Dallas Frasca

Not For Love or Money

(Spank Betty/Shock)

When she plays live Dallas Frasca’s robust, muscular vocals, chunky riffs and wild stage presence command rapt attention. On her excellent album Not For Love Or Money it is clear that Frasca’s high-energy approach to hard-edged roots rock has translated well from the live environment to the confines of the studio. Which, as it stands, is more than a lot of other acts can boast.

At the ragged end of an energy sapping day, your humble writer slapped this disc into the car stereo and received the sonic equivalent of an adrenalin shot, as Frasca successfully blew the mid-week cobwebs to smithereens. Her vocals are so reassuringly huge and unrestrained that it’s hard to resist singing along.

Highlights of this sterling album include: the tasty lead guitar work on opening salvo Leave Me Alone; the headbang-inducing riffology and sensuous grunts that characterise the incendiary I Like You Better When You’re Straight; the way she holds the notes like an old-school metal guru on Thank You For Making Me Who I Am;<./i> and, the primal, foot-stompin’ rhythm of the swampy Burnt Toast.

If you like your rock molten, monolithic and propelled by passion and authenticity, it’s time to tune into Dallas Frasca.