I was reviewing hard rock and metal acts earlier. This is unlike any of them - although there is a connection. More on that later...
"Bad Baby Bomb" is a 4 girl band in Japan that does music, well, so far mostly about being a girl. In fact the first of their YouTube songs is named "Being a Girl." (Although I believe they're actually "twentysomething" young women.)
IMHO it has a punkpop quality, a garage band vibe, and a uniqueness beyond those categories.
There are three instruments I've seen so far, and with only one regular guitar in the mix, much of their sound is bass and drum heavy, which is fine with me. And the play between bass and guitar is nicely done and often interesting, though not always obvious. Sometimes it sounds like they're each going off on their own... yet still somehow complementing each other. The longer I listen, the more subtleties I hear.
I don't know if the lead singer plays an instrument, because the official video doesn't show them playing through it, and the video of a mini-concert done last April doesn't show the singer at all; she is there by means of technology. However, in some songs on that video I hear a synthesizer, so she might play keyboards.
I learned of them via an interview of "Lisa13" the guitarist, done by travel vlogger Oriental Pearl on YouTube.
In the interview, Lisa describes how she and her Dad went to a make-it-yourself studio and created a simple device to fit her undeveloped hand (her right) to which she can attach some tools. That is her pick hand on the guitar. From what I hear so far, she seems to have ability, timing and creativity. I look forward to what they do next.
The interview with Oriental Pearl:
https://youtu.be/mAfBg7LFCZE
Their first MV drop was “Being a Girl” about a year ago.
Although, "Being a Girl" official video really isn't a video. The screen shows the name of the band over the dim grey image of a bat on a faintly less dark background to look at whilst listening to the audio. Synthesizer is prominent.
The notes identify Lisa13, the guitarist, as composer, and vocalist Nicky as lyricist.
https://youtu.be/etE0e5I8Dzw
This was the first video I saw, and as an official MV the quality is pretty good. Great road-trip song. Lots of playing about in a very pink apartment (or set?) while the song plays.
https://youtu.be/uNxAqAsmLj8
The mini concert they did in April 2020 in what looks like a basement or garage studio with the lead singer on an unseen remote feed. Click the little chevron in YouTube that opens the Notes for this to get the set list, member names, etc.
https://youtu.be/XB0kiyqKEpA
Those three MV links are from their official YouTube channel, so you can subscribe.
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUaypdpNsRPG0gkgt6M75sQ
The newest tune they uploaded at this point is "Ms. Pancake" - well, sort of. There is a video on their channel ABOUT making it, mostly messing about getting ready, then finishing with a hysterically speeded up section of them actually playing it. Meanwhile - on Lisa's channel, she dropped a video of her putting a pink cassette of it into a single-speaker boom box and mouths the words a bit and smiles while it plays through. Very much continuing the 1990-ish theme:
The group site:
https://badbabybomb.com/about/
Twitter @BadBabyBomb
Instagram @BadBabyBomb
I said I would have more later on their metal connection. To start with, Bad Baby Bomb is not Lisa13’s first rodeo. According to this article, she was a prime mover in at least one other band of note before this one, “Moth in Lilac” which she led (and which I plan to review next).
https://www.jame-world.com/en/article/153715-bad-baby-bomb-summer1990.html
The article describes Moth in Lilac as “alternative metal” which certainly applies, though it notes Lisa resisted labels for the group. Just my impression of the dominant sound so far would be thrash metal.
NaluchaRos was also bassist for that group. She has a couple of bass covers on her own channel.
https://www.youtube.com/user/peko88rock
Her others:
Twitter @Nalu_chaRos223
Instagram @nalucharos22
NaluchaRos, one of her Twitter posts. Def she's going for the little girl kawaii look. Very solid bass player though.
________
Nicky Rosa the vocalist comes to BBB most recently from RiViNi, whose name was compiled of the first two letters of the names of the first three members to join. She was the “Ni” ending of the name.
She is originally from eastern Pakistan and the "s" in her name might be pronounced "sh."
https://www.discogs.com/artist/6478128-Nicky-37
Twitter @l0u0lr
Instagram @nicky_badbabybomb
I brought in a part of a RiViNi pic to show Nicky. Part of the N is in the upper right, and a bit of her bandmate's hair is just behind her right shoulder.
________
Kuro the drummer, formerly of “Grudge Against Personality” - basically a death metal group.
Lisa J Poole herself/Lisa13
Twitter @lhjw121315666
Instagram @lisajpoole13
Lisa did an acoustic cover of a song by Suede called “Animal Nitrate” a few years ago that shows her guitar work close up, audibly and visually. You can get a good look at her playing using her wrist-mounted device with a pick.
At the time, she was in the middle of her run with her thrash metal group Moth in Lilac. This is quite different.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnFTTrJCujQ
Bottom line as I see it: Interesting, quirky alternative music group, not like anyone else, with engaging tunes and intriguing people. Give them a listen on YouTube and see what you think. Or better, how you feel.
Updated 2021-04-14
J
