by Debra Au
Daily Lobo
Australia has its fair share
of celebrities - Russell Crowe,
Hugh Jackman, Heath Ledger,
Mel Gibson - yes, he really is
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from Australia - and, of course,
Crocodile Dundee.
But be sure to add the Veronicas
to that list after you listen to
their album The Secret Life of.
These identical twins - Jess
and Lisa Origlasso - hail from
the land down under in Brisbane,
Australia, and have a powerful
sound that - even though it borders
on the edges of a pop group
- has substance. Each song is
catchy in its own right and is coupled
with the graceful voices of
these two talented 20-year-olds.
While at first glance this all
may seem like a prepackaged pop
group sugarcoated with preteen
lyrics, look again. Even though
they are guilty of using the cheesy
technique of having a number
mean a word - "4Ever" - they
sing of mature relationship issues
such as losing one's identity
in a relationship, who to turn to
when a breakup is over and emotions
are heightened and, naturally,
the euphoria of a budding
and then established coupling.
However, what makes these
Aussies exceptional is that they
are what every other contemporary
female singer isn't. They
are more intellectual than Jessica
Simpson, less dramatic and
punky than Avril Lavigne, less
slutty than Christina Aguilera
and their names aren't "Britney"
or "Spears."
The stand-out tracks on The
Secret Life of are hard to choose
you listen to a song and cringe
because it's so brainless, but you
continue to play it over and over
anyway because it sounds good.
The Veronicas defy this rule because
they have the lyrics and
musical ability to back up their
head-bobbing beats. They play
their instruments and write their
own songs, and are lucky enough
to get to work with the world's
best producers.
If there were more Veronicas
on the music scene today, maybe
pop music wouldn't have such a
bad rap.
Aussies add substance to pop
because each one has the potential
of becoming a hit single.
There are the power ballads
"When it all Falls Apart," "Mouth
Shut," and "Leave Me Alone,"
and the calmer, romantic tracks
of "Speechless" and "I Could Get
Used to This."
Whatever mood you happen to
be in, or whatever your relationship
status may be, the Veronicas
have written a song about it and
chances are you'll like it.
To call the Veronicas' sound
just plain pop music, however, is
to cheapen it. Pop music is when you listen to a song and cringe
because it's so brainless, but you
continue to play it over and over
anyway because it sounds good.
The Veronicas defy this rule because
they have the lyrics and
musical ability to back up their
head-bobbing beats. They play
their instruments and write their
own songs, and are lucky enough
to get to work with the world's
best producers.
If there were more Veronicas
on the music scene today, maybe
pop music wouldn't have such a
bad rap.
