Alpha Cat is an alt-rock Americana songstress who lives up to her name with the nonchalant confidence that oozes from her singing in her newest album, Venus Smile ….retrograde.
The vocals’ gentle nonchalance, accentuated by a reverb-like, dragged out effect, infuses a distinctive stoner rock feel into the album, and together with the simple, catchy, melodic riffs and thoughtful lyrics makes for a very ’90s alternative rock recipe.
Besides her obvious talent, Alpha Cat has another reason to sound confident, or actually a few – Venus Smile ….retrograde boasts performances by guitarist Doug Pettibone (Lucinda Williams, John Mayer,) bassist Reggie McBride (Stevie Wonder, Parliament Funkadelic, Elton John), and cellist Jane Scarpantoni (REM, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs).
Venus Smile ….retrograde is precisely what new albums with an old feel should sound like – new and old at the same time, rather than a mere rehash of a time that is a musical nostalgia goldmine. With tributes like that, the ’90s will never really get old.
