During
Snap-Her's nine-year run, lead singer Andrea Beltramo managed to offend people of all political persuasions. To Republicans,
Snap-Her was an assault on morality and family values. And to some folks on the left,
Snap-Her was the antithesis of political correctness -- your chances of being named "environmentalist of the year" go way down when one of your songs is titled "Fuck Earth Day." But
Snap-Her was never really a political band. Their lyrics were simply an exercise in over-the-top fun, and
It Smells, It Burns, It Stings is a fine example of the sort of obnoxious, totally irreverent punk-pop that Beltramo is known for. By '90s standards, this 1996 release isn't groundbreaking --
Snap-Her was punk-pop in the old-school sense, and in-your-face offerings like "Penile Implant," "Anal Retention," "Blue Balls" and "You're So Lame" sound like they could have been recorded in the late '70s or early '80s. Throughout the CD, it is obvious that Beltramo lives and breaths the punk-pop of that era; she sounds like she is totally oblivious to '90s emo bands. The material on this album isn't the least bit innovative, but it's definitely captivating and infectious -- especially if you're the sort of diehard punk addict who still can't get enough of classic punk-pop bands like
the Buzzcocks,
X-Ray Spex, and
the Ramones. Along the way,
Snap-Her had their share of lineup changes; on
It Smells, It Burns, It Stings, Beltramo leads an all-female lineup that employs Lisa Pifer on bass and Sue Owens on drums. Pifer wrote or co-wrote seven of the 16 selections, but Beltramo is still the one in the driver's seat.
It Smells, It Burns, It Stings is enthusiastically recommended to anyone who craves an old-school punk-pop sound. ~ Alex Henderson