Jump to content

Rakel Traxx - Bitches Palace (2011)


Geoff

Recommended Posts

RakelTraxx-BitchesPalace.jpg

 

So has anyone picked this one up from Demon Doll? Sadly, it's only a CDR (which I just can't for the life of me understand! How they designate what gets a silver pressing and what doesn't amazes me. Surely an up and coming current band warrants a silver pressing more than, for example, a collection of old tracks from a long-defunct band from the 80's? I don't get it. Anyway...), but it's an interesting disc.

 

I'm no stranger to rattling off the things that don't do it for me with regard to particular discs, and sometimes it's because I don't like the CD (eg. Journey's new one) but sometimes I can be just as harsh to CDs I do actually like, like this one. So don't get me wrong, I did enjoy this CD. But...

 

Let me start with the good ; it is self-produced and this thing sounds EXCELLENT. Honestly, one of the best self-produced CDs I think I've heard... because it sounds as good as anything that will be released in the genre this year. So well done to the guys on that. Musically, the band is very competent too. Well played and tight.

 

Now, the negatives ; the vocals / lyrics / accent. Intelligently, they have put the lead vocals pretty low in the mix, because there is an accent issue. He has a good glam/sleaze kind of voice, but I am hard pressed to actually understand more than a few lines per song. I think what would really have helped this package would be to include the lyrics in the booklet, so nerds like me can get a better gauge of what is actually going on. I find it impossible to truly connect with a CD I can't understand. The lyrics I can make out every now and then don't seem to make much sense either. So that's a bit unfortunate.

 

The choruses don't stand out much either. There's not much in terms of background vocals or well constructed hooks and several choruses just kind of pass without recognition.

 

The tempo. The one and only track that really stood out for me was the ballad, 'Try again.' I do honestly think it's the best song on the CD regardless - it is a very good tune - but it was also the only song that really broke the constant similarity of this CD. Every song is an uptempo rocker and after a while it gets hard to tell the difference between each song. I like the tempo, but the variety is just not there at all.

 

And that's about it. I hope the guys continue and come back like Blackrain did with their 2nd CD. It seems like the language barrier may be a real concern for these French bands (though Frenchkiss are fine) but I feel as though this vocalist can get the tunes across better than this. It is a good solid glam/sleaze CD (despite what bothers me about it) and I really want them to stick around.

 

So where's Jeff and Lindsay at?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yep, this one has is currently #7 in my 2011 list (see signature below)...was #6 until that Victory came along. The rest of 2011 release will determine where this ends up.

 

I totally see where you are coming from on all your points but I have a different take on some of them too....as usual it is all opinion and what you like.

 

For example I agree straight out that the vocals are toned down, EVERY cd should have lyrics included, it is really difficult to understand most of the lyrics, he does have a good sleaze voice and yeah the CDR thing is not so cool.

 

On the other hand I like that accent he has and would have liked to see the vocals turned up a bit. While there isn't a few really standout chart topper tracks on this one, I think you hit it when you said it is a "good solid sleaze CD".

 

If they can stick around I would look forward to some of the improvements you would like to see, polish things up a bit, make some money so they can include the lyrics, etc.

 

This is not the type of CD most people would want to buy blindly...I think really testing out any samples you can find is a must.

 

Hard for me to pick "the best" song off here...I suppose Prostitutes Night and Fuck You would be my choices.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is this actually pressed on the demondoll label?

I think they have a different european distributor, so wonder if it the same actuall pressing, or there is a us demon doll pressing, and a euro pressing.

 

might have to find out if the shotgun generation records one is cdr.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is this actually pressed on the demondoll label?

I think they have a different european distributor, so wonder if it the same actuall pressing, or there is a us demon doll pressing, and a euro pressing.

 

might have to find out if the shotgun generation records one is cdr.

