Miss Autonomy, Miss Nowhere, Miss Androgyny, Miss Don’t Care, Miss Fortune, Miss Slighted, Miss So Soon, Miss Nothing, Miss Everything, 
Miss Stealing…

Her amount of aliases almost surpass her age in numbers, but Gossip Girl’s Taylor Momsen and her band The Pretty Reckless want us to know that she’s no ones Barbie doll.

Their track ‘Miss Nothing’ is a grunge pot of power guitar rifts, strong rock dynamics, distortion and killer uplifting choruses. The band has clearly channeled some inspiration from old school rock to bring this track to life.

The vocals and attitude expressed by Momsen on the track (and in her whole album in general) are reminiscent of a hybrid spawned between Cherie Curry, Shirley Manson and Courtney Love. I’m not sure how I feel about the imitation because of the fact that it’s being executed by the girl that we once knew as Cindy Lou Who – the cutie pie with the upturned nose from the Grinch Who Stole Christmas.   

It’s catchy and has some nice grit to it. Maybe not as memorable as the band's debut single "Make Me Wanna Die", but this song has its own appeal. There’s a reason why it’s chart topping around the world. Now 



I'm no prude, but I for feel wrong supporting the lingerie-clad, racoon-eyed, chain-smoking, vibrator-promoting, fuck-you-and-your-kids-attitude strong sixteen year old who (for no real reason) reflects a messed up heroin junkie in the video clip for this single.

All personal issues aside, Momsen can sing. The track is well tuned and has elements that are refreshing to hear on the commercial airwaves. There’s something intriguing about the teenager’s deep vocal tone and bad girl bravado – where’s it coming from and why? If she’s doing this at seventeen, it’ll be interesting to see what she comes up with in the coming years.

P.S. I just want to know one thing: Oh Cindy Lou Who, where are you?

P.S.S. A note to everyone: don’t watch the video clip if you can help it. Trust me.

 

7/10

CJ Weerasinghe