Theo and the Skyscrapers

A vision of smeared red lipstick, smudgy eyeliner, and a cotton candy tangle of platinum hair, Theo Kogan was an early '90s icon as the petulant, potty-mouthed front woman of all-girl punk band the Lunachicks, who ruled the New York club scene after the sea change of grunge unleashed a gargantuan wave of kick-ass female rock bands like L7 and Babes in Toyland. Now the blonde bad girl's back, joined by three towering tough guys (including Kogan's flame, ex-Toilet Boy Sean Pierce) who call themselves the Skyscrapers. Don't expect this band to help you unleash your inner riot grrl, though -- on their self-titled debut, Theo and the Skyscrapers come off as sleek and sinister as their namesake architecture, with sci-fi New Wave synth effects to temper the jagged guitar, and vox as icy smooth as Debbie Harry. Looking like a chic dominatrix cinched up in black rubber, Kogan's obviously ditched the role of mosh pit goddess for diva of the "Doppelganger Death Disco," and her followers will surely surrender themselves on the dance floor.