Babylon Rockets

"A must have for fans of Backyard Babies, Motley Crue, and Hanoi Rocks" states a sticker on the cover of Gemini Five's full-length debut, Babylon Rockets. Unlike Motley Crue, though, Gemini Five doesn't posses the singalong, arena-worthy choruses that Sixx and co. possessed on releases like Too Fast for Love and Shout at the Devil. And comparing Gemini Five to Hanoi Rocks makes no sense whatsoever, beyond that both bands liked eyeliner and lipstick (Hanoi Rocks' recordings were much rawer and punk-based than the sounds here). Interestingly though, there's also an obvious electro-dance vibe throughout most the record, as evidenced by a cover of "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" that sounds akin to Placebo (especially singer Tin Star's Brian Molko-esque vocals). Elsewhere you get a hard-edged power ballad ("Hardcore"), and expected hard rockers (the album opening title track, "Poison Envy," etc.). It's an interesting idea to try and merge high energy, pre-Poison/Warrant glam with modern-day sounds, and unlike the bands they list as "comparisons," the lyrics aren't about girls and partying hearty. Maybe Gemini Five have created a new rock sub-genre -- "Thinking Man's Glam." [This release of the album contains bonus video material.]~ Greg Prato