Album, Single and EP Reviews


 

 

  Rumania by The Nuns


Rumania cover art

Artist: The Nuns
Title: Rumania
Catalogue Number: PVC 8951
Review Format: LP
Release Year: 1986



Interesting - wonder why I bought this LP? Perhaps because The Nuns were one of the important bands in San Francisco new wave/punk scene in the late 70s and opened for the Sex Pistols at their infamous Winterland gig? Then why this album from 1986? Questions, questions. Oh, the cover. Well it does feature (the distinctly stunning) singer Jennifer Miro not once but twice. Shallow and proud of it, that's me!

Musically this album is a bit of an oddity. The songs that feature (the distinctly stunning) Jennifer Miro's voice actually work quite well. They occupy a halfway house between Terri Nunn and Debbie Harry albeit with the lights turned well down and the glint of the kitchen knife in the corner of your eye. So far so good. The odd bit is Jeff Olener's somewhat theatrical vocal contributions. Awkward and pretentious might be the best description and not in a good way like the great god William Shatner has done but in a weird way more like a serious uncool white boy rapping. Hey Vanilla Ice, we remember you. It is probably safe to assume - given the band's current incarnation - that this album was part of some sort of a musical transformation or part of a voyage to the dark side so that they could enjoy the company of some metal bands. Due to the dodgy drum machines and synthesisers, the album does sound very dated but (the distinctly stunning) Jennifer Miro's voice saves the day.

This release was on PVC, a subsidiary of New Jersey based label Passport and their label mates at that time would have included all girl heavy metal band the Poison Dollys and no less than Alien Sex Fiend. It would seem that The Nuns are still about even if it looks like they have become part of New York's gothic/fetish/vampire (?) scene. The latest CD release that I could find was from 2007 and sleazemeisters Salvation have also released a DVD by the band. So now you know…

 


www.myspace.com/thenunssf
Reviewer:
Review Date: January 9 2009