#10
Vivian Girls
"Vivian Girls" (2008)
"Vivian Girls'" self titled album has nothing breathtakingly original on it. Most of the negative reviews I read about them can be split up into two groups: one was composed of people lamenting that they sounded like "Tiger Trap with more noise" or that they had no originality. The other was basically people whose gag reflexes act up when they listen to The Vaselines or The Shaggs, two bands that remind me alot of Vivian Girls.
That being said, none of these reviews kept me from picking up this album for two fundamental reasons: one, even since the days of Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly, theres been no truly original band in Rock and Roll that you cant go back further and trace their sound from. Even The Velvet Underground you could argue was just a fusion of Bob Dylan and avant garde jazz. The argument "It's been done before" sometimes can prove useful when maligning the 'new' flavor of the month pop-rock group, but the truth is, if you look hard enough, you can say it about every band. Reason two: I really like those K Records bands that Vivian Girls are supposovely ripping off.
While the all girl three piece band might not hide their influences well, it's not to say that they aren't any more creative than say, Interpol, who takes their 80's influences (including such variety as Joy Division, Ian Curtis, Joy Division, and early New Order), and simply add a slight modern spin to it. Vivian Girls take the naive, messy punk-pop-folk of Beat Happening and turn it up to 11. The melodies are still there, and the simple lyrics about ex-boyfriends and guys with 'Wild Eyes', only the guitar is so loud you have to pay close attention just to hear what the chord changes are. Add in a fondness for surf beats, and there you have it, an album that's my third favorite of 2008.
While the album only has 10 songs and clocks in at around 30 minutes, the relistenability factor is still high for me. I keep this one close to my stereo, whether Im in the mood for the fast, messy, one-word thrasher 'No', the gorgeous amateaur noise-pop-punk of 'Wild Eyes', or the all around awesomeness of 'Never See Me Again'. Anyone into 80's K Records bands, or interested in amateur noise punk in general, will find lots to love on this record.