Music Spotlight & Free MP3: Bebe Buell

Photo: Alan Mercer

Story by Melissa Henderson

Constant Chatter Deputy Editor

More than just rock star playmate or Liv Tyler's mom, Bebe Buell is a musician in her own right. Buell's latest album, "Hard Love" (Niji Entertainment, 2011), is an ode to rock music's defining decade, conjuring visions of '70s classic punk club CBGB, tight vinyl pants and lightning bolts painted across defiant young faces.

"Hard Love" marks Buell's third full-length set since she launched her music career 30 years ago with the help of The Cars' Ric Ocasek, who co-produced and performed on her 1981 debut EP, "Covers Girl." Released on Wendy and the late Ronnie James Dio's label Niji, the album gets backup from Jimmy Walls (Das Damen, D-Generation) on guitar; Pete Marshall (Iggy Pop, Glenn Danzig, Samhain) on bass; Frank Ferrer (Guns N' Roses) on drums and Zac Lasher (U Melt) on keyboards.

Buell called "Hard Love" the "most important record of [her] career" in a press release. "It comes from deep in my soul and guts. [...] Every track is filled with my heart, which beats for rock and roll. I'm my happiest onstage and I can't wait to hit the road and play these songs live with the strongest line-up I've ever made magic with."

"Normal Girls" roars out of the gate on a surge of distortion leading into a sparse punk orchestration that calls to mind The Runaways. Also in the "sounds like" category, Buell's theatrically off-kilter vocals are reminiscent of the Sex Pistols and the legion of punk rock bands they spawned. Have a listen below.

Bebe Buell Hard Love album

Listen to "Normal Girl" by Bebe Buell:

Alternative content

"Normal Girl" is also available as a free MP3 until Nov. 7. To download, right-click on the song title above and select "save as." For more information on Bebe Buell, check out her website and MySpace page. You can also follow her on Twitter.

About the author

Melissa Henderson

With a "See ya, hate to be ya" to the giant parking lot that is Los Angeles, Melissa Henderson sold the car, stuffed her husband into a suitcase and moved back home to Montreal, Canada, where they both now happily roam the streets by foot. She is also Very Busy not working on several unfinished novels.

Trained in journalism and linguistics at UCLA, Melissa has worked as a journalist and editor (news and magazine) since 2001. Her writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Brand X, Up! Magazine, Soundspike and Greater Long Beach, among other publications.

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