American musician Marnie Stern’s fourth album, The Chronicles Of Marnia – a title that seems to instantly divide, inducing either smile or curdling cringe – is frenetic and full of bravado from the opening lines of ‘Year Of The Glad‘ right through to heartfelt fade out of “Hell Yes’, the song that concludes the album.
While there is little doubt that Stern is a highly capable guitarist (having made Rolling Stone and former culture magazine Venus Zines “Greatest Guitarist” lists), the album is considerably grittier and tougher than its predecessors, and for listeners unfamiliar with her brand of rock will be surprised at best.
Throughout the guts of the album there’s a momentary longing for subtler moments – as much part of beholding talent as shredding the most challenging transcendental riffs – that are duly provided by five, bonus demo tracks that charge on triumphantly after ‘Hell Yes’ in the Australian release.
It’s noisy and raw, and Stern’s vocals are very much a part of this pleasurable clamour, despite clearly being a secondary talent to her guitar playing.
The lyrics however, are sharp, and tracks like ‘Noonan’, demand answers to profound questions such as, “don’t you wanna be somebody?” while “Proof of Life” initially states bleakly, “I am nothing, I am no-one,” only to fade out with a final, yet determined change of heart, “I am something, I am someone.”
The title track is fun and a little more patient in it’s progression, serving as a brilliant number to divide the album. Its acute end however transitions perfectly into the following track “Still Moving,” a song in both title and sound that insist Stern has not finished with listeners yet.
Overall, she captures elements of the best modern female musicians; guts, intensity, charisma, and there’s flashes of highly praised artists such as Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Emily Haine of Metric, or seeking a more local parallel, Patience Hodgson of The Grates.
And so to “the lady who shreds,” we say shred on, – for this self-proclaimed musical evolution has served her well.
