Suffice it to say, I’m a sucker for anything nostalgic. As a self-proclaimed “old soul”, there’s nothing I love more than bell bottoms, throwback seventies jams on vinyl, and anything that can take me back to the magic of decades’ past. That’s why I was so thrilled to discover Chicago girl-group, The Knee-Hi’s, right before the release of their very first LP.
The group describes their sound as blending “the explosive energy of rock and the romanticism of doo-wop to sweep you away to an atomic dreamland”, and, without a doubt, they have succeeded in this premise. The Knee-Hi’s are a blast from the past existing right here in the present. One look at the band, and you’ll swear they walked right out of 1975. Not only is their style and image reminiscent of days gone by, the band has successfully culminated a sound that is all their own, but with prevalent influences of pure rock and doo-wop across the board. Listening to their music, I’m reminded of old-timey, romantic crooners of the fifties and sixties, such as Lesley Gore, The Ronettes, The Supremes, and even The Mamas & The Papas, while at the same time, the essence of pure, punchy, energetic seventies rock n’ roll shines through, making me think of Suzi Quatro, Blondie, and especially, The Runaways.
Charmed, the debut installment from The Knee-Hi’s, was released worldwide on 2/2/22, at exactly 2:22 AM. According to sacred numerology, the number 2 is known as a supremely feminine force, representing both grace and power. It is associated with harmony, balance, partnerships, sensitivity, intuition, and love, all of which are showcased throughout the album. I was very intrigued at the band’s creative choice of release timing, and with my love for numerology and all things mystical, knew this LP would be a fun one to fully immerse and dive into.
So, without further ado, here is my track-by-track review of Charmed…
DARLIN’ DARLIN’
The band’s debut single, and opening track, Darlin’ Darlin’, whisks you away to a romantic dreamland in the clouds. A soft, gentle beginning to the musical journey the listener embarks on for the duration of the album, this song brings all the Valentine’s Day vibes with dreamy harmonies, melancholy lyrics of longing and desire, and mellow, hazy instrumentals. Staged Haze describes the song as “like slipping into a warm bath in a claw-foot tub”, and I couldn’t agree more. Darlin’ Darlin’ is a handwritten love letter, sprayed with rose perfume, a gentle, tender kiss on the lips, a lover twirling you during a romantic dance, a dimly lit candle flickering in a dark bedroom. Darlin’ Darlin’ is what dreams are made of.
MELVIN
“Tell you about who?”
“My baby”
“Your baby?”
“My baby, tell ya ‘bout my baby”
Following the sudden, abrupt ending of the album’s opening track, Melvin thrusts the listener into a jumpy, catchy tune, in which the band describes a lover and sings their praises. With a simple but funky melody, I could easily see myself in a crowd jumping around and chanting the chorus with other enthusiastic fans. It’s hard not to get the infectious melody stuck in your head, and Melvin makes a great, fast-paced follow-up to the soft and gentle opening track of the album.
ACTION!
The band’s second single, and my personal favorite track of the album, Action! opens with the highly relatable lyric “Wake up in the mornin’, ain’t feelin’ so well, I wanna kick and scream, I wanna really yell”. An anthem for all those (like me) who adore weekend nights out on the town and the sublime spectacle that is live music, Action! describes the universal yearning to go out and just have fun, which is so felt during these cabin-fever-ridden, isolated, pandemic days. I definitely hear The Runaways in this track, and I especially love the primal yell heard right before lead guitarist Alice shines with a passionate, energetic solo. Overall, Action! will definitely be on repeat every time I get ready for a night on the town, y’know, to ~set the mood~.
FUN AT THE BEACH
Lighthearted, campy, carefree and expeditious, Fun at the Beach sounds like summer and sunshine in a song. Clocking in at just under two minutes, this track combines the feelings of teenage rebellion, freedom, and the uber-importance of soaking up youth and making memories, with the song ending just as quickly as it began, perhaps a metaphor for how fleeting the summer, and youth in general, can be. In this song, I hear a little Beach Boys, and even hints of Violent Femmes’ “Blister in the Sun” and The Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop”. All of these influences combine to make a very enjoyable interlude tune, one in which I’ll definitely put on next time I go seeking sun and sand.
