Give us a bite and we will swallow, at least when it comes to good
music. With so much inane music being churned out like lard, and with
the news of a Paris Hilton attempt at recorded moaning, Shiny Mama could
stand out as a sample of music once was before video killed the radio
star. In their CD "What Comes Around Goes Around", Shiny Mama defiantly
gives us something to chrew.
It doesn’t take much to get
lost in Yana Chupenka’s strong, sometimes sweet and perfect rock
vocals. She may be the new Pat Benetar to independent, although a bit
more reminiscent of the glammed up Ann Margaret in “Tommy”, albeit with
far greater capability to sing a rock song. Yana does have the benefit
of a solid, very skilled set of musicians behind her that is able to
deliver each song with such drive and spitfire.
"Got a Thing" is the best at
showcasing Chupenka's strong vocals and the band's talent, while "Back
in USA" never loses its intensity by delivering a mix of honesty and
sheer sexiness. "Little Angel" and "Long Live Rock and Roll" are
equally powerful and passionate behind the strength of such intense
vocals and hard driving rock rhythms. "Honey Bear" seems a bit lost in
the whole mix, seeming more appropriate for music-lite stuff sung by
someone like Hilary Duff. The band is better when pairing its musical
abilities with equally engaging lyrics. However, this is a minor point
in an otherwise excellent CD by Shiny Mama.
