Visqueen Albums (2)
'Sunset on Dateland'
Release Date 9/21/2004
Tracks 9
Label Blue Disguise
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Mixing three parts punk attitude, two parts pop hookiness, and one part '70s rock swagger, Visqueen pick up where they left off with their fine debut album on the sophomore effort, 2004's Sunset on Dateland. Singer, guitarist, and songwriter Rachel Flotard is once again the star of the show here, though drummer Ben Hooker and bassist Kim Warnack are, if anything, a stronger rhythm section this time out, giving the songs a solid framework and pushing them forward with power and smarts. But Flotard is out front in this band for a good reason -- she's got the goods, singing like the highly attitudinal kid sister of Kristin Hersh, playing guitar with plenty of crunch and melodic force, and writing tunes that don't sacrifice intelligence for attitude. In short, Sunset on Dateland rocks on out, and does it without compromising or condescending; at it's best, it's the album you've always wished the Muffs would make, or Courtney Love could make. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
King Me is an auspicious introduction to Visqueen, a Seattle trio consisting of Rachel Flotard, Ben Hooker, and Kim Warnick. The band actually recorded two versions of the album, both with Barrett Jones (Nirvana, the Foo Fighters). In the tradition of Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks, the Modern Lovers' self-titled debut, and Lucinda Williams' Sweet Old World, they scrapped the first and started all over again. Somewhere along the way, they had smoothed over the rough edges, and the results sounded nothing like their live shows. So they went back to the studio and banged out these ten catchy blasts of energetic punk-pop in three and a half hours. A few small tweaks here and there and a short (27 minutes) yet potent debut was born. King Me blends British punk, new wave, power pop, and glam rock into a tasty concoction that brings to mind a cross between X-Ray Spex and Cheap Trick, with a little mod-era Who on the side (the "so sad" chorus of "Lovely Guilty" brings to mind "So Sad About Us," and Hooker is even pictured wearing a Tommy T-shirt in the CD booklet). Each member contributes more than a fair share to King Me's success -- Hooker on drums, Warnick on bass, and Flotard on guitar -- but the latter's strong, clear vocals are the band's secret weapon, a seductive cross between Robin Zander, Robert Pollard, and Kim Deal. ~ Kathleen C. Fennessy, All Music Guide
