Rock What You Got

iTunes Review

Superchick has a firm grip on its identity and direction. Life-affirming lyrics, scorching guitar bursts. and punk-ish rhythms have been this co-ed sextet’s stock in trade for some time, and Rock What You Got restates the band’s musical message convincingly. Keyboardist/songwriter Max Hsu’s fondness for fist-shaking anthems is given free reign in tracks like “Alive,” “So Beautiful,” and the title tune. “Hey Hey” harkens back to the drum-heavy football cheers that the notorious Gary Glitter specialized in 35 years ago. If the music has a muscle-flexing feel, the words sung by vocalist Tricia Brock are ones of hope and encouragement. From the feminine rallying-cry “So Beautiful” to the anti-conformist pep talk “Cross the Line,” these songs seek to uplift and energize. Superchick’s Christian underpinning is most apparent in ballads like “Crawl” (Carry Me Through)” and “Hold.” The oddest track here — the rambling guitar instrumental “Dave Ghazarian Guitar Hero” — seems more a diversion than anything else. That said, Rock What You Got succeeds on its own terms, rocking proud, punchy and positive.