ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Gina Villalobos
Rock ‘N’ Roll Pony
Laughing Outlaw Records LORCD 89

Lady with balls.

[rootsrock] Don’t let the melancholy opening notes of the steel guitar fool you: indeed, there is a whiff of roots in this revelation of 2004, but the main element is unmistakenly rock! Last year Kathleen Edwards stormed the global stage with her smashing debut Failer. Gina Villalobos must have thought: “What she can do, I can do as well!”. She may best be characterised as Lucinda Williams’ little sister: not as mature, not as battered and hurt, but blessed with a gigantic dose of panache and confidence. Being called the female equivalent of Ryan Adams is, without any doubt, a fully deserved epitheton. This successor to 2002’s Beg For Me is as rock solid an album as ever they come. There’s a tight four-piece backing band that is pulling at the reins to go full blast, there are powerful songs brimful of hooks, delivered with a voice that redefines the term energetic, although sensual at the same time. This talented lady wrote most of the songs herself and added to them a surprise cover: World Party’s Karl Wallinger contributed the intriguing Put The Message In The Box. This album comes straight from the heart of a true artiste; do allow her to steal your heart as well. Gina will be in Europe later this spring: don’t miss her!
***.5
Bert van Kessel