Lolawolf
Calm Down (Innit Recordings)
Reviewed by Neph Basedow, Fri., March 20, 2015
Lolawolf
Calm Down (Innit Recordings)Led by Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet spawn Zoe, NYC's Lolawolf veers tenaciously from its 26-year-old frontwoman's paternal pedigree; whereas her father's Let Love Rule was soulful, and Are You Gonna Go My Way uninhibitedly raw, the electro-pop trio's self-produced debut LP arrives on synthesized beats and production tweaks. The X-Men actress' casual mid-register croon levels the bustle, and a pleasing R&B vibe in "Take a Hint" sparks longing for a deeper delve into that realm. Standout "What Love Is" is alluringly playful despite its adverse message: "I wanna know what love is/ I really hope that it's not you." Fun but flawed, "AYO" gorges on electro bells and whistles like an enthusiastic novice testing new Casio keys. Openers for Miley Cyrus and Lily Allen last year, the outfit's auspicious electronica sounds trendily on-point, without breaching creative ground. (Wed., 8pm, the Gatsby; Thu., 9pm, Parish)
