Tracy Bonham  Down Here

our grade B buy the CD! Artist / Band:  Tracy Bonham Record Label:  Island Records Release Date:  April 18, 2000 Our Review: On her debut, classically trained violinist Bonham grabbed hold of our collective throats with the rabid rocker "Mother Mother." She's since wiped the foam from her mouth, but Bonham can still make Alanis seem like a whiny schoolgirl. No longer merely pissed at the Y chromosome, Down Here is her declaration of empowerment--she is woman, hear her roar. And she does, despite occasionally misplaced dissonance and some uncomfortably topsy-turvy melodies. At her best, Bonham specializes in crisp pop with a lyrical chutzpah that would make Chrissie Hynde proud. "Behind Every Woman" is a rock-steady role reversal, while she isn't afraid to call out her own gender's superficiality on "Fake It" and "Meathook." She's one tough cookie--on "Jumping Bean" Bonham announces that she won't be our "Krispy Creme anymore." Fine by us, we can get our empty calories elsewhere. Audio Clips: Jumping Bean (RealAudio) Fake It (RealAudio)