The Launderettes is an all girl garage rock band from Oslo, Norway. The band has been around since 1996, and over the years they have toured both the US and Europe, and released several albums and singles. Since 2007, the band has been signed to Steven Van Zandt's label, Wicked Cool Records.[1]
Their genre was described by AllMusic as "driving, sexy, and high-energy revivalist garage rock".[2] Among their curious live jobs was an afternoon gig in Ila Prison in 2005.[3]
Shaken And Disturbed was released by Big Dipper in May 2002. The record got some moderately positive reviews, including a dice throw of 4 in Østlendingen.[4] Fredrik Wandrup praised the speed and energy. "The girls are confident within the mysteries of garage rock, and have a real clenched-fist drive of feminine punching power". Monotony towards the end of the record contributed to the grading being 4 out of 6 here as well.[5] Aftenposten Aften concluded that Shaken and Disturbed might be "the perfect vorspiel record", but also deducted points for lack of variation, landing on a 4 too.[6] Bad reviews came in Glåmdalen, with a dice throw of 2, citing "an embarrassing lack of good songs".[7]
VG gave a dice throw of 3 as The Launderettes released Take Me to the Race in 2003, the reviewer citing a lack of "party factor" while "not having the greatest of songs".[8] The same grade was given to Every Heart is a Time Bomb. The band failed in their attempts to be innovative, and the songs were "uneven".[9] Avisa Nordland gave a dice throw of 3 to Every Heart Is A Time Bomb too, as did Moss Avis.[10] [11] Several graded this record as 4 out of 6, including Telemarksavisa who called it "vital" and "cheeky"; Drammens Tidende and Dagsavisen.[12] [13] [14] Another 4 out of 6 in Demokraten was motivated by the "1960s delicate details" in their music, though Shaken and Disturbed was better.[15] Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad was very positive, however, stating that the only drawback was the track order. Asked the reviewer, "Why do The Donnas get so much attention when The Launderettes are so much better?"[16] Dagbladet gave a dice throw of 5, citing that the newly added elements of pop music and surf rock gave the band a more "grown-up" tinge. Production-wise, they had managed to produce a more "dynamic" sound, their soundscape "more open, cleaner and warmer".[17]
Linda Kastbakken (alias Linderella) is the lead singer and guitarist in the all-girl power trio The High Tension Girls along with drummer Plingis from Mensen and bassist Lucky Lise from The Pumps (Oslo).[18]