I believe! The Catholic Girls still give me chills!
08/07/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was fortunate enough to obtain a copy of MAKE ME BELIEVE at a live Catholic Girls show, and fully intend to send some die-hard fans that I know here to purchase this new release! This introductory album is the perfect transition from The Catholic Girls "then" to The Catholic Girls "now." Remember those heavenly harmonies? Still there! Remember those driving guitars? Still there! Remember Petersen's natural vocal trills? Still there! The punchy backbeat? There! The band's sound is fully captured on this new release, and HALLELUIAH to that! Pop music is on its way back! The new lyrics are contemporary...as Petersen somewhat abandons the schoolish theme and moves on to deeper, more contemplative issues. An amazing segue for The Catholic Girls. "Make Me Believe," the title track, not only applies to the Columbine tragedy...but to the September 11th attacks. It's a song for the world. Petersen still shows her guts right in the opening line of the song, when she questions: "What kind of world is this/ when you go to school/ and they carry guns?"
RIGHT ON!"If No One Fell," the first song on the CD, maintains the same girlish sarcasm that is woven throughout the first Catholic Girls album. Petersen teases: "He says babe romance is dead/it's like a big pick axe in the back of your head." Don't you just love analogies like that? Genius! But what's also amazing...this song closely hints at the Phil Spector/ Brian Wilson 60s pop sound, happy music that should have never gone away!! Check out the castanet parts, the layers of dreamy harmonies that cross over each other. If this one hit the air waves it would be truly addictive and mesmerizing! Can't get enough of this bouncy tune! And then there is "Young Boys," a song the original band performed live many times, now recorded. A Catholic Girls anthem, with a chanting party track about their favorite subject: young boys!!! Cute enough to make any guy blush!
So if there is any hint of the schoolish behavior on this album, this is certainly the track! And my favorite track "Somebody in the USA"...a rockin', drivin', slammin', make-you-get-up-and-scream, plea for fame, fortune, success, money, Grammys, Emmy's and MTV!! "I wanna be rich/I wanna make a lot of money!" If you don't rock out to this and laugh at the same time as Petersen's jab at the overall industry...you probably just don't get it! You've gotta love that Catholic Girl sarcasm!!"Niagra Falls" also makes me dance around the living room. A little touch of country behind a bubbly backbeat! And "It's Fun to be in Love" is a beautifully blended ballad...which also restores the Byrds-ish, 60s kind of sound. GOOD!! IT'S ABOUT TIME SOMEONE HAS!I do confess: The Catholic Girls have made me believe once again!
Their return was well worth the wait!!! If I didn't have to rate this CD a 5, I'd give it a 10! Way to go, CGs!!!"
I'm a Believer! The Catholic Girls Rock!
08/15/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm so in love with this new album by The Catholic Girls. I thought they were great in the eighties but overlooked in some ways and didn't get the attention they deserved. Now they're back and I can't believe my goodluck. I've had the first album and kept it since I saw them on tour and always hoped something new would come out. Now my prayers have been answered (no pun intended) and they have a new release. They still rock and look great! I love the new songs especially Make me Believe. I hope they tour out in Midwest soon so I can see them live again. I think Gail Peterson is great and so are the rest of the girls. Catholic Girls rule!"
