The first time I saw Antigone Rising live was in Buffalo, NY at a Thursday in the Square concert. I was there to check out a reunited Living Colour and the ladies were the opening act. To say they made an impression on me would be an understatement; they nearly upstaged the spot-on headliner. The next time I saw them they were all over VH1 and their tunes were playing in every Starbucks I walked into (and that was quite a few back then!). A few years later, the ladies are back with 23 Red and a new frontwoman in Nini Camps.
The first thing that should be noted about 23 Red is that if you were a fan of the band’s “jam” moments, then there isn’t any of that here in my opinion. The absence of Cassidy’s Janis Joplin inspired wailing is certainly noticeable immediately. That said, the gentler, poppier side of the band is much more alive because of that. The overtly aggressive vocals are replaced by Camps smoother and way more tuneful voice. While it may not stand out as much, I believe that it will stand the test of time much better. The perfect example is “Breaking Me.” Honestly, this is a song that may not grab you on first listen but when it does grab you it will not let go. Camp’s vocal and the rhythmic drumming are absolutely gorgeous. There is a lot of Country influence here as well, particularly on songs like “Borrowed Time” (my personal favorite track), “Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring,” and “Goodbye.” As Country music is pretty much the only music I hate, the band’s superb songwriting should be credited here as I completely love this album. The heavily-hooked opening track, “No Remedy,” is probably the most significant song on the record though. It’s got it all; beautiful harmonies, a great backbeat, and a MASSIVE hook that signals that Antigone Rising can pretty much survive anything.
Overall this is a great record, despite the fact that it won’t be immediately striking for longtime fans. While not as in your face as the band’s previous work, there is a maturity here, a depth even, that brings a whole different side of the band to the forefront. 23 Red is a great summer record that will make you miss the days when Lillith Fair was the hottest ticket in every town.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
