My Body - The Pistol

From the beginning of the opening track "Chloe Yurtz," Les Baton Rouge's attack plan is simple: combine Suspiria Franklyn's gritty vocals with a clamoring of raw, punk rock instrumentation to create a swirling effect of alluring pop punk. Guitarist James Jacket, bassist Peter Shamble, and drummer Corrine Dumas (Lars Friedrich replaced Dumas on drums soon after the album's completion) combine with Franklyn's vocal and guitar exercises into a solid and hypnotic trance-like sound. While the album's early tracks showcase obvious punk and Riot grrrl influences, songs like "Burning Desire" and "Easy Pleasure" highlight the band's new wave influences. "Scarlet Whore" finds the band hitting on all cylinders, with Franklyn's eclectic vocals leading the way over an increasingly unpredictable backdrop. "Speaks Through My Body" finishes the disc with a multi-layered attack of stops and starts, pace changes, and abrasive instrumentation. My Body: The Pistol was recorded in the U.S. with musician/producer Tim Kerr in 2002 and 2003. The Portugal natives moved to Berlin, Germany soon after the album's release on New York's Elevator Music Records.