By Amy Wan
Lately, there has been a decided lack of female-fronted acts that can strike a balance between the outright rawk of bands like Kittie and the cloying ubiquitousness of the thousands of Britney wannabes. Thankfully, the Reputation - a blistering four-piece fronted by former Sarge vocalist Elizabeth Elmore - proves that, current trends aside, there are still a few women not afraid to put some brains back into rock. The Reputation’s self-titled debut is, first and foremost, a showcase for Elmore’s powerfully biting lyrics and her passionate voice, dancing deftly between little-girl sweet and outright roar on tracks like the disarmingly brutal "Misery By Design." On the album’s nitrous-fueled opener, "Either Coast," Elmore holds her own as ferociously ringing guitars frame what might already be the road-trip song of summer 2002. This band can slow it down though, and tracks like "This Town," or a pretty-as-nails paean to an unraveling relationship, fittingly entitled "The Uselessness of Friends," showcase a refreshing versatility that should the Reputation’s rep on just one listen.
RIYL: Velocity Girl, Sleater-Kinney, Promise Ring