Search - Blake Babies :: God Bless the Blake Babies

God Bless Freda Love Smith!

Katie H. | new york, ny USA | 03/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Thank god Freda had the cajones to reunite The Blake Babies! It has been a long 10 years without the trio and what an angel to treat us to a BRAND new album, and a mini-tour to boot! As if John Strohm's guitar playing to could improve, he is at his near best on this album. Juliana's voice, while much more mature now still evokes the angsty feeling that dwell within all of us. And FINALLY we get to hear Freda sing - full on!I'd love to list some recommendations - but every song on here is a gem, from the poppy lead-off track (do I hear a single?!) "Disappear" to the bored and plaintive "Nothing Ever Happens to Me". John Strohm Shines on "Picture Perfect," and the covers of Madder Rose's "Baby Gets High" and Evan Dando & Ben Lee's "Brain Damage" (sung in duet by Juliana and Evan himself) are just a wonderful treat! Input from Evan Dando and Jake Smith (Mr. Freda Love Smith) round out the record - making this release truly a god-send!PS - for those of you not able to catch the live show - not bragging here - but I can not recall being happier!"

Good stuff

Adrien Begrand | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | 01/13/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Funny how a simple one-off reunion album by the Allen Ginsberg-christened Blake Babies can blow away many other high-profile releases. No, they're not out to break new ground musically; John Strohm, Freda Love-Smith, and the irreplacable Juliana Hatfield just casually got back together for the first time since 1991 and quickly whipped up a good little record before going back to their own respective projects.God Bless The Blake Babies is nothing but good alt-pop, and all three members share the lead vocals, the highlights being Hatfield's terrific 'Disappear', 'What Did I Do', and 'Until I Almost Died', Strohm's 'Picture Perfect' (featuring lovely, lilting backing vocals by Hatfield), and Love-Smith's pretty 'When I See His Face'. There are also two excellent covers, Madder Rose's sublime 'Baby Gets High', and 'Brain Damage', written by Evan Dando and Ben Lee (recorded as a duet between Dando and Hatfield).There's nothing really new or original on God Bless The Blake Babies, just some very good tunes, with no disappointing moments, that shows that the same chemistry that made the Blake Babies one of the better alt-rock bands of the early nineties still remains. This is an understated beauty of a cd. Bless 'em indeed."

Enjoyable and Upbeat

dimike@bestweb.net | New York | 09/25/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As near as I've been able to discover, The Blake Babies were a popular college/indie band back in the late 80s/early 90s. Personally, I had never heard of them until I put the headphones on at the Borders Listening Post and checked out this new album. I had heard of lead singer Juliana Hatfield as well as guest artist Evan Dando (The Lemonheads). If you like either of those artists, you will like The Blake Babies. This is a solid album that isn't easily classified. Most of the songs are acoustic based, but uptempo. I suppose I'd call it coffee-house rock; intelligent and well produced. Hatfield really sounds good, her willowy voice perfectly matched to the restrained folk/rock sound. A very enjoyable and upbeat album that is worth checking out."