I like that new Crystal Stilts self titled EP thingy, but when I saw them open for Atlas Sound last they were completely boring. My friend says it's better when you're drunk though. The latest Vivian Girls 7" is really good!
― jonathan - stl, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 06:17 (fifteen years ago) link
I love that tell the world song
― I know, right?, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 17:44 (fifteen years ago) link
^^^^^ yeah that's the one I have, the 7" on woodsist. v. good
haven't heard the new 7" on In the Red yet
― dmr, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 18:05 (fifteen years ago) link
hey dmr, i have a spare copy of the 1st single if you want one. it really is very good. i do like the 2nd one, on woodsist, as well tbh but the LP was kinda monochrome.
― ian, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 18:11 (fifteen years ago) link
It's the singers voice that makes it for me, it sounds like it was recorded just enough hotel rooms away.
― I know, right?, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 18:16 (fifteen years ago) link
A bit mystified by the hype, though the Woodist 7" is quite good. Missed 'em a month or so back and haven't heard the LP, so I suppose I'm missing something/everything.
― contenderizer, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 18:36 (fifteen years ago) link
Definitely great singing, those flat voices with lots of reverb. Monochrome yeah, I mean the show was the same song 10 times in about 25 minutes but I like songs that make me want to write songs.
― call all destroyer, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 18:58 (fifteen years ago) link
i think i am predisposed to hate this band. i have avoided listening to them because of it.
― bell_labs, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 19:04 (fifteen years ago) link
why's that?
― I know, right?, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 19:16 (fifteen years ago) link
i can guess.
― chicago kevin, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 19:18 (fifteen years ago) link
LP was kinda monochrome
I've only heard one track off it but it seems like they lost a little something w/ the better production
i have a spare copy of the 1st single if you want one
for sure! thanks dude
― dmr, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 19:49 (fifteen years ago) link
-- chicago kevin, Tuesday, August 5, 2008 7:18 PM (41 minutes ago) Bookmark Link
what is your guess??
― bell_labs, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 20:01 (fifteen years ago) link
Does the guess contain nudity? I can't get enough of nudity on the internet.
But contenderizer correct about the hype with this. I got the Robot Assassins ep, which knocked me out in the way that I hoped the Woodsist didn't quite. I liked it fine though. They're fun. And, *SPOILER* uh.... hot.
― gnarly sceptre, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 21:33 (fifteen years ago) link
wha?
Woodsist didn't quite would
no sense made. smoking/typing/duh
― gnarly sceptre, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 21:35 (fifteen years ago) link
no, my guess would have involved the general cattiness toward good looking women that were playing great fucking songs that was exhibited by some girls at the show here. i realize that's unfair to bell labs since i don't actually know her. sorry bell, i have no idea why you're predisposed to hating them.
― chicago kevin, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 21:51 (fifteen years ago) link
that said, the cattiness would have been funny if it wasn't so stupid and 15 years out date.
― chicago kevin, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 21:53 (fifteen years ago) link
that was kind of hostile! i don't know, maybe they are good. i just doubt i'll like them cos they seem internet flavor of the monthy. i like plenty of attractive female musicians that's not an issue.
― bell_labs, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 21:59 (fifteen years ago) link
like plenty of attractive female musicians that's not an issue.
yeah, i shouldn't assumed it based on what i saw here, hence the appology.
anyway, songs are good.
― chicago kevin, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 22:20 (fifteen years ago) link
Can't believe it took this long for a band to be named this, especially in light of all the indie rawk love for Darger and all
Are they hot? Had no idea.
Woodsist 7" is nice if you ever dug shop assistants and wished their recordings were more, err, lo-fi
― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 22:44 (fifteen years ago) link
There are like 98273982 bands named the Vivian Girls. Wikipedia cites at least three.
Are they hot? Well, depends what you're into.
― ian, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 22:46 (fifteen years ago) link
obviously not hot if you have a curvy colombian wife
― bell_labs, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 22:48 (fifteen years ago) link
mmm.
