."

Don't be left alone again; pick up Life is Here! Wish You Were Great! at The No-Goodniks CD Release show this Friday at Concert in the Park.  The Snobs headline and Phantom Jets and The CockFight Kings also perform. The free, all-ages show begins at 5 p.m. at Cesar Chavez Plaza (10th & J Streets).