The Royal We
Geographic GEOG31LP
2007
I got all excited when I learned that Roxanne Clifford and Patrick Doyle had been in this Scottish group prior to forming Veronica Falls. Unfortunately this band does not sound much like Veronica Falls, they play slightly retro dance pop reminiscent of Neverever which makes sense since that band's leader Jihae Meek was the lead singer of the Royal We (then using her maiden name Jihae Simmons.) When I first played this record I was really disappointed, but with repeated spins I started to appreciate it. I do like Neverever, just not nearly as much as Veronica Falls which was my favorite current band before they broke up. The album gets off to a quiet start with "Back and Forth Forever" which is an acoustic love song driven by Clifford on ukelele. The record shifts into gear with the jumping "All The Rage" which the band released as a single. It is a wonderfully poppy dance song that showcases Simmons' charisma with forceful background vocals from Doyle and Clifford that are as close as this album ever gets to the Veronica Falls sound. "That Ain't My Sweet Love" continues in a similar rocking vein although without the catchy pop hooks. Side one concludes with "Three Is a Crowd" which pumps up the sound of 1960s girl group pop to provide a framework for Simmons to vent her spleen. Joan Sweeney's violin adds some flavor to the band's sound. "I Hate Rock N Roll" also sounds like an update on 1960s pop and once again Sweeney's violin saves the song from blandness. "Willy" allows Clifford more space as a romantic counterpoint to Simmons sardonic vocal which I find very welcome. "French Legality" is a propulsive track driven by a compelling guitar riff that gets me bopping. Simmons vocal is very strong and builds in strength until she is screaming at the end. This is my favorite track after "All The Rage." "Wicked Games" is a cover of the Chris Isaak song taken at a much faster tempo than the original. Simmons rejects the sensitivity and yearning of Isaak's original vocal in favor of a more bitter and cynical approach. I don't really approve, but the song is very compelling and gives the album a stirring finish. This record shows a lot of promise although it was probably for the best that the band broke up. Veronica Falls might have benefited from a more charismatic lead singer like Simmons, but I think Clifford's more diffident style suited that band's introspective approach. Simmons is too exuberant and distracting, she needed a different band that would showcase her unbridled personality. This is still a very enjoyable record and I think the tension between the Simmons and the Clifford/Doyle styles is one of the more stimulating elements of the album. Recommended to fans of Blondie.
