Ann Courtney & The Late Bloomers
Crocodile
Cougar Label

Crocodile is New York based Ann Courtney and the Late Bloomers' first full-length album.

The album opens passionately with "Perfect Medicine". An up-beat and kiss-off rock piece that is an excellent starter for the album to come. Because with one minor exception for the second track, "Don't Be a Fading Bruise", that unfortunately is just plain ordinary, the passionate, brutal lyrics and steamy rhythms lasts through Crocodile.

But even if Crocodile most of all is an energetic journey in the darker corners of indie rock, it also goes into more atmospheric fields. Like on the enthralling "Merteuil", that moves in a lazy, sensual velvet-like rhythm. Or the equally slow, but slightly more tense "Strong Arm" and "Shut Your Mouth".

It is on these slower tunes that the mesmerising abilities of Ann Courtney's strong, feminine and seductive voice really unveils. And no offence to the Late Bloomers - that actually does more than decent playing - but this album IS Ann Courtney. It is her sarcastic lyrics, her voice and her presence that makes this such a remarkably good album.

Copyright © 2009 Aslaug O Klausen