Civet was, at first, an all-female American punk rock band from Long Beach, CA, with core members Ms. Liza Graves (guitar, vocals) and Suzi Homewrecker (guitar, backing vocals). Now, apparently, Civet is Liza, Suzi, and two dudes. They describe themselves as “femme fatale punk rock.”
Civet’s music has been compared to the music of The Distillers and Bikini Kill. I definitely hear The Distillers in Civet’s music, but Brody Dalle has a much stronger voice and crafts better melodies. But, Liza has a great voice, too, and Civet has just enough melody, crafting more with each release. And, even though Civet isn’t a riot grrrl band, the Bikini Kill tag, sound-wise, is fitting, too. Liza and Suzi have said that “their biggest influence and inspiration comes from The Runaways.” OK, inspiration, maybe, but, Civet’s sound isn’t much like Joan Jett’s influential all-girl band. Civet, however, has toured with So-Cal punk rockers Social Distortion (as well as Dropkick Murphys and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones), and bands are asked to tour with other bands for a reason. In this case, Civet does, in fact, sound a lot like a female-fronted version of Social D.
Hell Hath No Fury, released in 2008, is actually Civet‘s third album, the first with indie label Hellcat Records, and the first, by this band, that matters (to me). This release is just dripping with snotty girl punk. Tracks like “Alibis”, “Son of a Bitch”, “Brooklyn”, “Take Me Away”, “You Don’t Know Me”, and the title track get all up in your face and demand your attention. But, be sure, at least, to listen to “All I Want”. If you don’t think that song sounds like Social Distortion, then I can only assume that you’ve never heard Social Distortion. This album had to grow on me, but, now that it has, I return to it often. Watch the beach party inspired video for the single “Son of a Bitch” here:
Civet’s most recent album, Love & War (2011), their fourth, is even better than Hell Hath No Fury, and sets the bar high for the next release. But, I have high hopes. This album is anchored by three killer tracks: “L.A. Nights”, “Love & War”, and “Come On (I Wanna Be Your Girl)”. Both “L.A. Nights” and “Love & War” drive home the Social D comparison, especially “Love & War”.




2000 – Beauty Kills [EP]
2001 – Grace Land [Album]
2003 – Civet [Album]
2005 – Massacre [Album]
2008 – Hell Hath No Fury (Hellcat Records) [Album]
2011 – Love & War (Hellcat Records) [Album]
Reblogged this on Dee's Rock Nation.
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