Joydrop - Viberate (2001)

Crunchy guitars, sexy female vocals, and an unthreatening but cool- sounding dollop of programming--it's a formula that's been seducing record buyers at least since Garbage's 1995 debut. But there's always room for one more, especially if the songs have the hooks and the singer has the sauce. On Viberate, Joydrop's follow-up to its 1999 debut, Metasexual, vocalist Tara Slone definitely has the brass to pull off the required tough-but-tender vocals, but only some of the songs leave a lasting impression.

The first three tracks in particular--"Thick Skin," "American Dreamgirl," and "Sometimes Wanna Die"--find that perfect combination of driving hard-rock crunch and catchy pop melody. Alas, those are also the first three songs on the disc, and a noticeable drop in quality follows. Still, the band comes up with a few more worthwhile moments, chiefly, the catchy chorus of "Swan Song" and the robotic stomp of "Replaced." And Slone's vocal on the title track drips with saucy sarcasm. A couple of uninteresting ballads and tunes seemingly built around guitar effects ensure the derivative Viberate won't change the world, but the best moments keep it from being consigned to the trash heap.~Shawn Conner