Bitchin' is bitchin'

I have had a theory about The Donnas since they first burst onto the pop scene with their single "Take it Off" in 2002: These ladies are having way more fun than the rest of us. Also, reviewers who take them too seriously, slamming them for their simplistic lyrics and recycled jock-rock riffs, are missing the point completely. The Donnas have not set out to revolutionize music or promote any serious political point. They're just out to have a good time, and the joke's on us.\nThe Donnas' latest release Bitchin' is a fresh installment of these gritty, dominant babes celebrating rock 'n' roll pleasure and the classic image of the horny rocker chick. Add the positively addictive glam-metal guitar and you have an embarrassingly appealing opportunity for the listener to indulge her (or his) most hedonistic urges. \nBitchin', as is always the case with The Donnas' albums, focuses on sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll and the frustration that arises when those addictions are not met. Their outrageously sexualized, unapologetic party-girl anthems are designed for fun, and they, whether or not it's what they intend, continue to challenge the gender roles traditionally exhibited by ultra-masculine glam rock. They want unemotional, dirty, anonymous sex, they want it now and they feel no shame about it. They also demand drugs, alcohol and dance beats. Don't complicate things with drama or strings; just give them what they want.\nWhile The Donnas' general themes and styles have remained constant, Bitchin' exhibits a level of guitar proficiency not met in their previous albums. The screaming, quick-fingered riffs of Allison Robertson are a testament to the true talent behind this caricature of a band. Robertson's wailing homage to '80s glam rock is the icing on the raunchy cake that is this album.\nDirty, gritty and unapologetically sexy, Bitchin' fulfills the musical necessity for aural guilty pleasures. It's not an intellectual challenge or a revolution in music, but it just might be the most fun you've had in a long time.