Album Review: The Dollyrots – ‘Because I’m Awesome’

Music Reviews

By Bill James Mar 5, 2007, 13:37 GMT

Finally, music fans, there’s a new album by a new group that carries the kiss-my-ass swagger we’ve not heard in far too long. The new album is ‘Because I’m Awesome’ and the new group are the Dollyrots. The Dollyrots, an L.A. band recently signed to the Blackheart label, are Joan Jett’s latest project in her further attempts to rescue rock from the music business. And The Dollyrots are a project gone wild.

The group consists of Kelly Ogden, or Kelly O, as the lead-singer/bassist; Luis Cabezas on guitar and piano; and Chris Black is the man on percussion keeping this train moving. Kelly and Luis are the heart of the band having been friends since middle school in Florida. The two played in various groups, earning biology degrees along the way. But it wasn’t until the 2000 election, when Florida was in the spotlight and W slunk away with his dubious win that Kelly and Luis decided to sacrifice the microscope for the microphone. The Dollyrots are what all great groups aspire to be, giving a nod to the past, while maintaining a sound all their own.

The Dollyrots are what all great groups aspire to be, giving a nod to the past, while maintaining a sound all their own. So what is it that’s so great about the Dollyrots? Well for one thing, they can rock hard. But before any of you non-punk readers move on to the next review, I encourage you to take a listen to the Dollyrots because while they clearly have punk attitude; they also have some pop sensibilities.

Now I know some of you are thinking that I’m full of crap to even make such a statement. How can a group be punk and pop? Aren’t these forms and ideologies diametrical opposites? Look, I’m not saying that Iggy Pop and Britney Spears had a love child (yeah, the jokes are endless), but for the most part, The Dollyrots have managed to walk that fine line and create a great album. The title track “Because I’m Awesome” is the first single and is so catchy that you’ll find yourself tapping it out all day. With track four the group covers the 1972 Melanie Safka hit, “Brand New Key.” The group does a fantastic job of bringing attitude while still allowing the song’s whimsy to shine through. The track is a rocking riot and is fun. Remember fun, before whiny, bitch rock became vogue?

But “A Desperate S.O.S” is the strongest track of the album. The punk attitude is in full form here as Kelly O screams, “Our President is full of shit.” And that is exactly the sort of in-your-face music that a punk attitude brings and both Americans and Brits need to hear. It’s been too long since a musical group has put a boot to the face of listeners. Maybe the Dollyrots can add a line, “Tony Blair is full of shit.” But the album as a whole is more than can be described in any one track. The Dollyrots are what all great groups aspire to be, giving a nod to the past, while maintaining a sound all their own. The Dollyrots combine fun, rollicking songs, often laced with a political barb and punk attitude to create a unique sound. Check-out their album, I think most listeners will agree that The Dollyrots are awesome. ‘Because I’m Awesome’ is now available for pre-order at Amazon for a March 13th release. Visit the music database for more information.