― gnarly sceptre, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 22:52 (fifteen years ago) link
Yeah guys this is why I tried not to mention that they are pretty fine. Kevin I didn't notice any attitude among the many girls there but I was kind of hanging in the back since I was late and by myself. I don't get it at all esp. since their music isn't cute or naive or anything. It's simple but some of it is pretty badass.
― call all destroyer, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 00:07 (fifteen years ago) link
ok, i was unawares of any innernet buzz about them but... wtf? "very unplayed"?
― chicago kevin, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 18:42 (fifteen years ago) link
That just got repressed according to username sleep. I was kinda non-plussed by them; the new drummer was too cymbally and the same-ass reverb got boring.
― Catsupppppppppppppp dude 茄蕃, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 18:55 (fifteen years ago) link
that's the one In the Red is reissuing in the fall
xpost
― dmr, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 18:58 (fifteen years ago) link
yeah, if anyone wants my mauled by tigers copy i'll let it go for FIFTY.
i liked them, definitely a change of pace from what i had been listening to.
― chicago kevin, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 19:01 (fifteen years ago) link
the new drummer was too cymbally and the same-ass reverb got boring
I don't know how much of that is the sound they're going for and how much was that the sound at the show just wasn't very good
they do use the vocal reverb on pretty much every song though
― dmr, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 19:02 (fifteen years ago) link
i kinda like the shimmery vocals.
― chicago kevin, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 21:15 (fifteen years ago) link
All I know about this group is the name, and I thought "wow, why hasn't that one been used before?" and then it turned out it was
― Oilyrags, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 21:19 (fifteen years ago) link
Just heard some of this band's new album in a record shop, sounds like Talulah Gosh/Rosehips, assuming it's the same band called Vivian Girls. Which = awesome.
― Colonel Poo, Friday, 15 August 2008 13:15 (fifteen years ago) link
they sound like an early K records band which is good, but lets face it - those legendary bands were better. but ask me again in a week or two, maybe it's a grower
― Zeno, Monday, 18 August 2008 17:37 (fifteen years ago) link
I played this earlier today and liked it, and pretty much can't remember the last time I was into a record like that - maybe like one Dressy Bessy album, yeeears ago
― DJ Mencap, Monday, 18 August 2008 18:36 (fifteen years ago) link
damn this is goood
― ilx: a miracle i helped create (J0rdan S.), Friday, 19 September 2008 20:36 (fifteen years ago) link
"never see me again"
― ilx: a miracle i helped create (J0rdan S.), Friday, 19 September 2008 20:38 (fifteen years ago) link
lol u read the same rapidshare blogs as me
― Kramkoob (Catsupppppppppppppp dude 茄蕃), Friday, 19 September 2008 20:41 (fifteen years ago) link
indie pop!
― M@tt He1ges0n, Friday, 19 September 2008 20:45 (fifteen years ago) link
Why'd they dump the cute drummer, a major part of their appeal was that they were all beautiful.
― I know, right?, Saturday, 20 September 2008 22:41 (fifteen years ago) link
she quit to play in crystal stilts full time.she was too short to be cute anyhow.
― ian, Saturday, 20 September 2008 23:23 (fifteen years ago) link
short girls are totally cute!
― t_g, Sunday, 21 September 2008 03:31 (fifteen years ago) link
yes, this is awesome!
― Tape Store, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 18:14 (fifteen years ago) link
will this band be popular longer than Slumber Party? Didn't they kinda sound similar?
― mizzell, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 18:16 (fifteen years ago) link
The way they kind of slowly reveal the chorus on Where Do You Run To is really really great.