 

yeah i think it's weird Demondoll is pressing a CDR for this one

 

and they maybe have another distributor, like my Debbie Ray disc, actually it's not Demondoll pressing, it's Coreshot records, seems like an indie label, way before they're signed with Demondoll

 

back on topic, heard this album around 3 weeks ago, good album but not ultimately special I must say, but interested to explore more :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mine says 2011 Demon Doll records and it is a green CDR.

Come to think of it I feel like sending them sort of a bitch email about the CDR...sort of annoys me now. Thanks Geoff. :quagmire:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've mentioned this band on here a few times, as I love the songs. Like you guys, I got the CD® from DemonDoll, but apparently there is a silver CD version available from here:

 

Shotgun Generation

 

I only found out about this site after I'd bought the CDR.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've mentioned this band on here a few times, as I love the songs. Like you guys, I got the CD® from DemonDoll, but apparently there is a silver CD version available from here:

 

Shotgun Generation

 

I only found out about this site after I'd bought the CDR.

 

looks like it's a nasty shop there James

thanks for the heads up, just found out that shop today :party421:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

got a reply back from shotgun generation and apparently theirs is silver pressed...

 

I wonder if any of their other CDs are worth getting? I love Rakel Traxx and Blackrain, maybe there are similar bands on there...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i have Love Sikk Junkiez, High School MotherFuckers & Nasty Kixx from their site. Haven't listened to them for a while, but from memory LSJ adn HSMF were both pretty good. Nasty Kixx not quite my sytle. Was a bit more commerical / bluesy rock than sleaze glam from memory.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't get the band name at all. Is "Rakel Traxx" some kind of pun that I'm missing?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The shipping rates seem very reasonable from that Shotgun Generation site. If the other albums were good (there's no samples there, amirite?) it'd be work picking up 5 at a time. Sadly, though, after already spending good coin on my Rakel Traxx CDR I can't really justify spending it all over again for a silver pressed copy. :( As much as I'd like it.

 

Honestly, Keef, I cannot even begin to fathom what the name means. Crazy Frenchmen.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

I don't get the band name at all. Is "Rakel Traxx" some kind of pun that I'm missing?

 

I answered this same question you asked before in another thread. :popcorn:

 

http://heavyharmonies.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=29210&st=0&p=645815entry645815

 

Here's the definition of both. I guess their names means "Reckless Train"?

 

Ra´kel (rä´kĕl)

 

1. Hasty; reckless; rash.

 

Traxx

 

1. German locomotive

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • 2024 HH Donation Drive

    Please support Heavy Harmonies! The donations goal is the out-of-pocket expenses to run the main site and this board for calendar year 2024.



