The Pipettes

I really like the drum sound on this record. I like how they've done a bigger production that uses that contemporary garage rock drum sound (fairly dry, crisp, and loud). It's fresh.

P.S. They're sexy.

And the perception of "sexy" takes up a lot of the male brain think-capacity. We all know this: male, female, gay, straight, whatever. We all know that most guys spend an awful lot of their time looking at "hot" bodies and thinking about what might be done with or to them, as depersonalized sex objects. (Hopefully, we're also grown up enough to realize that this is perfectly okay...)

The Pipettes know know that the boys are looking, as did the Ronettes and certainly Spector himself. Sure, they're speaking to other girls of/from shared experience, but they're also, very explicity, speaking to boys. And specifically, intentionally positioning themselves as objects-to-be-looked-at.
And lusted-over.
By boys.

So be it. And so what? That's what people do. It's what rock bands do. Just like the Strokes and Iggy Pop before them. Sex appeal appeals. Again, though, I suspect that everyone already knows this.

If the Pipettes didn't WANT their sex appeal to be an issue, they wouldn't make such an issue of it. And since they do so obviously want it to be an issue, I think it's perfectly appropriate to include it in the discussion.

I am quite nostalgic about Herman's Hermits. But I do not live in 1964.

I think sentimentality about the future is far more dangerous than sentimentality about the past.

I have only heard a couple of Pipettes tracks.

They sounded fairly good and witty to me.

It would be nice to have a Fuzzbox revival.

Pippettes image is not sexy, it is sterile, like their name.

If Uncut had existed in 1962 they would have been doing 30-page cover features on Vera Lynn.

I like their song, ABC! I would not like to see them live, because it's all a bit creepy. It's like the Sarah Cracknell effect manipulated to the max, more than one song can get quite unappetising. Also, MEN OF THE WORLD, there are grillions of gurlies who look like this if you just go to Brick Lane market or indeed to New Cross :( ... or do I mean :) I dunno!!

They sound nothing like the Beatles, nor especially like the Vernons Girls or the Caravelles.

Doubtless if they were middle-aged, hairy men replicating the period details of the Flying Burrito Brothers, Uncut writers would be disposed towards them more favourably.

I like to think of them - incidentally - as the Pie Pets, which is a much better name, don't you think?

Funnily enough, I have written about the Pipettes for Uncut. But I don't think I have written about many middle-aged hairy men! I do quite like that Midlake record though.

Funnily enough, The Pipettes are, in name at least, on the cover of the new Plan B! Big feature within, too, with much polka-dottage and excited/ing chatter.

can you expand on this Marcello? i thought it was an interesting remark.

never mind, i've seen the Stylus TOTP thing now.

God no. "Pull Shapes" is great, but it's hardly "Cruel Summer" is it?

It was most pleasant and attractive.

I think their album will make for fine and supple summer listening.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/radcliffe/

You should play some Marvelettes - much better than Dross and the Supremes.

I actually think this "emotional flatness" is kind of characteristic of some early girl group stuff -- Diana Ross is almost too late -- and so, to an extent that it may be intentional. I do agree, however, that only one of them (Gwenno, noted above) really seems to be a good singer.

(hmm, well, I guess I disagree with Marcello on this. Maybe the live session will convince me I'm wrong)

?You should play some Marvelettes

i should HEAR some marvelettes! i have no idea where to start with any old girl groups. (while you're here marcello, where should i start with pre-tilt scott walker? i have never heard any of it!)

the pipettes sound fine on record, praise be to autotune, but i heard a live tv show they did and it was appalling, their voices are these awful out-of-tune caterwauling things which completely betray their lack of formal training (obv formal training is not a necessity by any means but if you are in a girl group and are singing HARMONIES it is best not to flaunt your vocal deficiencies)

However, since you asked...

steve, girls aloud sing (technically) badly on record too, but it doesn't matter because they don't sing material which requires much technical mastery.

Pardon me?

tom otm

oops, I just refreshed it
fuck

I'm not at all bothered by their voices, they add no more or no less to their songs than Girls Aloud, Rachel Stevens or any of the other several ILM-feted pop ciphers you could name. Also IT DOESN'T MATTER that they can't sing - male vocalists who can't sing get a free pass these days (unless you're Lex of course), it's very rare that female vocalists are afforded that luxury. Doesn't mean I'd want to see them live though, if only for the dodgy harmonies.

Still not as good as GA of course.