Fantasy Girls in Bloomington, MN

The core of
Charlie
's sound is derived from veterans of such bands as
Argent
,
Axe
, and lead singer/songwriter
Terry Thomas
, so right away one who is familiar with the groups can derive what the group would sound like without even listening. But what's surprising about
Fantasy Girls
is the level of gloss that's thrown over a layer of raw
rock
grit. The guitars are compressed and the arrangements are quite similar to their contemporaries, specifically that of
Boston
(especially on
"Miss Deluxe"
), but the quality on this ten-song session is erratic at best and shows a group just starting to get its footing and identity together. To
's credit, they take bits and pieces of their contemporaries and take only what really works, but when listened to as a whole,
can be inconsistent but wonderful for those looking for no-frills
rock & roll
. ~ Rob Theakston