[Pat is back this week with another morsel of rock goodness for Music Monday. between you + me, i am seriously loving his posts, and am thrilled to share this space with my mister. and i think he's kind of digging it, too. xoxo]
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Guys love women who rock. I should know, I married one. I always imagined that this was the secret told to all girls during that “special class” in fifth grade when they separated the boys and girls for the first time. And the attraction is much stronger than that of women to the sensitive guy “rocker”, because men and women alike can join in the frenzy, rather than one of us having to endure a set by a scruffy bearded dude in a cap (whether it be of the winter or the “Benny & Joon” variety). That just puts up walls rather than tears them down. True to this point, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is currently running a “Women Who Rock” exhibit, because the true woman rocker is unfortunately an edelweiss in the world of music. And besides, a “Men Who Rock” exhibit would probably be too John Parr and hairy chesty for anyone to truly enjoy.
Wild Flag’s recently released eponymous debut album on Merge Records is a genuine in your face garage rock romp. Check out Carrie Brownstein leading the charge through the band’s first single “Romance” like she is the love child of Chrissie Hynde and Nash Kato -
The band brings with it a stellar indie music pedigree (Sleater-Kinney, Helium, The Minders), and have made an album that takes the best parts of all those previous bands and puts a brand new stamp on the rock and roll passport. Trading off guitar and vocal attacks like they are equal parts Clash, Fugazi and Lush, Brownstein and Mary Timony have managed to remain distinct but blended to forge a potent two person front. Add in full throttle drums and a throwback organ and it becomes a blue ribbon recipe. It is, however, their skillful songwriting that really sets Wild Flag apart. Just when it is in danger of getting into re-treaded riot grrrl territory, they throw in a killer second guitar line, organ riff, or sing along back up vocals to remind you who’s the boss.
All this and they do their best Les Nessman imitation to beat a bunch of baseball playing bears in the video for “Electric Band” -
So, come on and put down that Fleet Foxes album for a while and live it up a little.
Fly the Wild Flag.
- PLC
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Also, for extra credit, check out Portlandia on IFC Fridays at 10PM starring Brownstein and Fred Armison. It is HI-Larious.
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be sure to check out Pat's other awesome music monday reviews:
- last week - The Black Keys
- full archive of Music Monday with PLC - HERE
