The Pretty Reckless

A band fronted by Taylor Momsen? "You've got to be kidding me," I said. Momsen, former child star and Gossip Girl regular, is only 17. I thought this band would resemble Miley Cyrus' attempt at stardom, more of a way for Momsen to have a rebellious stage (albeit much more grandiose than ordinary teens') than a serious music venture. But then I listened to it. "Not bad," I said. And hardcore rockers must share my opinion: The Pretty Reckless played the whole Warped Tour 2010.
The sound is perhaps a little generic, and the lyrics get a little banal in places, but Momsen's got that powerful Joan Jett voice that has come to be a key ingredient for women in rock. It's exhibited to perfection in tracks such as "Factory Girl" and "Since You're Gone", off their just-released debut Light Me Up. In an interview with MTV, Momsen listed some of the band's influences as the Beatles and Oasis. As for personal influences? Kurt Cobain and, you guessed it, Joan Jett. I don't know about Kurt Cobain, but Momsen's definitely got the Courtney Love thing going on - especially with the whole "kinderwhore" look. She's made mothers everywhere cringe with her dominatrix-esque wardrobe choices. Don't believe me? Check out the video for "Make Me Wanna Die", posted above.
Although I think that the band's recent deal with Interscope Records had more to do with Momsen's popularity as an actress than the band's actual talent, and although it may be no more than a way to get back at Cyrus for not landing the Hannah Montana spot, I think this is worth listening to.