Marnie Stern: This Is It & I Am It & You Are It & So Is That & He Is It & She Is It & It Is It & That Is That
Label: Kill Rock Stars
Stern’s debut album was very guitar-focused and kinda mathy, a daring punk-metal-prog hybrid. This time out, still working with Hella drummer Zach Hill (plus alternating bassists), she’s refined her writing and structures, putting her machine gunnish hammer-on guitar heroics in more substantial frameworks. And her singing’s gotten better, though not much less aggressive, conveying her wryly witty lyrics with punchy power. This is still some wild and crazy stuff, but just enough more accessible (without compromising her sound) to be a great leap forward for her. (Steve)
