Rock CriDick - Baby Darling Doll Face Honey by Band of Skulls

Band of Skulls is an English blues rock band who, for the last week, has been compared exclusively to the White Stripes.

And with good reason. I mean, they play blues rock, right? And plus, their lead singer has a gruff, albeit whiny quality to his vocal demeanor. And... And... They play the blues!

Unfortunately, this is where the resemblance begins to end.

The reason for this is because Band of Skulls seem to share similarities with several bands, including Kings of Leon, early Radiohead, new-comers like Rose Hill Drive, and of course, the daddies themselves, Led Zeppelin. So, to compare them strictly to the White Stripes (as so many have done), is tempting, if you're tantalized by folly.

Perhaps what separates Band of Skulls from the White Stripes the most (aside from tracks 4-12), is that the female member of the band actually has talent. Emma Richardson not only plays a solid bass and seduces with her smokeshow vocals (and song-writer), but she is also responsible for the art work seen above. And while guitarist Marsden admirably handles the roll of howling frontman, it is not until Richardson and Marsden decide to isolate their voices, rather than dueling with one another, when the band shows their true colors. Whether it is through trading verses or by disappearing for entire songs, this separation allows the band to duck through easy categorizations which the first 3 tracks seem to confine them.

For even though stylish rockers such as "I Know What I Am" and "Hollywood Bowl" demonstrate the band's knack for fun, pulsating jaunts, Band of Skulls show their range and depth on the moodier, more laid back tracks such as "Honest" and "Cold Fame". But it is this very ability to balance out the raucous with the reserved that allows them to thrive and avoid lazy write-offs (see White Stripes references above).

As many observers have noted, including this one, Band of Skulls clearly wear their influences on their sleeve. At times it feels as if you may be listening to a mix tape; fluctuating in character, yet sonically connected. However, it is important to avoid typecasting them based on this perception. For any debut album often reeks of it's predecessors, and there is no exception to be made here. But, Band of Skulls probably wouldn't mind that you noticed. After all, if they continue to make enjoyable albums such as Baby Darling Doll Face Honey, and continue to have this much fun doing it, then they will continue to squirm and shake their way toward respect, no matter how much we try to pin them down.