The Bellyachers are that rare band that can transform country twang into timeless cosmic pop (imagine, if you dare, Loretta Lynn moonlighting with Concrete Blonde). Bombshell bassist Sandra Mello carries the weight of the world in her voice, floating melodies across soundscapes rooted in glam, Goth, and Americana. Melody Brown emerges as a reincarnation of Mick Ronson, plying arpeggios, single note motifs, and the occasional power chord to underpin every dramatic twist and turn (his lead vocal on "Crisis of Faith" is the stuff of Ziggy Stardust outtakes). "It's My Turn" is a nifty exercise in ‘80s faux disco, "Swan Dive" exudes garage rock bravura, "Highway Waltz" evokes gritty memories of the Byrds in their final incarnation, and there's even a Southern Gothic vampire song ("Forever Changed") for doomed romantics. A band Gram Parsons would be proud of…
