Rock bands with female lead vocals aren't entirely new at all. It reigned most in the 80s when Blondie, The Bangles, Sade, and the Pretenders all emerged as top-selling artists. The art of leather jackets and awesome high-heel boots ruled the music scene along with an authentic irony between voice and instrumentals. However, as the 80s rock fever cooled, so did the awesome lady-led bands. Pop superstars emerged and the rest is history. However, this scene is not entirely dead. The current trend in the music industry has a no holds barred rule for female-led bands. They have ventured into different genres: No Doubt, The Cranberries, The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, and Garbage. The rock-metal scene has solid names like Evanescence, Lacuna Coil, and Halestorm. However, the pop-rock scene is almost impossible to penetrate with loads of female solo acts breaking in and out of the picture (see: Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, P!nk, and this girl called Demi Lovato). It's good, most of them are. They make the catchy pop tunes but their pop is a lot edgier and some tend to be hateful and emotional. The female pop-rock scene these days is full of coming-back-from-a-heartbreak songs. For those who like the charisma of lady vocalists and their guy instrumentalists, there's such an awful lack these days. There's Hey Monday, Automatic Loveletter, and New Year's Day but really, the closest thing we can get to a big female-led band is--take a guess, you'll never guess this one--Paramore (because let's admit it, they are more pop-rock than their fans are willing to admit). Some would like to think that it doesn't make any difference but it does and there is a difference. Bands tend to be more hands-on with their material, they like working as a group--putting together the brilliance of two to five people and make a record out of it; let the girl sing the song and ola! We have a masterpiece. Not that we're taking anything away from the solo acts. It's just easier to gush about bands because they have guys on guitars that actually have names--you get it. Plus, they make for better posters. You might have given up on finding bands that are equally as awesome as the previously mentioned bands but don't--lo and behold: Darling Parade. A lot of female-led bands have come and gone in the alternative-pop-rock scene (Flyleaf, anyone?), so much so that sometimes, we just tend to pass up on new bands and switch back to the few ones we have right now. But Darling Parade showcases a different kind of life--the same old catchy tunes and edgy instrumentals. But Darling Parade, fronted by Kristin Kearns, brings back the classy brilliance of songwriting. Underneath Kearns' pure vocal talent are balanced and well-placed instrumentals by Nate McCoy (lead guitar), Dustin McCoy (bass), Casey Conrad (drums). Darling Parade released their first album Battle Scars & Broken Hearts April this year, following the success of their previous EPs. And this album is like a donut with that chocolate-y surprise center--you think you've had the best but then you dig in and you realize there's something more in there (just how awesome is this review). Their single Ghost is a must-listen along with other outstanding tracks like When It's Over (check out the drums on this one), Crash and Burn, Summer, and Bells Are Ringing. But With You is where we cry. Their music has been heard from a couple of TV shows and you'll know it upon listening to Battle Scars & Broken Hearts--this band has promise. Ghost
