Review #1: Frightwig - Phone Sexy

Year: 1990
Genre: Noise/Punk Rock
Label: Boner Records (Independent Label)
Tracks: 6
My Rating: 6/8

This is my first review and i'm not 100% sure what i'm doing 'cause i've never really done
reviews like this before, but here it is:


“FRIGHTWIG is American slang used to denote a woman whose appearance is disheveled; she is unruly, perhaps under the influence and she doesn’t give a damn”.

Frightwig was an all-women band from San Francisco, California. They were before bands like
Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, Babes in Toyland, Hole... all of those bands were heavily
influenced by Frightwig and would not nessessarily exist without them.
I didn't really know anything about Frightwig untill hearing them for the first time on
youtube and i though't, they were really cool because they weren't the same type of punk rock like the Ramones or early Black Flag, who played really fast and short songs, nothing wrong with fast and short songs, but to me punk rock is not just that and certainly not about dressing up, not just leather jackets, safetypins, dyed spiky hair... Frightwig was more related to bands like Flipper (from San Francisco also), the Melvins and the Butthole Surfers (who played few shows with Frightwig in the 80's) with their slow, heavy, noisy sound and not giving a fuck about being hip and cool and just do what you want to do, those types of bands have always been more punk to me than any kinds of others. So if your a fan of Flipper, get Frightwig's albums!!
And Frightwig were all women! I have a thing for female fronted punk rock bands for some weird reason.
The album is noisy like should be expected from a band like them, but with a simple, maybe more "acceptable" pop melody which is the thing that makes this album different from Frightwig's previous albums. This is also Frightwig's 3rd and last album to date.

1. Amx'89
The opening bass riff feminds me of a Flipper song. I like the noise soloing in this song.
Theres lots of it.

2. I Want to Live
This has to be the first Frightwig song i ever heard. It didn't amaze me as i expected
them to do to me instantly. Still pretty melodic song, the noisy solos and Rebecca's
vocals are lovely.

3. Public Baths
This song is originally by the Japanese all-women band Shonen knife. The lyrics are cool and
funny "I'm looking forward to eat Ice cream After my bath time". The solo at the end
reminds of the solo in the song "New York" by The Sex Pistols.

4. Just One Look
Starts with really deep, cool riff. The song is a bit slow, but doesn't make it bad.
Wish i knew the lyrics to this song, can't seem to find them anywhere and English is not my
native language so it sucks not always hearing what they are singing about.... I like the
drums too.

5. I Support You
This song actually reminds me a bit like theme song of some 80's sitcom show.
Again, Rebecca's vocals are orgasmic.

6. Frightwig Luvs Ya Baby!
Short, but neat. Starts with the lyrics of the song "I Need You Baby" by Frankie Valli (?)
I'm not so sure about that. The end of the song gets slower and the vocals fade out and then
come back again, then it's been added with random, weird, spacey and acoustic guitar sounds
which changed the song completely, i liked that.

Fun facts: -Though they predated the riot grrl movement, they have a similar approach and were influential to its development. For example, they were known for inviting a male audience member on stage to “dance” during the song “A Man’s Gotta Do What a Man’s Gotta Do” and thereby publicly ridiculing him.
-Some reviewer described them as “Beautiful, noisy chaos” and “loud women with foul mouths, big songs and fat attitudes”

Really enjoyable album. Could have recorded more songs though