If I had to pick a girl to go beat up Courtney Love, hands down - Sandra from the Guano Apes. (And I often fantasize about various girls beating up Courtney Love, I just think she needs a good slapping around is all). A German bred woman fronted growl that can disturb like the Jesus Lizard and swoon like an Enya song mixed with some good alterna-rock. Sandra is the focus and has a range (more specifically, the ability to rage convincingly) and utilizes an adrenaline choking aggravation toggled against the sweetest melodies she can produce.

The opening track "Open Your Eyes" introduces the vocals in a most pleasant distortion and follows with a larger more demanding chorus. "Proud like God don't pretend to be blind." Then the drugged "Maria" with its dripping "Maria" vocal swoops set against the more bitter end of the Guano Apes spectrum. Then to unlikely Italian quick picking vibe for the bridges in "Lords of the Boards" (yes, a song about snowboarding) before giving the song a black eye with that lovable gruffness punctuated with a fist pounding jackhammer bounce (one of the best tracks on this disk). The punk/metal rants of "Wash it Down" forced more precisely by the awkward time structured chorus and some dissonant distortion bridges make for a noisier listen from the Guano Apes.

"Suzie" even has a proper Primus influence and raging loud jam breaking out of that. It's hard not to give a track-by-track description as almost all offerings from "Proud Like a God" have a mentionable quality and true range (but I must mention the most likable lounge/disco shuffle of the hidden/untitled track #18). Songs like "Never Born," "Rain" and "Scapegoat" explore the more melodic drift and shy away from any of the abrasive tactics the band is so capable of (so the radio and their label must absolutely WORSHIP them).

So this is how I see it happening: You might hear this pleasant little pretty song on the radio and like the singers shy/sly voice enough to actually pay attention to the name. Guano Apes, huh? Strange name for such a melody induced song. So you buy the disk and get smoked because the other 85% is some heavy college alterna-rock with an impressive original range and talent undeniable. Sultry and pissed and beautifully teased.