Women ROCK! article index >> Motorbaby Motorbaby was formed in NYC, 1994. Rawkus Entertainment put out our first record in 1996. A remixed/remastered version was recently released in September 1998 on Mercury Records. Presently Sharon is in the studio working on new music for the follow up Motorbaby record. Stay tuned for further details. Group members: Sharon Middendorf- Vocals and Guitar Ron Mancuso-Bass Lez Warner-Drums Instruments: Guitar, Bass, Drums Albums: Motorbaby AMZMUSICZINE.COM magazine says it's Melissa Etheridge not growling, Alanis Morrisette not whining, Blondie making sense and you get an idea of what you get when you put "Motorbaby" in your CD player. This trio, fronted by Sharon Middendorf's vocals and guitar, and backed by Ron Mancuso on bass and Lez Warner on drums, came together on NYC's lower East Side back in 1994. Sharon had already fronted several bands before finding what looks like the right combination. Sharon says Chrissy Hynde was a major influence, but the album is no pretender, it has brass of its own, and Sharon establishes her own style from the opening cut, "Lose Your Mind." A solid opening bridge leads to Sharon's soft yet forceful vocals. Vocals that are crisp, clear and lyrical is something she does have in common with Chrissy. The refrain will put it's hooks into you. The songs are short and simple. Sharon is no Bob Dylan, but the music will grab you with it's infectious nature, often mindless wanderings that just slip in the crooks and crannies of your mind, rock candy. Mancuso and Middledorf mixed the album and I was impressed with the tightness of the sound. The guitars and drums were balanced and never overrode the vocals or each other. This is one of the best sounding albums from a technical sense I've heard in a long time. My favorite cut on the album is "Ultimate Height," with its haunting opening sequence that screams for your attention. "Slam Train" rides the rails into your brain. Radio friendly "Keep On" is the first single release, a Morisette-sounding tune sure to appeal to fans of her type of music. I think "Marlene" refers to Marlene Dietrich and it's tag line "the whole world thinks you're a whore" may refer to the sultry style of her singing, which Sharon tries to emulate on this song. "Dance" your feet will urge as songs like "Northern Lights" and "Inside Out" pulse through the speakers. Sharon is able to take her voice soft at a moment's notice from a hard edge, and her nonverbal sounds add to the feel of this album, especially on "Sea of Fire" and "Ultimate Height." One of the best-performed songs is "Innocent," each word a razor blade cutting through your complacency. This is the kind of music we've needed to breath life into a pop world saddled with Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys. Gun the "Motorbaby" let's rock. "New York Post", Dan Aquilante "Triple threats in rock'n'roll are as rare as three cherries spinning into a slot machine but when Middendorf cranked her band into high revs at Coney Island High they hit the jackpot". She sang good, looked good and strummed a mean electric guitar". "New York Post", Lisa Robinson "A powerful, melodic rock band, with an album of "hard-hitting, guitar-driven songs and ambient grooves, You're going to be hearing a lot more about Motorbaby." http://www.artists.mp3s.com/motorbaby Find music at Amazon.com! Women ROCK! article index >> News I Health I Wellness I Exercise I Profiles I Business I Links I Women ROCK! Product Review I To the Point I Contact I Home Created by: Art Street Design Studio. © Concerning Women Communications, Inc. all rights reserved.