Superchic(k) released their major label debut KARAOKE SUPERSTARS (Inpop) in 2001. Memorable songs from it include the title track, 'Barlow Girls', and 'One Girl Revolution'. Fast forward to 2008 and they released their fifth studio album, ROCK WHAT YOU GOT (Inpop). It was produced by Max Hsu, and executive produced by Dale Bray, Jim Scherer, and Max Hsu. Group members at the time were: Melissa (vocals, guitar), Tricia (vocals), Dave (guitar, piano), Brandon (drums), Max (beats, rude boy synths, robot voices, and bits of this and that), and Matt (bass, guitar, vocals). This album was nominated for a Grammy for 'Best Rock/Rap Gospel Album'. According to Wikipedia.org it "debuted at No. 65 on the Billboard 200 album chart, selling nearly 10,000 copies its first week".
First up is the title track, 'Rock What You Got', an energetic pop/rock number of empowerment: "You were made to rock, so stand up tall/Go rock the world and prove them wrong/Rock what you got (2X)/Don't ever let them make you stop/Rock what you got/Light up the lot/No one can rock the way you rock". 'Alive Prelude' is a short, forgettable, movie sounding snippet. 'Alive' is a good rocker about making one's move and not letting life just pass you by: "I need to live my dreams, not just in my sleep/I've been holed up here, but it's time to leave/I need to make my move while I've air to breathe.../We were born with wings/We were made to fly/We were meant to live while we're still alive".
'Hey Hey' is one of three radio singles released on May 16/08 from this album. This one's funkified pop valuing individuality: "Why try to be like someone else/When you can only be yourself?/No one can sing the song you do/Be true, be legendary you/So, I won't sell out, even if the whole world thinks I'm crazy". 'Hold' is a pop/rock ballad that cries out to God: "Tell me I can make it through this day/I don't even have the words to pray/You have been the only One who never left me/Help me find the way through all my fears/Help me see the light through all my tears/Help me see that I am not alone in this". 'Breathe' is a slow, quiet song of encouragement: "Please tell me you'll fight this fight/I can't see without your light/I need you to breathe into my life.../So keep breathing/Go on breathe in".
What follows is 'So Beautiful', a rally cry for self-esteem for young ladies: "We have dreams we were born to fulfill/We were meant to be more than just fairy tale girls/We are colors so bright, each a beautiful girl/We are stars in the night, and we're changing the world/When every girl can see her beauty/We will be an army". It's good to dance to. 'Cross the Line' is a rocker about adventure: "'Everybody dies but not everyone lives/I'm gonna ride like I've got the cops on my tail/I'm gonna live my life like I'm out on bail/I'm gonna be out front, gonna blaze a trail/I'm gonna cross that line". 'One More' is another rally cry: "If I can overcome step 1/I can face the 99/One more, go one more/Yeah, yeah".
Next up is 'Crawl (Carry Me Through)', a ballad that reads like a modern day Psalm: "O Lord, where are You?/Do not forget me here/I cry in silence/Can You not see my tears?/When all have left me/And hope has disappeared/You'll find me here". It's beautiful! 'Stand in the Rain' was a hit song on Superchick's debut mainstream album, BEAUTY FROM PAIN 1.1 (2006). Presented here is a Symphonic Mix of this adult contemporary song of great encouragement: "So stand in the rain/Stand your ground/Stand up when it's all crashing down/You stand through the pain/You won't drown/And one day what's lost can be found/You stand in the rain". Closing things out is 'Dave Ghazarian: Guitar Hero', a sizzling instrumental featuring the electric guitar.
You aren't going to find deep lyrics with big words on ROCK WHAT YOU GOT, but that's okay. This is mostly pop, rock, and dance music with a few slower ballads thrown in. You will find this album to be inspirational and life changing if you let it, in all its simplicity. Superchick encourages us to be ourselves and no one else. Following the crowd is lame and ultimately unsatisfying. A second theme here is that we can indeed overcome life's challenges and obstacles and negative voices and follow our dreams. We can't do it on our own though. Two of the songs call out to God for help. I'm rating this album 93%. For more info visit www.superchickonline.com and/or connect with the band and its members on social media.