Dragonette devote themselves to everything fabulous on their aptly named debut album,
Galore. The band's ultra-stylish pop borrows from glam, disco, synth pop, and new wave, sounding a bit like
the Scissor Sisters if
Ana Matronic sang lead all the time. They've also been described as
the Killers fronted by
Gwen Stefani, which certainly nails the sound of singles like "Take It Like a Man" and "I Get Around," where
Martina Sorbara purrs mischievous lines like "I say yes when I oughta say no" in front of sassy synths and spike-heeled guitars. While
Dragonette have an undeniable way with melodies (the perfectly poised melancholy of "Another Day" seems instantly familiar but hard to place) and lyrics ("Competition" sums up gossip and cheating with the couplet "Keepin' it hush-hush/Tryin' not to blush-blush"), for much of
Galore the band isn't as distinctive as its influences, and many of the album's songs are so polished and streamlined that there's little chance for
Dragonette's personality to shine through. However, their more adventurous side surfaces on the album's second half: "Jesus Doesn't Love Me" backs up its attitude with punchy guitars and soulful backing vocals, while "Black Limousine"'s world-weary spoken vocals and sparkling keyboards make it a standout. By the time "Marvellous" closes the album with a Bollywood dancefloor workout, it feels like
Dragonette are on their way to getting the bold, ever so slightly weird sound they'll need to really stand out from the pop crowd. ~ Heather Phares