Mary Weiss

Dangerous Game (Norton)

Mary Weiss’ tough demeanor, defiant expression, and fraught-with-emotion vocals on Shangri-La hits “Leader of the Pack,” “Sophisticated Boom Boom,” and “Give Him a Great Big Kiss” influenced an entire generation of first-wave girl punkers with her pegged pants, heavy eyeliner, and rebel-with-a-bra attitude. All Weiss’ sass, heartache, and anguish, which made the Shangs so in-the-moment then, are present here, albeit in a lower register. The remarkable aspect of this recording is Weiss’ collaboration with Memphis rock darlings the Reigning Sound. Their lo-fi garage sound snaps like a fresh mouthful of bubble gum in axeman Greg Cartwright, who may have been born in the wrong decade: His songwriting ability to paint a broken heart in three minutes or less in timeless shades is extraordinary (“Stop and Think It Over,” “I Don’t Care,” “Cry About the Radio”). In the words of Sunset Boulevard‘s mad Norma Desmond, this isn’t a comeback. It’s a return! (Thursday, March 15, Red 7, 12:45am)

***.5

This article appears in March 16 • 2007.

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