Leslie Spit - Hell's Kitchen (CD)

All Music Guide

Leslie Spit Treeo started out as an acoustic busker band, which was represented well on their first album, and a bit less so on the follow-up. This album, the first following the departure of major contributor Jack Nicholsen, is a more rocking album for the most part, and is often a bit more faceless than the group is in person. There are moments that stand out, notably the Thomson Highway-penned "Juke Box Lady," a torchy showcase for Laura Hubert's vocals -- a bit of foreshadowing, as Hubert indulged in this style of music following the band's breakup. Look for a special bookends to the album by the band's third official member, Tag, growling and barking (he is a dog, after all). Special note: The album was initially released under the Spits moniker, but reissued under the band's older and more familiar name.

- Sean Carruthers, All Music Guide