Consider
Killing Heidi to be the female version of
Silverchair. Both groups hail from Australia and are composed primarily of teenagers -- in the case of
Killing Heidi, it's sister and brother
Ella and Jessie Hooper. Similarly, both groups borrow heavily from other artists rather than creating anything new on their own. The quartet hopes that their type of radio-friendly alternative rock will have the same success with North American fans that they had with Australian fans who made
Reflector debut at number one on the charts when it was released in Australia in March 2000. Tracks such as "Weir" and "Mascara," a song about self-image, are catchy pop hits with just enough of a grrl-rock edge to mollify young audiences. The rest of the album is all over the map. "Class Celebrities" has an old-school punk feel, while "Black Sheep" sounds like the kind of pop confection you'd hear from Josie & the Pussycats. The real star of the album is producer
Paul Kosky, who has worked with other Aussie artists such as
Crowded House and the Clouds. He confidently navigates the young group through several different genres and produces an album that has great commercial appeal, but, ultimately, has nothing to say. ~ Jon Azpiri