Pretty Girls Make Graves / Sons & Daughters

from a conversation that actually happened* . . .

Chris:  So I think I'm going to write my next post on Pretty Girls Make Graves.

Saldivar:  Dude, I'm the one who told you about them!

J. Scott: And aren't they broken up? This is the second band in a row you've selected that doesn't exist anymore! Can't you write something about a band that still makes music???

Chris: But they're one of my favorite bands, and I'm worried that others will never get to hear them because they won't ever make it big now! Look, I'll compromise and do a two-fer: I'll write up PGMG and a new band at the same time.

Saldivar:  Yeah, and try to pass it off as a Presidents' Day Weekend special!

J. Scott: The masses will never know what hit them . . . lemmings! All lemmings!

Chris: Whatever, dude; keep it in your pants.

* this conversation definitely never happened

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Attention blogophiles: you're in for a treat if you've stumbled into our humble virtual abode, for This Weekend Only we have a special Presidents' Day Weekend 2-for-1 deal! That's right, we're celebrating everyone's favorite dead American leaders by giving you not one, but two amazing bands to check out. In honor of the eras from which these men of greatness emerged, I have decided to highlight something that was forbidden and near heretical at the time: women doing things as well as (or even better than) men. So put on your ceremonial wigs, get out your best dueling pistol or Congressional floor beat-down cane, and take a seat like FDR, 'cause you're in for a ride on my Air Force One of rock!

Artist: Pretty Girls Make Graves

Send Check Or Money Order To: Seattle

Albums: Good Health (2002), The New Romance (2003), Élan Vital (2006)

Source: I'm fairly sure Saldivar actually introduced me to them back in '02 or '03, when he had me listen to the song "Speakers Push The Air"

Sounds Like: edgy guitars, syncopated drums, and unrefined, powerful female vocals; for the more mathematically minded, 

 

Party Like A Rockstar: not official page, myspace, amazon, iTunes

Listen Now:

Pretty Girls Make Graves are partially responsible for me getting through the last year and a half, which included 6 months of marathon training (props to Hector), an exciting trip to the hospital (sorry Talia), and even a few hours in the lab doing my research. In fact, of my Top 10 most played songs (since Fall 2006, 'cause my hard drive got fried), they hold the #1, #2, and #7 spots. They are awesome . . . well, were awesome. During their 2006/2007 tour, the drummer decided that it was time to move in a different direction (northeast, maybe?). He stayed with them as they finished out their tour, but the band as a whole subsequently called it quits. I was fortunate enough to see them in their 3rd-to-last show, at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Ridiculous.

someone is either getting married or doing a dramatic band photo shoot . . .

Lead singer Andrea Zollo spans the spectrum from innocent, playful vocal stylings to raw, passionate screaming. Her vocals are often supplemented by keyboarding cutie Leona Mars (who also dabbles in some accordion) as well as bassist Derek Fudesco. In reality, all six members sang at some point, though to what degree I have no clue. Jay Clark's guitars switch from amazingly delicate riffs painting the background to intense walls-of-sound that support Zollo's more throttling vocal displays. Even though his departure was the straw that flattened this cash camel, drummer Nick Dewitt always impressed me with his decision and ability to do what so many drummers in modern rock fail to even try--lay down beats that aren't in straight-4 even if they might be less accessible to the average listener. Did I tell you they are one of my favorites?

For starters, check out the videos below for "Speakers Push The Air" and "This Is Our Emergency." My absolute favorite songs? "The New Romance" and "Sad Girls Por Vida." If you're looking for something more chill, check out "Parade," "The Get A Way," or "Pyrite Pedestal." Enjoy, or I might be offended.

And now for the heirs apparent . . . 

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Artist: Sons & Daughters

Don Their Kilts In: Glasgow, Scotland

Album: This Gift (2008)

Source: February 2008 issue of Spin magazine, page 97

Sounds Like: well, Pretty Girls Make Graves, to be honest . . . with a little more pop, though

Get Yer' Fresh Sounds Here: official page, myspace, amazon, iTunes

Listen Now:

At my house in Berkeley, we receive an extensive amount of mail for previous tenants: bills, paychecks, tax returns, subpoenas, trashy catalogues, and two or three copies of Spin each month. I typically flip through it to see what they recommend and read the hipster English majors who feel the need to overanalyze bands. Let's listen in on Shannon Zimmerman's take on Sons & Daughters:

"With propulsive pogo-worthy rhythms and singer Adele Bethel's insistent vocals, these rough-edged folk punks go for a quick knockout on their poppier second album. Frontloaded with crackling tracks . . . This Gift flags halfway through when an odd excursion into retro-'60s twaddle gums up the works. But as long as the foot-stompers prevail, Sons and Daughters are a bracing jolt to Glasgow's chronically melancholly music scene."

Thanks Shannon, for throwing up a 3 1/2 star with a review that tells me nothing! Folk punks? Pogo-worthy? Really? Whatever . . .

The band formed near the turn of the millennium and promptly released a few albums: Love The Cup in 2003 and Repulsion Box in 2005. Having toured with Morrissey and Franz Ferdinand, the band managed to pull in Suede's former guitarist Bernard Butler (yes, of McAlmont & Butler) to produce their latest record. This Gift is a trampoline-ready exercise in post-indie screamo reggae with hints of eighteenth-century classical motifs and . . . never mind. They're good, like Pretty Girls Make Graves but a little more poppy.

I would recommend checking out the videos below for their first two singles off This Gift, "Gilt Complex" and "Darling."

Tour Alert! Sons & Daughters will be playing in Atlanta (March 17), DC (March 19), and San Francisco (April 7), amongst some other less important cities . . . check their complete schedule for more.