The Ettes - Look at Life Again Soon

Look at Life Again Soon (2008, Take Root) The Ettes' third studio album. ***

The Ettes instantly conjure up images of their obvious influences - the White Stripes, the Black Keys, the Kills, and early the Go (from their first LP, Whatcha' Doin'). They're far more than knee-deep in the garage and punk rock sound, though they've almost completely abandoned the blues. And that's okay, they don't want to be a cheap imitation. At the same time, though, the Ettes aren't nearly as explosive as any of their predecessors, and it's not like the lost energy is made up in sex appeal, as Lindsay Hames' voice is high pitched and tinny, only appearing less so because of the thin layer of distortion that haunts her performance throughout the album. Look at Life Again Soon is truly hit-and-miss, as tunes like "Crown of Age" don't hold a candle to undeniably catchy ones like "I Heard Tell."