BY LEE ZIMMERMAN
Sallie Ford’s new all-girl group marks her first outside collaboration since last year’s demise of her previous outfit, the Sound Outside. It also finds her going retro with an obvious nod to female forebears like Joan Jett, Exene Cervenka, Deborah Harry, Chrissie Hynde, and other assertive women who earned equal standing with their male counterparts.
Indeed, as overseen by veteran producer Chris Funk, Slap Back is an overarched effort that dramatically demonstrates Ford’s current pop punk approach. The shuffle and crunch of “Coulda Been” and the aggressive edge that defines “Oregon” and “Give Me Your Lovin’” offer examples of Ford’s particular mix of frenzy and finesse. Likewise, when Ford opts for subtler nuance on “An Ending” and “Never Be Lame,” the aptitude clearly proves equal to her attitude. Ford is clearly out to make a statement, one that reflects her partiality for a decided upstart attitude. That makes Slap Back an intriguing proposition for the present. It will be even more interesting to see how she hones it going forward.
DOWNLOAD: “Coulda Been,” “Oregon,” “Give Me Your Lovin’”