Okay let's get the celebrity connections out of the way first. Pearl, as some of you may already know, is better known as Pearl Aday, daughter to the titanic majesty that is Meat Loaf, missus to Stormtrooper Of Death card sharp Scott Ian, and one time "Crue Slut" to Nikki Sixx and his Mötley bunch. So what exactly is this li'l woman doing thinking she can stick out an album just cos she knows some big names?

Is there anything of substance here or just someone with some strings to pull? Is she just the latest in a dire line of rock daughters thrown to the public slaughter? Who could forget the abysmal outing of Kelly "drowning cat" Osbourne and the abomination that was her attempt at duetting with Ozzy on their revamp of 'Changes'. Or Lauren Harris's pointlessly bland take on 'Steal Your Fire'? The omens aren't good, but calling on Daddy to help out is something Pearl has steered clear from here. She's got her own two feet to stand on and all credit to her. Scott Ian does lend a hand however, guesting on all the tracks (along with the guys from Mother Superior who act as Pearl's backing band and co-writers) but with it being an unbelievable seven years since the last Anthrax album to finally have Scott playing something new other than a fresh hand of poker is nothing but an added bonus worth celebrating.

'Rock Child' is straight in your face from the off, a romper stomper anthem blasting away your preconceptions about another rich kid playing rock star. "I've been a little girl, livin' centre stage, I've been sleeping in a guitar case". An opening statement to leave you in no doubt that rock 'n' roll is her blood not just her family tree. Then veering suddenly into some Motown groove with an inspired cover of 'Nutbush City Limits' we get the first chance to settle back and get an idea just where her voice is coming from. A strong, powerful delivery with a little bit of dirt, a little bit of that Bonnie Tyler rasp, gives an angle that's perfectly suited to playing the heartbroken woman as much as it is to playing the independent hell raiser in the faster numbers. Shown perfectly in the duo of 'My Heart Isn't In It' and 'Worth Defending' the two give perfect balance to the album by revealing a tender, kinda countryish and altogether gentler side to Pearl than her more direct rock 'n' holler approach on tracks like 'Lovepyre' and the defiant, fight back stride of the sublime 'Broken White'.

You may too be thinking that an album like this would be littered with "celebrity mates" but think again. Although most notably there's the aforementioned Scott Ian, only two other outside "big names" stick in an appearance. Namely Ted "Weekend Warrior" Nugent provding some riff-heavy groove on the chugging 'Check Out Charlie' and Jerry Cantrell on the tranquil flow of album closer 'Anything', a mellow drift through some delicate guitar parts tender enough to come from the fingers of David Gilmour. Bliss!

Before I started this album I was in half a mind I was going to dislike it. But in all honesty 'Little Immaculate White Fox' was a genuine revelation to me. Fresh and invigorating, sweeping from rough highs to peaceful lows it's an album full of music with purpose. Though there's a variety of styles thoughout they all yield a common thread to hold together an album which is dynamic in its deliverance of some outstanding rock 'n' soul. Pearl certainly has a spark, whether it's a spark big enough to set the world on fire remains to be seen but it's certainly a spark that will warm the hearts of anyone who has a true love of music running through their veins.

'Little Immaculate White Fox' delivers a clear statement that proves that real emotion, musical credibility and most importantly natural talent lies within the soul of the creator themselves, not their surname. Fakers take note!
 

http://www.myspace.com/pearl