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GOING UNDERGROUND
Review of Margot Smith's 'TASTE' album
After decades of being shut out by the rock n' roll boy's club, women have seemingly taken over. Unless you've been in a cave, or are just plain stupid, you know that females have been rocking just as long as their hairier, sweatier counterparts. But it's trendy to toss around such phrases as "women in rock" as if such a distinction is really needed. OK, rant over. Now onto Taste, the latest album by talented Australian singer/songwriter Margot Smith. With a rich voice reminiscent of a smoothed-out Patti Smith, she plows through 14 moody tracks with a little help from Steve Kilbey and Peter Koppes of the Church. Her lyrics are great, veering from vulnerable to caustic, without the overdramatics of Alanis or Jewel. The backing tracks have a light gothic tinge to them, with funeral organ and spindly guitars, so it's a welcome breather when a more aggressive feel kicks in on "Totalled," giving Smith a perfect forum to hiss "Wouldn't it be wonderful if everything would fall into your lap?" Overall, this is a really impressive release, with not one bad track in the bunch. But how is anyone supposed to find it? Put out by a tiny Aussie indie label, Taste probably won't get heard by people who need it the most. Until Smith can score a US distribution deal, your best bet is the net (go to her website for more info). Taste puts most of the current crop of singer-songwriters to shame. (Phantom)
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