Girl power, updated

Reviewed March 2008

This digital-only (on iTunes) EP is really more of an old-school 45 RPM single, in that it only contains two songs. It's a sort of warm-up to keep fans going unitl the LA-based Miss Derringer releases its next full-length. It's a fun listen – girl power power pop viewed through a punk filter, sort of a Joan Jett meets Ronnie Spector vibe. The title song is a pumped up little rocker that plays up the contrast between the band's hard-charging style and lead singer Liz McGrath's little-girl singing voice. "Heartbreak and Razors" is a downtempo bit of "my man done up and left me" country or blues lament, with a vintage early '60s rock 'n' roll sheen to the mix.

It's a nice little two-song teaser, and should keep folks looking forward to the new CD this summer.

Review by Jim Trageser. Jim is a writer and editor living in Escondido, Calif., and was a contributor to the "Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD" (1993) and "The Routledge Encyclopedia of the Blues" (2005).