CJ Sleez

Back From the Brink

3.5/5

Key Tracks: Blame Me, In the City, The Best It Gets

CJ SLEEZ describes herself as a "Trash Punk Rock Kitten" or "Gutter Doll Punk Rock". She, the tattooed and infamous blonde, along with her band mates: Stacy Stray, Robby Risk, and Chris Nova, rock out the term "Indie Rock" to a whole new level.

This Toronto-based rock ensemble's newest CD, "Back From the Brink" features 6 tracks full of relentless power chord riffs and shamelessly emotional singing. Lyric-wise, CJ SLEEZ has taken generic themes and produced innovatively new meanings with her own personal and "emotionally-enhanced" words.

The first track on this album is "Blame Me", reeking of bitter passion and of course, self-blame. The next track, "In the City" has wonderfully original lyrics worth both reading and listening to. "Dirty Girl" is a song that's up for interpretation, meaning-wise, but has an original funky melody. "The Best it Gets" is the last track; the basic gist of the meaning is "I'm the best you had and you'll never find a girl like me again"; it's definitely meaningful, but the not-so-catchy tune fails to do the song justice.

+Grace
February 10, 2006