IN REVIEW: The Pretty Reckless - "Going to Hell"

There's nothing wrong with having a good time. Sure, from an artistic standpoint, the best records conjure memories and emotions, or inspire reflection or contemplation. However, sometimes it's best to just turn off your brain, crank it up and just let the music do all the heavy lifting.

Going To Hell is undoubtedly an album better suited to the latter category, and that's okay. Their first full-length in four years comes after nearly a solid year of promotion, and is definitely worth the wait as long as you weren't expecting any grand, transcendent statements. The problem is, it seems to aspire to be more than it is. Religious themes abound in the music and imagery, seemingly pointing toward a theme that Going To Hell simply doesn't have. Aside from that cover and a few half-baked lyrical references, nothing sets this album apart from any other that vaguely mentions the existential.

The lingering feeling I have after the 46 minutes are up is that The Pretty Reckless strike a woeful middle ground here. There's so much about it that's designed to cash in on shock value: the orgasm sample that begins the album, the religious imagery, Taylor Momsen dropping F-bombs, and that cover. But they don't fully commit; even at its raunchiest and heaviest it still feels safe, the kind of shock tactic that won't draw protest from anyone in 2014 aside from stuffy, uptight, super religious parents.

The music also aims for head-turning heaviness but far too often settles for middle ground. For every moment that approaches metal (see the middle section of Sweet Things), there's a gentle ballad (see interlude-length tracks Dear Sister and Burn, as well as closer Waiting For A Friend). Then, there's House On A Hill, a song that takes itself very seriously and tries to seem important, but wraps all its good intent in a late '80s power ballad shell. It tries to raise awareness of relevant issues but succeeds only in raising lighters iPhones.

Again, I stress, there's nothing blatantly wrong with it; if the intent is attention, then consider Going To Hell and its surrounding visuals a job well done. The trouble is, once you take the undisputed looker that is Taylor Momsen out of the equation (that cover), you're left with an average band singing average lyrics over average music. If that's what you're looking for, Going To Hell delivers average in spades.

March 18, 2014 • Razor & Tie

Highlights Follow Me Down • Heaven Knows • Sweet Things