The members of The Type haven't just listened to a lot of albums by Bikini Kill, Sleater-Kinney and X-Ray Spex, they've studied them. Sludgy, distorted guitar riffs, rebel yells and third-wave feminist overtones are all part of their repertoire -- and they work even though the riot grrl movement is more than 15 years old.
While a lot of punk bands that pack a visceral punch at their live shows manage to lose some of their edge in the recording process, The Type isn't one of them, at least not in "Star Explorer." The song sucks the listener in with a dark and catchy melody and sends her (or him) away bruised, exhausted and wanting more.
This bait-and-switch tactic is fueled by moments of whip-smart vocal delivery. Lyrics such as "I wanna do what you wanna do, as long as it's what I wanna do" begin with a sweet-yet-snotty panache, then explode into an anthem of livid shouts that's hard not to bang your head to.
Originally forming in 2004, The Type is centered around the insistent guitar and bass of Jeri Casper and Terri Schanen, respectively, and solidified its current lineup this spring with Tim Spinler on drums and Alyssa Schanen on another guitar. Busy this autumn with a broad slate of live shows, the band plans on recording an album next year.
An MP3 of the track is available in the related downloads at right. More songs by the group can be listened to on its MySpace page. The Type will perform with Hula & the Ooh La Las and Tangy in a Women Rock for the Cure benefit show at The Frequency on Friday, October 10.
MadTracks highlights and provides MP3s of songs performed by local musicians. All tracks here are provided with permission of the artist. If you are a musician based in the Madison metro area and are interested in sharing your work as a MadTrack, please send a message.