Cat Valley's New Single, My Body, Off of their new album Bingo Queen, is a Scathing Indictment of Patriarchal Oppression
There is so much rage mixed with self-empowerment in this song. Coming on the heels of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, this song is a banner call to action and defiance in the face of government actions like South Carolina’s newest draconian restriction on a women’s right to choose.
Lyrically it pulls no punches, and whilst the chant of “My body, my choice” is one that I’ve heard for over 3 or 4 decades, its truth and power are newly relevant in today’s political and social climate, and the delivery is so strong and filled with vehemence that it sounds like a fresh aural assault on the mostly male politicians and religious leaders who deign to turn a woman in nothing but “a babymaker, birth canal”.
Musically this would fit right into any release in the 1990’s on Kill Rock Stars or even SubPop, and I’m not saying that just because they are from WA. The band mixes pop sensibility, punk rage, and garage rock/grunge musicality into a swirling ball of rancor!
While I was only asked to review this song, I couldn’t help but delve deeper and had to check out “Not Me” giving the middle-finger response to the patriarchal demands still put on women. I haven’t heard the rest of the songs, but I get the feeling this album is a primer for anyone interested in critical feminist theory or that just wants to fucking not have to deal with all the limitations and expectations put on them by a male-dominated society.
If this was on vinyl vs. CD, I’d be buying it right now to get the rest of the album. If anyone releases vinyl albums (I only do live albums or half live/half studio), then please put this out!
Listen to these songs and more on Spotify or on my punk playlist with other bangers.
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