GEMINI FIVE – Babylon Rockets

The second time I listened to Babylon Rockets it surprised me how many choruses one could sing along with from only hearing them once before. Swedish Gemini Five delivers punching rock in the glam tradition, and they’ve succeeded in writing a set of songs for their debut album that are notably catchy.

Even though their single, “You Spin Me Round ( Like A Record )” by Dead Or Alive, might make you believe they hide behind others’ writing abilities, the rest of the album proves that singer and main composer Tin Star could have lifted this realize without turning to covers. As I said, they play songs with choruses that are easy to remember. A lot of bands don’t ask to achieve more. ( By the way, “You Spin Me Round” has been covered by other bands before, and these days UK’s Sugarbabes is spinning around from radio stations everywhere with “Hole In The Head”, a blue print version of the song. )

It is no crime comparing Gemini Five with Ratt, early Mötley Crüe, L.A.Guns, or several bands in the same tradition. The difference is that Gemini Five didn’t debut in the 80’s, but now, in 2003. Good or bad? Well, today it’s hard to make them fit into any landscape, at least a landscape so open that they will get enough sun to grow. The good thing is that they are caretakers of a sound and a musical attitude in a time when the inventors of it need a change of generation.

Actually, I’ve spend some time listening to Gemini Five wondering if this could be “the next big thing”. They sure are promising. Listen to “TwentyFourSeven” ( Don’t mention that the intro sounds a lot like the intro to “Hurtin’ Time”, a song by their country men The Hellacopters. ), “Poison Envy”, “Automaticool”, and “Suicide Tuesday”. They all are joy rides!

The album’s weaker points: “Myself Esteem” sounds partly Marilyn Manson-ish. I’m not sure if I like it, even though I know It’s my job to make up my mind. It is something uneven about it. “Get It Off” is punk-oriented, in the boring punk-direction, and could have been left out. The slow “Hardcore”, close to something that could have been a Him-track, is something you’ve heard way too often, and tells us the band has to work harder on their more emotional and “candle lit” composition.

Anyway, this is a very promising debut album. I am curious on what the future holds for Gemini Five. I will watch them closely in the times to come. Join me.