I seem to have developed a strange style of mixing my thoughts with the lyrics of the material being reviewed. Therefore I have separated the lyrics from my personal observations with orange italic type. Also thanks to the Internet, all yellow underlined type is linked to more info on the great world wide web or streaming audio song clips and will open it the same browser window. Just click your back button to return to this page.

First let's get something out of the way. It is a known fact that any female singer/songwriter/guitarist is going to get compared to all the other female singer/songwriters/guitarists by critics, but I am not a critic. I don't review albums I don't like and I really like female singer/guitarists. Therefore I have resolved myself to just go with it and hope this review gives the impressions that I get of The Googe. Listen to the clips and I think you'll agree.

The Googe's first album starts out with the full frontal assault of Easy from lead singer/guitarist Denise Gouge confirming the inevitable Veruca Salt comparisons. Can't ya see it's so easy? The next track settles smoothly to Send A Message of angst from the googe herself, don't sacrifice your pain.

The title track Consume Me lays it right out there with "did she say what I think she said?" lyrics, hypnotic guitar licks from Michael Wittmer and gives us the first glimpse of the excellent touches from producer Brian Garcia, watch it swallow me.

I look outside my Window to see the inevitable Melissa Etheridge comparison or maybe just underneath my pillow where The Googe rocks it a little harder, it's up to you my friend. More radio friendly heavy fuzz rock with Truth, it will lead you there. Truth is, this review is getting ridiculous.

Should've Known I would see the inevitable comparisons comin' from a mile away... but these are good things, they reflect the potential of The Googe through the influences of some great female singer/songwriters. Next up is more heavy guitar work for some Peaceful Bliss (Flowers), really great production and some hot drumming from Chuck Payne on this one.

I haven't perused all the lyrics for songs like Down Below and Beacon (insert inevitable comparison to Shirley Manson/Garbage here) but she knows that people tend to give her the looks, and man, can she turn a word. In Mandala we're dancing in the world of inevitable Chrissie Hynde/Pretenders comparisons. I really like this track's dancable groove and guitars.

I swear on my not-a-critic certificate that I never realized how many inevitable comparisons would turn up in this review. It may seem like it has become a running joke, but I'll tell you this, after sitting and listening to this disc again while writing this review, I've come to realize that Denise Googe is a talented and versatile singer, guitarist and songwriter. The bonus track Bound To will tell you why.

~ Mark A. Landrum © 2002 HoustonBands.Net