It`s easy to see why Spanking Charlene have caused such a stir.

Sometimes a band needs something to elevate it over and above all of the numerous bands battling to get their music heard. Just something to make people take notice long enough to check out the music. Sometimes it`s a striking image, sometimes a cool album cover or in the case of Spanking Charlene, you just know that name needs further exploration. Having a swanky moniker would mean nothing if the band couldn`t deliver. Fortunately there`s no risk of that here as are building up quite a reputation on the New York club circuit.

Having been discovered by the legendary Little Steven Van Zandt (Springsteen, Demolition 23, The Sopranos) during Sirius Radio`s ‘Best Unsigned Band in America’ contest, he promptly snapped them up and signed them to his own Wicked Cool Records for the release of their second album, ‘Where Are All the Freaks?’Built around the oh so sultry voice of Charlene McPherson and the snotty street Punk guitars of Mo Goldner, Spanking Charlene come across as a collision between The Runaways and the New York Dolls fronted by an ‘X-Offender’ era Debbie Harry. ‘Rev It Up’ with its ‘Radar Love’ swagger and cocksure attitude, is a standout and when Goldner cranks out his solo you`d swear the ghost of Johnny Thunders was in the room. ‘Stupid Me’ and ‘Tie Me Up’ shimmer with a Pop sparkle while ‘My Girl’ and ‘Booze and Pills’ snap and snarl with a Punk fuelled arrogance.

While the first ten tracks are produced by Eric ”Roscoe” Ambel (Joan Jett, Steve Earl) the final two have all the trademarks of industry heavyweights Van Zandt and Bob Clearmountain (Rolling Stones, The Who, Bryan Adams) behind them and raise the bar that touch higher. ‘Dismissed With A Kiss’ tips a nod to the Cult`s ‘L`il Devil’ and with the biggest, catchiest hooks on the album, is destined to be played on the radio across the globe. Arguably saving the best until last, album closer ‘Carnarsie’ combines the perfect blend of Punk and Pop with some wonderful Doo-Wop backing vocals chucked in for good measure ensuring that the album ends on a rampaging high.

It`s easy to see why Spanking Charlene have caused such a stir in their hometown and with ‘Where Are The Freaks?’ they`re poised to make the huge leap out of the clubs onto the world stage and with Van Zandt’s backing and connections you certainly wouldn`t bet against them making it.

Mick Burgess