When the crashing punk rock instruments are balanced with the delicate vocals, the listener is able to catch the more subtle nuances of these gals' mischievous auditory wink. Yes, I said "delicate" vocals, which may seem incongruous with a band called The Butchies, but that is part of the fabulousness of a group whose first album was called Are We Not Femme—they are willing to crack on themselves while giving a nod to 80s dork rockers Devo.

This album reminded me a lot of my favorite pop harmonizing 80s girl bands, but with an updated and more musically adept sound. For example, the first song “Send Me You,” about jumping on the bed and being some girl’s love monkey (which I can totally relate to) has a sexy, friskier Bangles sound. The strength is in the combination of Wilson’s grindy guitar with girly-sweet, super-catchy vocals. It's a very nostalgic sound with a new attitude.

“Trouble” rocks out like something the Wilson sisters of Heart would use as an encore. It has a quality reminiscent of those earlier rock ladies like Stevie Nicks and Chrissie Hynde. In contrast, “Everything + Everywhere” is a sweet lullaby. This song is a country-inspired slow dance for dykes that would sound great coming out of a jukebox in some smoky, out-of-the-way bar in Montana. The lusty lyrics aren’t explicit; they maintain a longing sweetness while being grounded in tangible details like “you can grab me by my jeans/pull and take what you want of me.”

“17” is a race car moving through the gears until it hits cruising speed, blasting through the crystalline desert of memory and heartache. An older song released on a Kill Rock Stars compilation, it would have been a shame to let it linger on that harder-to-get CD.

My favorite song on Make Yr Life is an uber-popular cover of “Your Love” by abiding 80s-era band The Outfield. Doesn’t ring any bells? The lyrics start out “Josie’s on a vacation far away/come around and talk it over/there’s so many things I want to say/you know I like my girls a little bit older.” This song has been slowed down and enhanced by soft, feminine vocals that give it the delicious eeriness of a David Lynch movie. Every nuance of this karaoke bar hit resonates in a new way. It’s hot, yet it made my skin crawl.

Overall, this is a mature and enjoyable album with no clunkers. The lyrics are simple and can be obtuse at times, but this CD is full of fine, head-bopping fare.

Get more info at thebutchies.com or buy the CD now at Amazon.com