Cafeine

This five-piece punk 'n' sleaze band from Montreal rides the line between glam and hard rock with a distinctly French Canadian flair. The leadoff title track tells of the singer's desire to escape the rat race and enter the fantasy life of a porn star. All I have to say is, get on the waiting list like everyone else, pal! "Cigarette," one of the standout tracks, is sung in French and has an almost Cramps-y swagger to it, while "Wow" sports some nifty organ and name-checks Iggy and references the NY Dolls. On "Sometimes," the band slows it down a bit and tackles a pretty straightforward rock ballad. "Hymne a la Mort" is yet another song done in French, and keeps the lipstick and leopard-spot underwear party rocking. All in all, Cafeine is a solid group of players fronted by a charismatic singer with a healthy set of pipes.