MAKE YOU MINE
“Listen up boys, here’s a taste of your own medicine”
Oh boy…I am in love with this track. Make You Mine is a tongue-in-cheek tune in which the group reverses “traditional” roles of men relentlessly pursuing women, with brutally honest lyrics about the reality of being followed, harassed, stalked, pursued, by someone who just won’t give up and take no for an answer. Even though the instrumentals sound light and sugary, a close listen to the lyrics will reveal the song is anything but a love letter to men. This particular spoken exchange between the band speaks for itself, further proving the point of the song:
“I heard he got a restraining order.”
“Another one?”
“It was more like a request.”
“You gonna see him again?
“What do you think? Nothing’s gonna get in my way!”
WHAT A WAY TO DIE
“Well baby come on over, come on over to my side, well I may not live past twenty-one but, whoo! What a way to die!”
Live fast, die young, this song says. In a similar instrumental style to Melvin, but with some country influences, What A Way To Die is a brisk, energetic ode to lust, drinking, partying, and good ole fun. This is a tune I could see myself dancing and jumping around to, and enjoying a round of shots with friends, celebrating youth and good times. Cheers!
FIRST 10
I love the harmonies on this track. First 10 is a catchy, fast, tune that unapologetically confesses devotion to a longtime lover. Starting with the line, “It’s been so long since I admired you from afar”, this song is a success story of a love gone right, with the chorus ending with the line, “The first ten years with you could be the best I’ve had”. This song shows the true security and happiness that comes from being in a long-term relationship, and having it work out exactly how you hoped it would.
TEENAGE KICKS
“Are teenage dreams so hard to beat?
Every time they walk down the street
Another babe in the neighborhood
I wish they’re mine, they look so good”
What a delightful surprise! The Knee-Hi’s have taken the 1979 hit by Irish rockers The Undertones and breathed new life into it, energizing and speeding up the song and putting their own spin on the classic, diversifying their album with a fun cover in the midst of all-originals. Dare I say it, I like this version more than the original! Something about it is just infectious. I can definitely see this one hyping up a crowd and getting folks singing along. Kudos to the band for such a fun choice of cover, and an excellent job in covering it.
DAUGHTERS OF FIRE
“Wanted by many, tamed by none
Earth couldn’t hold her, she could kiss the sun”
Remember the numerology lesson we touched on at the start of this review? It comes full circle in this track. Celebrating femininity, women, power, confidence, independence, tenacity, and union, Daughters of Fire is a jumpy, electric feminist anthem - honoring the divine feminine, friendship, and women in general in a most rock n’ roll way. This has easily become another favorite of mine on the album, and has also found its way into my “confident bitch anthems” playlist. The whole band shines extra bright on this track, and they should be very proud of the magical, empowering anthem they have created. I, certainly, will be playing this one anytime I need a boost or a pep talk.
As Beyonce once said, “Who run the world? Girls!”
(FAST) DARLIN’
I’ve gotta say, this is a very creative way to end an album. Circling back to Charmed’s inaugural track, (Fast) Darlin’ is the slow, dreamy, romantic doo-wop song reimagined as a rapid, raw, bass-heavy rock n’ roll banger, complete with loud and proud group vocals, yelling, and punk influences. I absolutely love this choice of a closer. This is the song that plays as the credits roll in The Knee Hi’s feature-length film, tying up all the loose ends and impressing the listener with the band’s ability to show us two sides of one song. I can’t sing this tune’s praises enough. You’ll just have to listen for yourself!
“So won’t you hold me and tell me goodbye, before I lay here, aaaaaaand DIE!”
All in all, I am extremely impressed with this album, and I’m so stoked to see what else The Knee-Hi’s will release in the future. Be sure to check out the band on social media, streaming services, and YouTube, where bassist Devyn Crimson, rockstar and vintage fashionista extraordinaire, runs a channel dedicated to beauty, style, band vlogs, and much more.