Send "Dollyrots, The " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Popmatters |
 On their third album, A Little Messed Up, the Dollyrots continue their mission as purveyors of peppy pop punk. Possessed of a much fuller sound than their three easy pieces would belie, the band consists of lead singer/bassist Kelly Ogden; Ogden’s childhood pal and fellow founder, guitarist Luis Cabezas; and drummer Chris Black. Their mixture of sweet ‘n’ ballsy brought the Dollyrots to the attention of Blackheart Records’ co-founder and punk godmother, Joan Jett. Jett’s influence on the band is quite evident in their sound although the trio also owes a debt of gratitude to the Ramones and ‘50s girl groups for the unique blend that makes the Dollyrots sound so instantly recognizable and strangely addictive.The Dollyrots’ last album, Because I’m Awesome, brought them media attention with the band’s tongue-in-cheek title track popping up on several television shows and commercials. Their new album doesn’t have as quite an in-your-face humorous quality as their last, yet still retains all of the Dollyrots’ signature sense of fun as they breeze through songs about love, life, and the marshmallow fluff or candy-apple razors sandwiched in between those two broad areas. Several recurring themes pop up throughout A Little Messed Up, burrowing their way into multiple songs on the album. First and foremost among these themes is the giddiness of young love. “My Heart Explodes” is a bouncy love song with a ‘50s girl group feel set to crisp riffs with a dash of cheery synth pop reverberating in the background. Echoing those ‘50s harmonies, the sentimental ballad, “Pour Tous Jours” is a sweet declaration that hints at separation anxiety while “Let’s Be in Love” takes a slightly risqué turn through frenzied makeout territory....full text |
| Hardrockhaven |
| The coolest t-shirt you should be able to purchase soon will read “Kissy Kissy Stabby Stabby!” and that’s all thanks to the song “Big Mouth” from The Dollyrots third studio album, A Little Messed Up. This Hard Rock/Pop Punk trio, who found fame with their uber-catchy hit “Because I’m Awesome,” worked with outside songwriters and producers on this go-round, including Matt Wallace (Replacements, Faith No More), Evan Frankfort (The Distillers, The Bangles), Fred Archambault (Avenged Sevenfold), and Sylvia Massy (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tool). The result is an album that delivers a tad more grit at times, and is both heavier and mellower than anything they’ve created before. It’s also really damn good. “This is not rock and roll, it’s rock control!” sings Kelly Ogden, as the first track opens with the song’s chorus. “Rock Control” is quirky, and chugs with a heavy duty bottom end. Simple, hooky, catchy as all get out and propelled by Ogden’s quasi-innocent vocal style, this is one of the biggest anthems on A Little Messed Up, and it’s only song one. “Some Girls” features what The Dollyrots do best, and that’s write choruses that are etched into your brain, never to be erased. “Some girls will, some girls wanna, some girls might, but some girls are gonna … but I don’t wanna know what your kisses taste like!” Now, it’s not the most macho song you will ever sing along with, but The Dollyrots aren’t Danzig (although they should totally cover a Danzig song next time around). Slowing things down just a bit, the song “Rollercoaster” is Ogden truly singing. Not that she isn’t “singing” truly every other song, but it’s a little more complicated, airy and softer than you are used to hearing from her … and she nails it. While a heavier, straight ahead song is what you expect them to release as a single, this one oozes potential. In an interview with Hardrock Haven, Ogden said the band picked the song “A Little Messed Up” as the title track because it is symbolic of the band’s newfound attitude—namely, yeah, it’s OK to be different, to be considered strange, and to own it. It’s a great title, but not one of the best tracks on the album....full text |
| Readjunk |
| The Dollyrots are gearing up to deliver their third album and second Blackheart Records installment, A Little Messed Up, 13 tracks of gritty, pop-punk delivered in perfect Dollyrots fashion. CD and Vinyl to street on August 17, expect the band to criss-cross the country throughout 2010 (summer dates below). The band, comprised of Kelly Ogden (bass/vocals), Luis Cabezas (guitar) and Chris Black (drums), opted to share its songwriting process with outside writers on a handful of tracks this time around and work with a number of well-known producers and engineers, including Chris Testa (Jimmy Eat World, Dixie Chicks), Matt Wallace (Replacements, Faith No More), Sylvia Massy (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tool), Evan Frankfort (The Distillers, The Bangles) and Fred Archambault (Avenged Sevenfold). Within this process the largely independent trio found themselves treading some fairly new ground, though they ultimately discovered this methodology to be both productive and rewarding. The Dollyrots formed by longtime friends Kelly Ogden and Luis Cabezas have shown no sign of slowing down since 2004 when the band self-released their debuted “Eat My Heart Out” to widespread success which garnered them much attention and went on to be released by Panic Button/Lookout Records. The rise in their profile led to a slot on the Vans Warped Tour, where they hooked up with drummer Chris Black and solidified the final band line-up. The tour proved not only to be a huge stepping stone for the band, but also the chance to connect with one of its VIP artists, Joan Jett. Jett took a liking to the band and signed them to her label Blackheart Records. In 2007 band released the “Because I’m Awesome” album to rave reviews, and the release’s title track was voted “Coolest Song in the World — 2007″ by the listeners of Little Steven’s Underground Garage....full text |
Dollyrots, The lyrics
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