:: The Veronicas - Hook Me Up

The Veronicas

If you‘ve listened to the radio even once in the past two years than you've definitely heard a least one song by rock pop twins Jessica and Lisa Origliasso. Overplayed by stations almost to the point of nausea, The Veronica's new album Hook Me Up picks up exactly where The Secret Life… left off. By now the girls have released five singles from Hook Me Up and received three ARIA Awards nominations for their effort. Surprisingly for any tween pop group, these nominations were thoroughly deserved. A new direction for the girls, Hook Me Up is a well-crafted album which leaves behind much of the rock from their debut in favour of a more electro-dance sound. Hook Me Up explodes from the first second with stabs of violin and a fast paced bass line that feels more like a heart beat. The enchantingly driving melody of “Untouched” builds into a mass of urgent verses delivered by the twins's strikingly passionate voices. Just a sample of how good this album is, “Untouched” provides the perfect opener, setting the whole feel of Hook Me Up. Which is angst, sexual tension and intense passion, all delivered in the same breathe. Title track “Hook Me Up” is another electro-pop stunner. A definite dance floor favourite, “Hook Me Up” isn't just a great club track but also a vehicle for showing off the girls’ song writing talent and with lines like “Trying to fit in where I don't belong,” their inner insecurity as well.

The fun dance tunes and synth-pop sounds of “This Is How It Feels” and “Take Me On The Floor” blend into the bittersweet ballads of “This Love” and “Some One Wake Me Up” to create an unnerving contrast of pain and euphoric teenage happiness. “I Can't Stay Away” sees those violins being used in a more melancholic way and the girl's vocals go from poppy excitement to yearning lust. The figure addicted to love and lover in “I Can't Stay Away” quickly transforms into the spurned ex in “Revenge Is Sweeter (Than You Ever Were).” An intense rock dance track about being cheated on, “Revenge Is Sweeter” isn't the usual angry rants of a betrayed woman but the sad queries of “Do you even care/ what I'm going through?” and “Do you even know how much it hurts?” All of which are delivered in a very realistic expression of pain. Sure the Veronicas are pop personified, despite their rather Gothic dress sense, but that doesn't mean their new album should be brushed into that category and ignored by anyone older than fifteen. Grown-up and intensely moody, Hook Me Up isn't your typical pop rock piece. It's danceable in the right places, electro in others and emotionally beautiful in all the rest. A well crafted ode to The Veronica's immense talent, Hook Me Up will definitely appeal to more than just the band's young fans.