"Atlanta's Sonia Tetlow Band, or "STB" for those like myself cursed with marginal rather than total recall, is the proud parent of a fiery new long-player it has christened Swerve. Comprised of Ms. Tetlow, holding down both guitar and vocal duties, bassist Lee Kennedy and drummer Becky Shaw, the powerful STB prefers its rock and roll be prepared from scratch, using all the basic ingredients, leaving no fat behind on its plate. In the process of cranking out inspired tunes-a-plenty, tha band also manages to breathe much-needed new life into the rapidly stagnating pool of power trios that matter.

Propelled by Tetlow's soaring pipes and equally snarling guitar work, that band's tight-as-a-noose approach and knack for well thought upon lyrical ins-and-outs have garnered comparisons to everyone from the Pretenders to the Velvet Underground to PJ. Harvey to Patti Smith. Though there is ample sustenance for such varying degrees of separation, Tetlow, nonetheless flattered, remains a bit perplexed as to the flapping jowls of us hasty-handed (but well meaning) rock critics.

"I think we've been compared to every female-fronted rock band under the sun at this point," laughs Tetlow. "There's a lot of musicality to our songs, by which I mean that we try to make them stand up in any context, not just [in the context] being loud or edgy or whatever. I can see where the Chrissie Hynde and PJ Harvey comparisons come in because of the girl-with-guitar and emotive lyrics thing, but we'd honestly rather just call it rock and roll."

And rock they do, and then some. Swerve's 10 tracks reaffirm the acclaim brought about by STB's debut effort Spit, released early last year. The trio's strength lies not only in Tetlow's uncompromising yet undeniably intimate lyrical stance, but also in its ability to function as a tightly-wound unit giving each member equal room to flail, pick, pound, wail and get her accumulated rocks off in no-nonsense fashion. 

So if the "Hit Me Baby One More Time" crowd or that whole "Survivor" massacre-en-MTV are your idea of estrogen-driven rock and roll, maybe you should plug those ears and wipe those noses. The STB's about to kick things into high gear, and you've not even had the chance to buckle up." by Michael Andrews, FLAGPOLE (Athens, GA)
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"Atlanta's Sonia Tetlow Band, weaves an interesting spell with their new release, Swerve. Their sound can be described as power, garage, or post punk. However, this sophomore CD contains a smoky depth thinly veiled in angst.  The recording opens raw and gritty with Becky Shaw battering the drums and Lee Kennedy holding down the bass while Tetlow wildly wails and tears into her guitar. Her voice is as soft as it is heavy, recalling the mysterious croons of PJ Harvey.  STB builds a wall of stormy sound, but can also move into more particular arenas. "Go" carries an intriguing and catchy tune suitable for any James Bond soundtrack, and the centerpiece is the title track at the end of the disk. This is where the band's talents truly shine through. The song patiently unfolds, shimmering in tension and mystery while Tetlow echoes a melody amongst the dizzying whirl. The group isn't afraid to expand the orchestration, which gives each player equal weight. Much of the recording is rhythmically based; almost tribal, especially when matched with Tetlow's uninhibited growls and cries. Each song is inexhaustible and riddled with powerful complexities triggered by heartache and passion. The tracks move smoothly from one to the next with a definite ebb and flow propelled by the drama the trio conjures up." -- Monica Arrington, SOUTHEAST PERFORMER (Atlanta, GA)
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