I forget exactly how I found out about Brooklyn’s Vivian Girls, but what I can tell you is that I’ve been playing their debut self-titled LP non stop since I first heard them. On first listen, it can be tough to get past the seemingly crappy nature of the recordings. But just like numerous other lo-fi bands that are popular at the moment, Times New Viking and No Age immediately come to mind, you eventually get past anything that initially seems to be a drawback and come to enjoy the amazing pop melodies. The album rushes by in about 30 minutes, but the gorgeous choruses keep you pressing repeat. Comparisons will be made to Mika Miko simply because they are a lo-fi all-girls group, but their sound can be best described as a less edgy Times New Viking, keeping the distortion, but replacing their endearing, but out of tune, vocals with voices that not only can hit the correct notes, but harmonize.
These girls, who formed the band in late 2007, have been rising in popularity in both hometown NYC and around the country. After a great showing at SXSW this year, their self-titled and self released LP was immediately pressed and sold out within a week at various NYC independent music shops, including Other Music and Kim’s Underground. I went into Other Music two weeks ago to buy their first 7″ single Wild Eyes, out on Plays With Dolls. I had a great conversation with the cute girl behind the counter who was raving about Vivian Girls and how excited she was that the record sold out so quickly. At first I was afraid she was actually in the band, and somehow I found it embarrassing to be buying the record from her, but when she started talking about how I need to see them live in order to fully “get” it, I relaxed. Anyhow, I was back the next week to buy their next single, both of which have now sold out.
Again, with the explosion of lo-fi bands the past few months, I have a really good feeling that Vivian Girls should be next on tastemaker’s lists. Their debut LP is being repressed this fall by In The Red Records, which has put out awesome early records from bands like Black Lips and King Khan & BBQ Show. Simply put, Vivian Girls need to be on everyone’s radars right now.
