The Greatest Vol. 16

The Donnas have recently released a collection of their greatest hits on their retrospective album, "Greatest Hits Vol. 16." My current knowledge of alternative rock music is about as good as a white middle class father's knowledge of rap music today. So, you can imagine how I felt when I first gave this a listen.

When I started to listen to the album, I was rather surprised that these ladies could rock so well. This particular collection of their greatest hits, which is mostly new material and previously unreleased tracks, does great justice to show their talent for making hits and creating party music.

If a listener listen closely to their music and have some knowledge of great rock bands in the past, you will notice that they are greatly influenced from Kiss, The Ramones, and AC/DC. The all girl rock band brings the combination of the three great rock bands in perfect harmony on every track. The band consists of Brett Anderson on lead vocals, Allison Robertson at guitar, and backing vocals, Maya Ford on bass guitar and backing vocals, and Torry Castellano on drums, percussion and backing vocals.

Almost every track on the retrospective album has a hint of the tough girl persona. Songs like "Get Off," "Perfect Stranger," and "Fall Behind Me" have this essence of the tough girl who can do almost anything she wants and cannot be controlled, which is rather hot in my mind. Also on this album, they put a twist on some their original hits "Get You Hot," "You Make Me Hot," and "Get Rid of That Girl."

Among the new versions of their original hits is new music and live performances by the all-girl rock band. The album contains two unreleased tracks, "We Own The Night" and "She's Out of Control," from their upcoming second album being released on their own record label, Purple Feather Records. The tracks "Take It Off" and "Fall Behind Me" are recorded live performances and anyone could tell after listening that these women can have one of the most entertaining rock concerts today.