CD of The Week

How do you solve a problem like Ida Maria? Well, she certainly doesn't belong in an abbey and she's not the best role model for the Von Trapp children, but she could definitely teach them how to Rock 'n Roll and perhaps even tie a cherry stem into a knot with their tongues. She'd be a better fit for the Osbourne household, where provocative song titles like, “I Eat Boys Like You for Breakfast,” “10,000 Lovers,” and “Devil” would have no ill effect. All kidding aside, Ida delivers a cherry bomb of sauciness and hard rock on her sophomore album, Katla, which is wickedly irresistible and fun.

Ida takes the no holds barred approach, kicking us in the stomach with her knock-out wit in songs like “Cherry Red” and “I Eat Boys Like You…”, punching us with splendid rock guitars and drums throughout (especially in “Bad Karma” and 9 min. long “Devil”), and killing us with her extraordinary, yet jagged vocals (a nice blend of Ann Wilson of Heart, Bjork, and Joan Jett).

With this follow up to her fabulous debut, Fortress Round My Heart, she continues to prove that she's a rock force to be reckoned with. You really don't know what to expect with her - she gives us some random Norwegian tongue in “10,000 Lovers,” jams out an unexpected blues tune with “Gallery,” and pulls out the horns on “I Eat Boys Like You…” plus you never know what dirty word will come out of her mouth next. Ida also tells it like it is in “My Shoes” and “Quite Nice People,” opening up to us about her fears and faults and observations about others.

So, how do you solve a problem like Ida Maria? Go see her perform live if you dare, and let her music remind you that we're not perfect and that there's some naughty fun to be had while listening to it.