Barbe-Q-Barbies - All Over You (Southworld)

I know it’s bad, but in 2012 I’m still slightly dubious about all-girl bands. I don’t know why. That’s just how it is. I’m doubly dubious of bands publicly testimonialised by Bam Margera, but, in it’s defence, this second album by the female Finnish five-piece does come out on the Southworld label. My last brush with them was last year’s excellent Warfare compilation so they must know their rock n’roll onions, right?

And so to the album. As it goes, it ain’t half bad. Not earth shattering, but nowhere near as bad as I was expecting. Most of the songs come equipped with a warmed-through AC/DC influence, but if that’s what the girls like then who am I to complain? At least they ain’t overreaching themselves and embarrassing us all. They also cover Wig Wam Bam by glam titans the Sweet, so they clearly know their history, and at this point the plusses are outweighing the negatives by some way. They don’t have enough truly killer songs to compete with, say, the Donnas at this point, but, with the likes of Twisted Little Sister, Aggression and Don’t Look at Me they’ve got enough in the arsenal to suggest they might be worth persevering with. Vocalist Niki has a frankly great voice for this type of stuff, embellishing even the poorer material with a pleasingly gritty (though not rough) vocal that’s a real pleasure to listen to.

So, whatever cynical old gits like me say, the cards look to be falling pretty nicely for BBQB… I remain to be fully convinced, but I’m already looking forward to the next album to see if these gilrs can prove me totally wrong.