Search - Naked Barbies :: Dancing With Vacuums

Reestablishes thefolk/rock/blues genre in the Bay Area

02/17/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Naked Barbies are a cultural fixure in the Berkeley area for many years now, and this first album of theirs finally allows their rabid fans to enjoy a bit of their energy outside of the nightclub. For those unfamiliar with their music, the melodious layers of folk, rock and blues will seduce you into their audio dreamland throughout this disc. Listen attentively for the lead singers exceptional voice and the roads it can take the listener musically and lyrically. Especially powerful is the work of their drummer, which will remind those of us over 30 of Ringo Starrs younger, more aggressive days with the Beetles. An exceptional album from a rookie band who has since produced two more discs, and promises fans that there are more on the way!"

Change the name or get a clue

09/19/1999

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Does the name 'Naked Barbies' conjure up thoughts of a COUNTRY band? A very competent country-pop band with a talented female vocalist, but not a glimmer of punk attitude, nor any kind of an offbeat, skewed sensibility. In today's mainstream country music arena, songs like "Good One" or "Best of Me" would be perfectly acceptable garden-variety radio fodder. The most unusual thing on this CD is a version of "On the Street Where You Live" that scraps the original melody entirely but still manages to be...inoffensive. Kind of a marketing nightmare, since the Mary-Chapin Carpenter fans who might enjoy this CD won't buy it because it's by a band called Naked Barbies."