― What's good for Wall Street (call all destroyer), Wednesday, 15 October 2008 18:18 (fifteen years ago) link
yeah the new record is pretty tightwhere do you tun to is a sweet song
― Kevin Keller, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 18:18 (fifteen years ago) link
a three-girl band with candy-sweet vocals and great bangs
maybe they are great but I share the bell labs ugh factor when I read things like this
― Edward III, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 18:40 (fifteen years ago) link
this band is dogshit for faggoty loser writers to jizz over
pro-tip giving them a good review wont get u any titty
― ಥ﹏ಥ (cankles), Wednesday, 15 October 2008 18:49 (fifteen years ago) link
^^^real talk
― Every Day Jimmy Mod Is Hustlin' (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Wednesday, 15 October 2008 19:03 (fifteen years ago) link
i have kickball katy's n00dz btw
― ಥ﹏ಥ (cankles), Wednesday, 15 October 2008 19:07 (fifteen years ago) link
ysi?
― Edward III, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 19:09 (fifteen years ago) link
i have kickball katy's n00dz btw― ಥ﹏ಥ (cankles), Wednesday, October 15, 2008 3:07 PM (7 minutes ago) Bookmark
― ಥ﹏ಥ (cankles), Wednesday, October 15, 2008 3:07 PM (7 minutes ago) Bookmark
There are two kickball katy's btw! This confused me too because I dated her friend pre-MOC
― Kramkoob (Catsupppppppppppppp dude 茄蕃), Wednesday, 15 October 2008 19:28 (fifteen years ago) link
(throw in a few more entirelys there if you want)
― dumbsocietypigeons (unregistered), Thursday, 5 March 2009 01:18 (fifteen years ago) link
This is pretty otm, but it doesn't explain why the Vivian Girls have such a strong nationwide following w/ hardcore indiepop fans who do realize that the music is more-or-less old hat. If you lurk on the indiepop list & read the year-end poll, you'll see people gushing over them with very little backlash. This is (presumably) a crowd who followed Black Tambourine 20 years ago and Slumber Party 10 years ago, so you'd expect a little less excitement from those parts.The easy answer, I guess, is that twee lifestylists are happy to gush over any new act that reminds them of the Golden Age of Indiepop, and they're slow to turn their noses up at any music that comes out of their own fuzz-pop ghetto, regardless of its (un)originality. If the concerts are fun and the crowds are friendly, then it's easy to be a little forgiving and noncritical about the music as long as its reasonably fun and intimate (I'll give the VG's that much credit, at least...)
The easy answer, I guess, is that twee lifestylists are happy to gush over any new act that reminds them of the Golden Age of Indiepop, and they're slow to turn their noses up at any music that comes out of their own fuzz-pop ghetto, regardless of its (un)originality. If the concerts are fun and the crowds are friendly, then it's easy to be a little forgiving and noncritical about the music as long as its reasonably fun and intimate (I'll give the VG's that much credit, at least...)
For me, the answer is that I like a handful of Vivian Girl's songs. A lot. And look, I like innovation and experiment in art, but I can also appreciate stuff that has a comfortable feel and/or grooves and/or has great hooks and/or compelling songwriting and/or wonderful technique or some other admirable quality (so long as it isn't a steady diet of total pastiche).
― Daniel, Esq., Thursday, 5 March 2009 01:32 (fifteen years ago) link
My case against them basically boils down to "they're nothing new, and I don't get much enjoyment out of their songwriting, groove, texture, hooks." I'm not trying to indict all music that doesn't break a lot of new ground (if that's the way you interpreted the quoted post), and fwiw I'm pretty sure I like Slumber Party for all the same reasons you like the Vivian Girls. If I happen to dislike a particular band, I tend to dwell on points like unoriginality, even if they're no more or less innovative than x artist that I'm absolutely in love with.
― dumbsocietypigeons (unregistered), Thursday, 5 March 2009 01:45 (fifteen years ago) link
No worries. Nothing wrong with your feeling at all (obv.).
Actually, your post got me to wondering what -- these days -- is innovative/groundbreaking in rock, anyway? I mean, would the F---k Buttons (pretty/abrasive), Radiohead (rock/electronics (circa Kid-A)), Animal Collective (as eMusic just described them: psychedelic '60s pop + Jamaican dub + Grateful Dead bootlegs + Terry Riley +mesmeric German techno), M.I.A., The Advisory Circle qualify? I dunno. I feel like are easily dismissed, maybe because they have an audience/buzz. If not them, that's fine, but then who? I'd say maybe The Books, The Bug, Burial and some other stuff, but that's not really rock (neither is M.I.A., but I feel like she could qualify).
