Bitchin'
by The Donnas
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16

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  1. JohnR.
    Sep 22, 2007
    7
    "Smoke You Out" is awesome and has the most whacked-out lyrics of any Donnas song ever. "Love You Till It Hurts" is awesome, too. Chick cock rock! But throughout, the crisp, hooky songwriting of "Spend the Night" just isn't here. The swagger's in full effect, but the songs are just lacking. Also, the guitar sound was better on "Spend the Night." This album's better than "Smoke You Out" is awesome and has the most whacked-out lyrics of any Donnas song ever. "Love You Till It Hurts" is awesome, too. Chick cock rock! But throughout, the crisp, hooky songwriting of "Spend the Night" just isn't here. The swagger's in full effect, but the songs are just lacking. Also, the guitar sound was better on "Spend the Night." This album's better than "Gold Medal," though.… Expand
  2. EricG.
    Sep 26, 2007
    9
    This is a great Donnas record (and I've heard them all, Jake). The Donnas delve heavily into their hair metal and arena-rock fetishes and pump out surprisingly solid rock jams. Critics may cringe but they also gave Paris Hilton's CD good reviews so they can suck it. I would venture to guess that The Donnas have actually outgrown the expectations placed on them to become an This is a great Donnas record (and I've heard them all, Jake). The Donnas delve heavily into their hair metal and arena-rock fetishes and pump out surprisingly solid rock jams. Critics may cringe but they also gave Paris Hilton's CD good reviews so they can suck it. I would venture to guess that The Donnas have actually outgrown the expectations placed on them to become an amazing rock band. Let the rockers unite in the glorious shadow of The Donnas.… Expand
  3. ChrisH.
    Sep 22, 2007
    9
    A solid effort as usual. There's a lot more here than most reviewers pick up on. Pretty typical. The Donnas get a bad rap as being "just a party band" but they deserve more. People respect AC/DC and Kiss. They should respect The Donnas in the same way. They're just as accomplished as those bands, if not more so given the obstacles they face as a female act.
  4. EllenD.G
    Sep 23, 2007
    10
    This album is not to be compared with previous Donnas albums. The band has gone for a completely different sound and has obviously been influenced by 1980's rock music. The Donna's have successfully achieved to produce an album that has individualistic ideas and melodies that come together to form Bitchin'. The Donnas have created an interesting contrast between tracks. This album is not to be compared with previous Donnas albums. The band has gone for a completely different sound and has obviously been influenced by 1980's rock music. The Donna's have successfully achieved to produce an album that has individualistic ideas and melodies that come together to form Bitchin'. The Donnas have created an interesting contrast between tracks. Most noticeably between "Smoke You Out", "Bitchin'" and "When the Show is Over". This album is outstanding and rocks hard.… Expand
  5. MattD.
    Sep 24, 2007
    9
    I have all of the Donnas' other albums, and this one is just as good. Harder, yes, but just as good and fun. The lyrics are also even better. This is reason 1,456,708 not to follow reviewers.
  6. TimS.
    Sep 25, 2007
    10
    The Donnas rule, so does this album.
  7. CaladoniaK.
    Sep 27, 2007
    10
    The Donnas keep on rockin'.
  8. JeffP
    Oct 18, 2007
    10
    The Donans are back with a vengeance - kicking ass and taking names. A fine return to form, full of headnodding hooks, footstomping, anthemic choruses, and lots of dirty ass rock and roll with influences as obvious (and wide) as Joan Jett, Girlschool, Kiss, AC/DC, and Gary Glitter. U rock, girls. Welcome back!
  9. CoreyS.
    Sep 21, 2007
    9
    If you don't love this album, you hate rock n roll.
  10. AdamM.
    Sep 22, 2007
    9
    Reminiscent of 80's rock, complete with a cool new logo.
  11. arvy_p
    Jul 5, 2021
    9
    After lightening up a bit on Gold Medal, this one decides to go heavier. This is probably the closest the band ever got to a straight-up heavy metal album. It opens with something that invokes Black Sabbath; a mean, stomping riff over a siren that reminds me of War Pigs and Iron Man. Then it switches gears to overdrive and bashes your face in. After that, we've got tracks that soundAfter lightening up a bit on Gold Medal, this one decides to go heavier. This is probably the closest the band ever got to a straight-up heavy metal album. It opens with something that invokes Black Sabbath; a mean, stomping riff over a siren that reminds me of War Pigs and Iron Man. Then it switches gears to overdrive and bashes your face in. After that, we've got tracks that sound like they purposely wanted to pay tribute to Joan Jett, Billy Idol, and late-80's ZZ Top and Judas Priest. There is more than one track that reminds me of the album "Turbo". If the previous album was about happy relationships, this one is about breaking up and reveling in freedom, returning to the party scene and letting off steam. Unfortunately, for me as a listener, this is the last full-length album from the band. But how much longer could you go on writing songs about boys and partying without it just not working anymore? I like the attitude here, but the party couldn't last forever. Isn't that what happens to most people once we near our thirties as the group was doing when they broke up? Very few of us can live like Lemmy and survive to 70, and writing songs about it forever has to get challenging, especially when you've lost label backing and your drummer gets injured. The biz got tougher and this band was one of the casualties. But what a way to go out: big riffs, a DIY album label, and raucous thunder. Part of me wishes they'd come back and milk a cougar/milf angle, but I know they've moved on to mature, normal day jobs like the rest of us. If they were ever to return though, you can bet I'll have my ears open.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
54

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 14
  3. Negative: 2 out of 14
  1. AllMusic
    60
    the Donnas once rocked as if they were tanked to the gills but they now sound like they're playing with ferocious hangovers they just can't shake--and it's hard to have a good party if the threat of the morning after hangs over the whole affair.
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  2. Billboard
    60
    While superbly recorded and at times a hoot to crank (largely for the shameless rips of Kiss, Joan Jett and Def Leppard), Bitchin' is too light on hooks.
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  3. Rolling Stone
    60
    Bitchin' offers little you haven't heard before--even if you haven't heard a Donnas record--but it should go well with a beer or six.
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