THE GIRLS
Return To Zero (Defend Los Angeles)
Reviewed by Alan Wright

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The Girls are like some kind of timewarp to the late '70s when bands were being called "punk rock," "new wave" (a term I always hated) and "new music." They have elements of bands like the Cars, Devo, Tubeway Army, and so forth. You know, really catchy, but kinda quirky, too. Comparisons to the Briefs are somewhat unavoidable, and it's no surprise that Steve Ross from the Briefs was recently subbing with the Girls as their bassist has split since this was recorded. Yet, their sound is different in a way, maybe less punk and more powerpop, plus they have keyboards. Some people may remember singer Shannon Brown from an underrated Seattle glam-punk band called the Cuckoos from a few years ago. The Girls are an entirely different thing, Brown's vocals are less "macho," and more expressive, and I mean that in a good way.

[Pick this up at www.defla.com.]

© 2003 - Alan Wright