    26% of donation goal reached.
    Donate Sidebar by DevFuse
  • Posts

    • If you go to the "edit song details" menu, you can edit the displayed lyrics ( handy to get rid of ugly brackets and prompts ), change the song title and change the thumbnail image.  You'd be able to do that to your tracks as well I think. Create a playlist for each of your albums and use your album covers as the images for your playlists.  They present pretty well on suno. The below link is for my playlist.    As for the vocals, I don't mind having female vocals on some of my tracks. As you mentioned earlier, I have absolutely no musical expertise whatsoever when it comes to instruments and I cannot sing for shit. I sort of think that it's like someone writing a song and then giving it to an Artist, Male or female, to interpret it musically. Think Desmond Child writing for Bon Jovi and also Joan Jett, or great songs by Jeff Paris being recorded by Vixen. Am I comparing myself to Desmond Child and Jeff Paris when it comes to songwriting talent? Hmmm... yes,  I think so.       https://suno.com/playlist/1581a017-9d55-4b0f-8ea8-555aa5b11d00
    • Good safe and well with the footage I've seen on news here in Australia it must be scary.
    • I can tell you that at the very least, there are people from FEMA working with some of the local businesses (my employer included) as far as looking at what aid is available to them. On the flip side, I've heard that one of the FEMA directors "got an attitude" with a few folks in the Asheville area and got popped in the mouth. I can't confirm that, just a story that's making the rounds. 
    • Glad you and yours are ok Mike. There's been a lot of buzz on social media about the LACK of response from FEMA and the current admin. Have you seen or heard anything on the ground one way or the other?
    • Not sure if anyone has noticed my absence over the last 10 days, but I've only been able to sign in a few times from work over the course of that period. As some of you may know, on Friday, September 27th, Hurricane Helene slammed into western North Carolina and absolutely devastated this area, leveling entire towns in its path. In my 52 years on this planet, I've never seen destruction like this with my own eyes.  While my home and property were spared any major problems, our road looked like a damn warzone with all the trees and powerlines down. We were literally trapped like rats in a maze for several days, as even though some good samaritans were able to cut their way through the downed trees so we could leave the neighborhood, all roads leading out of this area were closed off, either due to trees and lines down, or due to flooding.   I was out of work for six days, as my employer had no power. We had no power here at the house for 9 days, with it being restored late yesterday evening. We lost several hundred dollars worth of food that thawed out from our fridge and freezers. No hot water after day one, no cell signal for several days, no stores or restaurants open for several days... If it sounds like I'm complaining, I assure you, I am not. I am grateful. My family and friends are blessed, as we're all pretty much back up and running now. While there was some severe flooding here in Morganton just around two miles from my house, overall, it was MILD around here. Once you drive a mere 20 miles up the road to a little town called Old Fort in McDowell County, and everything west from there, it is exponentially worse. Huge chunks of Asheville under water, Chimney Rock literally wiped off the map, Spruce Pine damn near wiped away, small towns with no communication to the outside world with people struggling. It is BAD here in Western NC, and it's going to take a LONG time for things to get back to some semblance of normal for ALOT of people.  I just felt the need to post and let anyone who might have noticed I was MIA that I am fine, but that alot of good people are not. Please keep western North Carolina in your thoughts and prayers, and if that's not your thing, drink one for all of us tonight. Here are a few links that I've shared over the last week on FB that show the devastation around here... https://fb.watch/v331QebVRJ/ https://www.facebook.com/100067755911039/videos/1069274148086583/ https://www.facebook.com/share/p/ER9b6tv8oj84QuWb/ https://www.facebook.com/share/p/9MpnKZUAx4m5oy3y/ All these aerial shots are from around 1-2 miles from my house: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/vux5WpAqeMDcNMhS/ https://fb.watch/v33x13dnTf/ https://www.facebook.com/share/p/V6RPz7HiiMhrBsfn/ https://www.facebook.com/share/p/vvEuMCm7We6fitZ9/ https://www.facebook.com/share/v/jE1utxkfNLeKEM9S/ Park Rangers in Chimney Rock managed to get the flag raised up again...  
    • I've got a solid top 3 at this point.  At least for me, these 3 are heads and shoulders above everything else: 1.  Kissin' Dynamite 2.  Eclipse 3.  Maverick After that, it's really a hodgepodge of stuff.  New Roses, Daughtry (Only an EP but digging it), Collateral, Sebastian Bach, Judas Priest, Nestor, End Machine.  I'd probably put them in about that order at the moment.  
    • So I was just looking at the new releases I bought from this year, and while there are some new additions to expand from the top 5 I posted earlier this year, to a top 10, all the stuff in my original list are still in the top 10 (although obvs with three months to go, the ones near the bottom could be usurped). Anyway as of now, this is where I am at: 1.       Judas Priest 2.       The Warning 3.       Nek! 4.       Rolling Quartz 5.       Band Maid 6.       April Art 7.       Lipz 8.       Sebastian Bach 9.       Mick Mars 10.   Durbin
    • I to used see them a few times at the Middle as well. With local chapter of the Hells Angels at front bar. Not much a Screaming Jets fan, so I didn't watch them with Gleeson' The guy in front now, was their recent drummer before they put out in front Those first five albums are classics
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.