Turn 21

Girl groups aren't something new in music. In fact they've been around since Rock 'n Roll started. But somewhere during the Punk movement, girl groups like The Runaways started to get attention and by the Glam Metal heydays there were a number of them. Somewhere though in the mid 90's a Punk/Rock/Pop girl group came out of Palo Alto CA and channeled the likes of bands like The Runaways, The Ramones and AC/DC. That band was The Donnas.

The Donnas started out life as friends in school who formed a band. Honing their Punk/Rock sound through High School, the band signed to the Indie Punk label Lookout! Records in the mid 90's. If the label sound familiar it's the same label that once had Green Day on their roster. The band released a handful of records on Lookout! through the 90's. the style was fun upbeat and tongue in cheek. The last album on Lookout! was 'The Donnas Turn 21'. A solid album that brought the girls into the mainstream. The album released in '01 was their final indie album before signing with Atlantic Records. The album marks the transition from their Pop Punk sound to a more Hard Rock sound. The album lyrically of course remains the same. Chasing boys, partying and the likes. The hidden gem here, a cover of the Judas Priest classic "Living After Midnight".

While the band is on hiatus currently. Having released a few more albums and being featured in both Guitar Hero and Rock Band, the band remains one of the most popular female bands to date. The band for me has always been somewhat of a guilty pleasure for me. But the band can play though. For me The Donnas, where the Gen X female version of The Ramones. Songs about boys, partying and drugs may sound gimmicky and old, but when the talent is there to back it up, it seems to work. So rock out with some chicks and enjoy some good ol girl group goodness.

Preview

Download