Frankie and the Studs - ‘Life’s A Glitch’

Having heard a couple of the songs, I was interested, but my Scottish nature balked when I discovered that the CD was available for £13, but with a hefty £17 postage to the U.K. Call me tight … I prefer canny … and don’t get me wrong, I have occasionally paid that for a different version of an album released on CD from an artist I love and could guarantee would be worth the cost, but £30 felt steep for an album which I knew much less about. So, I miserly and miserably decided not to take the risk and to wait until it was released digitally, so I could download it.

Fast forward three months and Frankie and the Studs’ debut album ‘Life’s A Glitch’ has finally been released more widely.

Based mainly around the vocals and writing of the abundantly talented Frankie Clarke, ‘Life’s A Glitch’ provides a heady mixture of rock, punk, new wave and pop lifting the best elements from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s and still producing something which sounds fresh, urgent, raw, melodic and now. All delivered with attitude … make that attitude+.

Frankie’s vocals are front and centre throughout, and underpinned by heavily guitar-driven songs with both her vocal delivery and the music shape-shifting through styles and influences within and between songs.

Think Debbie Harry (and Blondie), Siouxsie Sioux (and Siouxsie and the Banshees), Chrissie Hynde (and The Pretenders) and Gwen Stefani (and No Doubt) - if you like any (or in my case) all of these singers and acts, you will love this album. Yes, big name comparisons for a new, young singer and act to stand up to, but completely deserved on the basis of this outing.

Stand-out tracks include - the urgent album-opener ‘Hole in My Head’; the slamming ‘Bimini’; the chopping ‘Head Rush’; the dance floor-filling ‘Flash’ (which will have even the most “too cool to dance” rock fan rushing to put their JD down and get their freak on); the massive, driving ‘Monster’; the NY punk of ‘Can’t Stand You’; and the glorious fuzzy guitar and bubblegum punk/pop about one-sided love of ‘Nothing To Do’ complete with rock guitar solo rising above.

Not to mention the heavily rock’n’roll or rockabilly-leaning lead single, ‘Fuck this shit’, which with its chorus of “Fuck this shit, Fuck You, I quit” is simple, effective and so much more than an anthem for Generation Z, and will roll back the years and also resonate with those of Generations Y and X (and anyone who’s had enough of their job); the wonderfully raucous cover of Bananarama’s ‘Venus’ also featuring Green Day’s Billy Joe Armstrong (go on, admit it - you know the words); and the sublime ‘Losing You’.

The production is raw, big and beautiful, befitting the music and songs. The album was produced by Gilby Clarke, former guitarist with Guns’n’Roses, who also swapped his more usual six strings for four and played bass on a number of the songs. Not being the quickest, I didn’t initially make the familial connection as I was so engrossed in the music, but further reading confirms that Frankie is also no less than Gilby’s daughter. Having discovered this fact, I deliberately left this to the end of this review as this album deserves to be judged on its own merits - not the artist’s lineage (no matter however rocking). Having said that, Gilby could well find himself being introduced in future as “Frankie Clarke’s Dad” instead of by his past membership of G’n’R if this album has the impact it deserves.

Very highly recommended. Just buy it, put it on and turn it up to loud. I might even oil the lock on my wallet and order the CD.

‘Life’s A Glitch’ is available on vinyl (12 songs) or CD (14 songs) and can be ordered directly from Dead Beat Records; it is also available on the usual digital and streaming platforms.

GMcA