Rock and roll, especially the blues based stuff, has always been considered a threat by some of the more conservative elements of society. It was the aggressive music that questioned traditional figures of authority and pushed what was considered the boundaries of good taste.

In other words it was new and exciting and gave people something different to listen to than what their parents were listening too. Isabelle by Snakes and Music recaptures the sense of danger that makes Rock music such an adrenalin rush. Even on the songs some people might consider country there is urgency to the vocals and the music that removes them from the safety of the country radio sound.

Whether they've put up a wall of sound; guitars, keyboards, drums, and percussion; or crafted a simpler almost folk/country song, there is no escaping the fact Snakes and Music are not interested in holding your hand and telling you things are doing just fine. Read the lyrics of their songs to try and hear what they're saying, and you find the meaning slides away, but listen to the song and you understand.

A line of poetry can be changed by a word, and a chord of music can alter a song and that's what happens when they blend the music and lyrics together. The lyrics on the page in the booklet seem ambiguous, accompanied by the music the emotion underpinning the words is magnified and the meaning becomes clear.

Isabelle by Snakes and Music is something different from the norm of the majority of pop music you're liable to hear on the radio for the simple reason it is a reminder of what rock and roll music should be. It's not safe and reassuring, but challenging and disturbing.

You'll never hear this music on an "adult radio show" or "classic (corporate) rock" station. This is the music they want you to forget about because it will remind you of the true potential popular music has for intelligence and thoughtfulness. Isabella and Snakes and Music recapture the spirit of what a rock song should be; not a formula, not a corporate package, but a breath of independence and freedom; something people older than you can blame the troubles of the world on.