Daisy Chainsaw were a short lived but thrilling early '90's punk outfit who captured the imagination of the listening public with the infectious "Love Your Money" in 1992. This single, against all expectations, went Top 40, and almost got them on Top of the Pops, until singer Katie Jane Garside bottled it at the last minute. A shame, because DC had already gained a reputation for anarchic live shows, with live head shaving, instrument abuse and general chaos becoming their trademark.
"Eleventeen" is a joy. A raw,crazy slab of unsheathed punk rock, it serves a timely reminder that this kind of music was alive and kicking well into the last decade, and that creative talent does not always become buried under the fuzz of the pedals or the gain of the amps. Garside breathes seductively, squeals piercingly and finally screeches a bloodcurdling challenge to anyone who feels like messing with her already messed up head; it's like being assaulted by a banshee in a babydoll dress. Highlights of the album include "I Feel Insane" (how heavy can a bass go???), the unexpectedly touching "I Hope All Your Dreams Come True", and of course the stomping "Love Your Money."
Daisy Chainsaw sank with few bubbles after this album, but they were never going to be around all that long anyway. Too many diverse styles, Garside's obvious mental problems and the indecision of a music press that didn't know how to handle them meant that "Eleventeen" will probably always remain one of the "lost" great albums of the '90's. But hey, it still sounds every bit as wild and unleashed today as it ever did. Go on, give it a try.