This debut album, from Pennsylvania's latest addition to contemporary rock, features brother/sister team Maria (vocals) and Paul Nicgorski (guitars), along with childhood friends Martin Hoeger (bass), Greg Lyons (drums), and Ryan Bernstein (guitars). Hailing from Bucks County, PA (north of Philadelphia), they first first perked-up national audiences as part of Lollapalooza95's "Lab," but only after honing their songs for enthusiastic crowds at Philly and New York City clubs (even though they're all underage). Last year, they released a 7" single, "Help Me" on Sympathy For The Record Industry.
"Givin' Way," the album's first song, kicks off with a drumbeat intro, then suddenly explodes into the wa-wa driven wall of distorted guitars and heavy bass that recall an earlier approach to rock-and-roll. What helps set this team apart is the ability to balance their chaotic, fuzztone frenzy, with strong melodies and riffs. And Maria's unique vocal style cuts through the wall of beats like a redhot knife.
"One Desire" is the perfect single, with its strong, minor tinged, melodic hook and snarled, angry lyrics: "Baby, baby your one desire/ you leave me, leave me out to dry/ you're touchin' and touchin' this hallowed place/you leave me hangin', out again/Oh baby, baby, I think it's time/to save my money and leave you behind/a body abnormal, my friends would say/you think I'm stayin', well its too late..."
This is immediately (and effectively) followed by the ballad-esque, "Believe," about Maria's longing to find others like herself (and when you're in twilight of your teenage years, who isn't searching for their tribe?), with its gentle refrain "If you need a friend, you'll find one/It's not hard to find one here." Add a frustrated hard edged bridge, to shatter that gentle, forlorn longing and you have an effective double punch.
Sony claims the band has a musical pedigree derived from Monster Magnet and Flaming Lips. While this may be true, it also subtly weakens the album's overall effect. I really liked the recording overall and the lyrical content displays a surprising maturity (which is a major strength), but it is nearly impossible to overlook (er...overhear?) the cliched arranging techniques; slow, quiet sections broken by loud fast bridges, sudden breaks, droning chords, minor keys for that extra added angst effect.
At first I thought this might be due to a specified producer making sure the group had a "successful sound," but the album was recorded and produced in Maria and Paul's basement by their brother/manager Billy; so, it appears the band had complete control over the project from writing to recording.
In all fairness, I understand this is the first effort by a young band and the album is very professionally performed and recorded - better than might be expected from musicians not yet out of their teens (and independent of the "protective ear" of their label). If they focus on creating their own style, instead of borrowing from others, this group could very well become a major musical influence in the latter half of this decade. They certainly have a strong foundation to build on.
