Monday, February 11, 2013

REVIEW: IT Girl - Neon Signs


I don't think I'm going out on a limb to say that IT GIRL likes guitars.  And on their debut EP, Neon Signs, guitars are delivered with angular, post punk, dance rock energy and a hint of menace.  With the additional element of baritone vocals, the band might remind listeners of fellow Glaswegians Franz Ferdinand or Interpol -- more the former than the latter for my ears, and that'e a good thing.  But IT GIRL has less of Franz Ferdinand's louche moments and more urgency and pace.  The songs have a palpable forward drive, with the upfront bass and percussion supporting crunchy chords and a stabbing, commanding lead guitar.  The vocals are up in the mix, but have a understated texture that leaves the guitars center stage.

The third track, "Victim to the Clock", provides a representative sample of this band's intriguing sound:



You can stream the entire album below.  The title track initiates proceedings with energy and swagger. "Hailey Commits" has a late-night anxious feel, while "Firelight" is probably comes the closest to being a pop song.  One notable aspect of the album is that the drumming, which is uniformly excellent, is provided by five different drummers.



If, like me, you like what you hear, the album is available for "name your price" at the Bandcamp link below.

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Agree with your comments! having favourited 'Hailey' and 'Firelight' already, newest is 'Followed and Found' -due to the fact that this track is AMAZING LIVE! (ESPECIALLY THE GUITARS AT THE END :)

GREAT LIVE BAND