Review: Brody Dalle is in your face ★★★

Brody Dalle’s first solo album begins with a bang: three blistering robo-punk songs, delivered rat-tat-tat as if to demonstrate that the former frontwoman of L.A.’s Distillers, a band once tipped to become the next Hole, hasn’t mellowed since we last heard from her. (The title of “Don’t Mess With Me” gets this across too.)

In terms of sonic attack, “Diploid Love” levels off a bit from there, with lower-key tunes that layer ringing piano over crisp machine beats (“Carry On”) and recall Garbage’s polished grunge pop (“Dressed in Dreams”).

But Dalle, set to perform Friday at the Troubadour, keeps the emotion high throughout, singing about betrayal, motherhood and, in the deliciously grimy “Rat Race,” wanting to “burn this city to the ground.” Watch out.

--------------

Brody Dalle

“Diploid Love”

(Caroline)

Three stars