Home > Baltimore Music > CD Review > The BellRays, 'Hard, Sweet and Sticky'

Backstory: Founded in the Southern California college town of Riverside, the self-proclaimed rock ‘n’ soul band the BellRays reflects the area’s diverse ethnic population and musical vibes. Now on its eighth album, the group remains more buzzed-about for its live performances than its recordings. It has also undergone several lineup changes, but hasn’t changed its most compelling focal point: lead singer Lisa Kekaula.

Why you should care: Kekaula should be a big star; no black female singer in recent memory, since maybe back to Tina Turner in the ‘80s, has been quite as rockin’.

Verdict: Kekaula is a versatile character. Not only can she sing notes beautifully and tenderly, as on the smoldering snare-led “The Fire This Time,” she can scream them just as wonderfully, like she does on more frenzied cuts like “Psychotic Hate Man.” She frequently pushes her voice to its most raw point (such as on “One Big Party”), becoming as electric as the guitars backing her up.

X-Factor: Kekaula would be a welcome and distinct fixture on the international dance music scene, were she to choose that particular adventure. She dipped her toes in the water when she lent her tremendous vocals to British dance duo Basement Jaxx for two memorable tunes: the sassy breakup anthem “Good Luck” in 2003 and the raucous and risqué “U Don’t Know Me” two years later.

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