There’s something so artisanal and DIY in their attitude, they arrived with a school notebook in which they write their setlists as if they were entries for their common girl dairies. During the whole set, the two girls seemed so in phase with each other, having some funny and almost intimate chatting between the singing parts, and totally connecting during the songs, looking like two perfect accomplices
Ideal World – Girlpool – Maybe I overestimate these guys a touch because they sound so unlike everybody else in this pop moment, here they play two notes over and over again, with just the slightest of coloration. It is refreshingly quiet – A-
A busy week we got going on here, I’ve heard Dawes and I’ve heard Willie and Merle, and maybe five song off Jamie xx. The Florence And The Machine will definitely be good, definitely… but great? I really like Jamie xx but I think I am mot anticipating Girlpool: a first album from a terrific new band
GIRLPOOL! GIRLPOOL! Definitely the album of choice going into Spring. Though a new Florence Welch, a new Chris Stamey produced by Mitch Easter no less, Shelby Lynn (hope it is half as good as her sisters new album), Mumford And Sons, Best Coast, Ringo, Paul Weller, Brian Wilson… should be a fun season.
Chinatown – Girlpool – Post fame and fortune for the new Haim, here they come up with a pretty, understated pop move, two part harmony, pretty and smart. It sounds like a modern day Roches – B+
a sumptuous symphonic band with layers of instrumentation and a cinematic approach to music. Their album is a lush orchestral affair, with poignant strings and Kristianne Bautista’s amazing and soulful voice. A must have. Essential tracks: ‘Forever Found’
I realized at that moment that the girl duo was a real phenomenon, despite having only released an EP. And I totally got it, there was plenty of personality (nice and feisty) and attitude (feminism) there, served by a very efficient minimalism of evocative guitar-bass combo and sweet-harmonies galore
Pass on Haim, pass on Best Coast, but leave yourself open to this terrific L.A. band, a weird proto feminism about railing at diminished romantic and other expectations.
