Critic's Review
Jeremy Salmon, All Music Guide
Recorded a few years after their debut, Kitty Glitter, Frustrated finds Catfight narrowing their sound a bit. While their first album had tracks ranging from garage punk to '60s girl group, this record focuses more on a Ramones-influenced fury. This is especially evident in the opening scorcher of a title track. The band's ability to spin out a catchy melody has improved, resulting in "Hypocrite" and "Clover Girl," a paean to a friend with special powers. As with the first album, several of the songs deal with tumultuous relationships, either good ("He's Bad") or ruined by another ("Back Stabbing Bitch from Hell") or death ("Still Alive"). The cover included on this album is a classic love track by the Damned, "New Rose."
The problem with focusing the band's sound is that the songs get a little repetitive after a while, and there are one or two clunkers in the bunch. Also, the production is a bit more straightforward, which results in the vocals being a bit more plain and unchanging. Even though the singing still alternates between Jennifer Kraft and Katy Graves, it tends to bit too much after a while. But, the overall feeling of the album is still one of vivacious fun, as if these girls would be a great bunch to hang out with, maybe go to a strip club, perhaps. A fine follow-up for the band. Drummer Ann Ciovacco left the band not too long after it was released and was replaced with Suzanne Gibboney.
The problem with focusing the band's sound is that the songs get a little repetitive after a while, and there are one or two clunkers in the bunch. Also, the production is a bit more straightforward, which results in the vocals being a bit more plain and unchanging. Even though the singing still alternates between Jennifer Kraft and Katy Graves, it tends to bit too much after a while. But, the overall feeling of the album is still one of vivacious fun, as if these girls would be a great bunch to hang out with, maybe go to a strip club, perhaps. A fine follow-up for the band. Drummer Ann Ciovacco left the band not too long after it was released and was replaced with Suzanne Gibboney.
