Lily Sparks “Cooper Cobra”
What do you get when you cross Pat Benatar with Chrissie Hynde, add a bit of Linda Perry and a dash of Lita Ford? You get Lily Sparks with a twist. Women of rock ‘n’ roll take heed. Lily Sparks has come out swinging with their album Cooper Cobra.
It begins with “Stars,” a fantastic song about stars, guitars and muscle cars. I t’s also about feeling fine and free, cruising down the road with some good tunes blasting and the wind in your hair. This is a killer track that simply rocks. Niamh’s vocals are spot on and she sounds extraordinary. The guitar screams, the drums and the bass are right in synch, and “Stars” sounds spectacular. There is an old school feel to this piece that makes me feel cooler just by listening to it.
“Let Go” starts a little slower and I totally dig the guitar riff. Niamh’s vocals are sultry and sexy and she sounds nothing less than perfect. I thought she sounded great while listening to the previous track, but I had no idea the sheer talent she had in those pipes of hers until I started listening to “Let Go.” Voices like that are few and far between. The whole song is seductive from Niamh’s voice to the rhythm of the drums and the bass to the guitar riff. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a more seductive song. I would love to see this performed live. I could just imagine the looks on the faces of every male concert goer in attendance. They would be standing there gaped mouthed and drooling on themselves. That’s the power that this song has. That’s the power of Lily Sparks.
The next track, “Walk Away,” has a catchy groove and rhythm to it, and I am once more impressed with Niamh’s vocals. There is a bittersweet undertone to this piece, and beneath the pure unadulterated rock feel of it, there lies a quiet peaceful sort of pain that tugs at the heart. “Walk Away” gives me a sense of the softer side of Lily Sparks, especially while listening to the lyrics. At the end of this track, I am left remembering good times that have passed but have left me with warm memories.
“Where We Are Today” is definitely a softer tune and I’m glad to hear it. They slow it down a notch and I find myself really focusing on the instrumentation in this one. As usual, Niamh hits it and she sounds amazing, but this track allows me to see what the rest of the band is made of. The sound of this piece it truly phenomenal and each member of the band are in tune with the others, and I’m not just talking about being musically in tune. I get a sense that the members of Lily Sparks are in tune with each other mentally and emotionally as well. This is a great collaboration of talent and it could not possibly sound any better.
The final track, “The Girls,” has a slightly country vibe to it and this catches me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting a country flavor, but I welcome it. It only goes to show that Lily Sparks is diverse and can play several different styles of music, which is always a good thing for any band. “The Girls” is definitely the slowest track on the album and it’s more of a story than it is a song. The lyrics take me to other places in my mind and I am there; in New York City, on Bleecker Street, heading to O’Donnell’s to have a few rounds with the girls. There is excellent imagery in this piece. I feel warm and friendly towards a place that I have never been, and I feel even warmer towards this band that has made me feel a little bit of everything. I went from feeling cool and walking with a strut, to remembering old memories and feeling that old bittersweet pain, to feeling nostalgic for a place that I have never been. When a band can bring forth so many emotions that are so wholly unconnected, that’s when I know I’ve just heard something extraordinary.
Review written by Rhonda Readence
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