CHOICE CUTS MARCH 2003
The Latest & Greatest in Indie Music & Beyond
ALBUM OF THE MONTH
Artist: Panty Lions
Album: So Dang Rad
The Scoop: Minimalist melancholia from Angelenos Ashod Simonian and Ariana Murray (the former formerly of Earlimart, the latter still a member). Panty Lions focus on eccentric tales fleshed out with little more than Ashod and Ariana's trembling vocals, a nylon string guitar and "various keyboardy things." The first song puts you right into the Panty Lion world; a lo-fi, lovelorn ode called "Dedication" in which the protagonist decides to dedicate a song to his estranged sweetie and-at a loss-chooses "Puttin' on the Ritz." Ariana joins Ashod for a lovely outro harmony, sounding a bit like Carissa Wierd's brilliant Jenn Ghetto. The effect-which I can perhaps best call "bedroom fragility"-is also similar. Other reviews like to mention Pavement, but-while Pavement fans may very well eat up So Dang Rad--there isn't really a strong parallel between the bands, aside from an appreciation of the esoteric, the involvement of Scott Kannberg (who played with Pavement and now runs Amazing Grease, the label home of Panty Lions), and the fact that Panty Lions cover an appropriately obscure Pavement song ("Baby Yeah") on the album. The purposeful dishevelment of chords and melodies won't work for everyone, but for those of us for whom it does work, So Dang Rad gets in your hair, between your teeth, and under your skin. In the good way.Highlight Tracks: "Dedication" and "Blatz from the Pabst" (song title of the year, anyone?)
For More Info: Visit the label site at http://www.amazinggrease.com or check out http://www.the-ship.com/pantylions/audio... for MP3s, etc.
Artist: Gigolo Aunts
Album: Pacific Ocean Blues
The Scoop: Gentle rock from the Boston transplants, who judging by the album title found a healthy muse in their adopted hometown of Los Angeles (welcome to the city, gentlemen). Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz has long been doing whatever he can for the Aunts, first signing them to his label and then-when that folded-giving them access to the Crows studio. The attraction makes sense, as there are several strong parallels between the bands, although Dave Gibbs and Steve Hurley's brand of pop song is more mellow and less torturously introspective. The former Beantowners are obviously smitten by those 70's songwriters who made it to the Pacific before them. Some will find Pacific Ocean Blues to be too lacking in testosterone (as a barometer, songs from the album have appeared on Felicity and Everwood), but light radio fans should swoon over the band's airtight melodies and pretty-as-a-sunset harmonies.
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