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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Give yourself up pop kids!, 5 April 2006
Giant Drag's debut album 'Hearts and Unicorns' comes on the back of last year's 'Lemona' e.p. released on Wichita and featuring three songs here 'this isn't it', 'cordial invitation' & 'YFLMD' (You **** Like My Dad)It's pretty instant stuff - in some ways fantastic pop you have to give yourself up to (...it's quite nice in an age of fractal post-shoegazing soundscaping like Sigur Ros, Jeniferever, Mogwai & Explosions in the Sky to hear SONGS...and 'Hearts and Unicorns' are full of them...)
Giant Drag are duo Annie Hardy and Micah Calabrese (male/female due seems a bit Royal Trux?) with some additional help here - the cues seem very 1990s: The Breeders, Belly, early Liz Phair (Ms Hardy's filthiness is equal to that found on '**** and Run' and 'Chopsticks'), Drop Nineteens, Veruca Salt, Sebadoh, Julianna Hatfield Three, the poppier elements of Sleater Kinney (e.g. 'Little Babies', 'Dance Song '97') and lots of other good stuff. There could be debate whether they are a tribute band - something levelled at lots of folks these days - but I think the charm and sass overwhelms that.
'Hearts and Unicorns' is a packed record, a 12-track classic with a special bonus cover version (...more in a moment). Upcoming single and opener 'Kevin is Gay' displays some punk-ass brattiness, while 'Cordial Invitation' like recent work by Joy Zipper and Ladytron invokes My Bloody Valentine. 'This Isn't It' sounds like the best song Veruca Salt forgot to record, while 'yflmd'has a robotic beat fusing the industrial with a song that sounds like a much harder Cardigans. 'My Dick Sucks' sounds like a fuzzed up take on Suede's 'Filmstar' (not a bad thing where I reside), while closing epic 'Slayer' is another standout. Look there's not a dud - trust me it's a major highlight of 2006 and indie-alt pop of our dreams...Plus there's a cover of Chris Isaak's 'Wicked Game' which sounds like indie Joy Division and certainly belongs on a compilation/playlist alongside Cat Power's 'Satisfaction', Low's 'Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me', The Afghan Whigs' 'My World Is Empty Without You' & Sebadoh's 'Riding' (the way the song builds up over drones and beats, drifting off into feedback heaven could reasonably last forever) & 'Wicked Game's just the bonus! A joy to rang alongside Charlotte Hatherley's debut and the work of those Canadian alt-pop masters The New Pornographers (the most instant debut LP since 'Mass Romantic' I think...) Shame the upcoming UK tour looks sold out...anyway, 'Hearts and Unicorns' rocks the fat one and there's nothing to do but give yourself up pop kids!
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7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Grower, 2 Mar 2006
First off; Big Drag, despite all the weirdness surrounding them (have you seen their video to Kevin Is Gay?), are one awesome band, and im sure will have a prolific 2006. The Starting Track 'Kevin Is Gay' has a rift as catchy as the common cold, penetrating melacholic vocals and a whole verse consisting of a series of 'meows'...what more could you want? Seriously though, it seems to work, just dont ask me how. People who may be thinking at this point that Big drag don't take their music serious enough, one listen to the next track will change your mind. 'Cordial Invitation' is a beautiful song, with the soft acoustic feel being juxtaposed by the eerie sound of the vocals and the tension of the drums. My favourite track on 'Hearts and Unicorns' is 'Your full of S**t', it has such an electrifying chorus which really lifts you. The final track 'Slayer' weirdly enough, is a really smooth song (the name seems to suggest otherwise), with a smouldering chorus embued with the evocative whispers of the lead singer.Every track is killer, with the highlights being the first two, 'Your so full of s**t' and 'Slayer'. At first i thought this band was a bunch of weirdos with a guitar, effects and a drum and to be honest i still think they are a bunch of weirdos, though looking passed that they have musical talent by the bucket load, all the songs are varied, and im going to go see them live in april, i truley have been converted. Just to give you an idea about my musical perspective, I like bands like Coldplay, Arcarde Fire, Bloc Party, Muse, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley and Interpol. Sorry for saying weird too much btw
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3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Like finding a gold nugget !!, 27 Feb 2006
I new nothing about this duo at all heared one track and took a gamble, WOW I suggest you go to my space and check them out , the could be the next big thing! miss it miss out!!
These guys are good , bloody good.
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