― Daniel, Esq., Thursday, 5 March 2009 01:58 (fifteen years ago) link
I dunno...I was thrilled by the Vivian Girls when they first came out, and I'm one of those people who raved over Slumber Party* and Black Tambourine, and the Aislers Set too. Months later, I find myself only listening to that one Vivian Girls song - you know, the one by the ex-member - whereas I can still turn on Psychedelicate or my old Pam Berry 7" singles and enjoy them as music (as opposed to "sound").
― mike a, Thursday, 5 March 2009 01:59 (fifteen years ago) link
To push this post further off topic: Slumber Party put out a great CD, Musik, in 2006 that got completely lost in the shuffle. Completely different lineup and a 180 away from the JMC-distorto old sound.
― mike a, Thursday, 5 March 2009 02:00 (fifteen years ago) link
Never heard the bands you mentioned (except Black Tambourine, who I just discovered). But I'm heading to eMusic with those names now, to check 'em out.
(Sorry for incoherence; posting and parenting are hard to do at the same time. Must go now and turn on Mighty B).
― Daniel, Esq., Thursday, 5 March 2009 02:03 (fifteen years ago) link
the first two aislers set albums are fantastic. i think all the SP albums are there too - i might go and get 'muzik' myself since it's the only one of theirs i don't have
― w/ sax (electricsound), Thursday, 5 March 2009 02:06 (fifteen years ago) link
I debated buying a $4 copy of SP's third album last month, but I passed it up in favor of a more budget-friendly Jimmy Somerville comp. I can vouch for the fantasticness of their debut and Psychedelicate, and now I'm pretty curious about Musik.
― dumbsocietypigeons (unregistered), Thursday, 5 March 2009 02:19 (fifteen years ago) link
But my point there was just that in terms of overall trends, certain sorts of shambly/modest indiepop haven't been hugely visible over the past several years
Visible to me and visible to you are slightly different things, and I understand what you're saying, but there's no reason the Vivian Girls should be bigger right now than, say, Cause Co Motion, or some other lo-fi brooklyn indie pop band.
I am going go not post on this thread anymore, because part of my new year's resolution is to be less of a hater. And I admit I might give these ladies more of a chance if I didn't know them when they were playing screeching weasel covers in my friend's apartment.
― ian, Thursday, 5 March 2009 03:57 (fifteen years ago) link
why they get so much press: huge fat fucken titties
― s1ocki kong country (cankles), Thursday, 5 March 2009 04:08 (fifteen years ago) link
we've established that i think
― ian, Thursday, 5 March 2009 04:22 (fifteen years ago) link
sad truth, only one of them is cuet since fr4nki3 left the band.
― ian, Thursday, 5 March 2009 04:30 (fifteen years ago) link
xcvnfxngjkds i know i said i would stop the hating.
― ian, Thursday, 5 March 2009 04:31 (fifteen years ago) link
http://bestmessageboardever.com/uploads/monthly_06_2008/post-2636-1212621923.jpg
katy's cans
― s1ocki kong country (cankles), Thursday, 5 March 2009 04:34 (fifteen years ago) link
nsfw
― ian, Thursday, 5 March 2009 04:35 (fifteen years ago) link
(´・ω・)つ(・(・
― s1ocki kong country (cankles), Thursday, 5 March 2009 04:36 (fifteen years ago) link
@___@
― eman, Thursday, 5 March 2009 05:51 (fifteen years ago) link
lard a'mercy
― edible wife (gnarly sceptre), Thursday, 5 March 2009 10:39 (fifteen years ago) link
I find myself only listening to that one Vivian Girls song - you know, the one by the ex-member
Which one is that? Is it "Where Do You Run?"?
― Shannon Whirry & the Bad Brains, Thursday, 5 March 2009 12:35 (fifteen years ago) link
Good god, this thread
― Shannon Whirry & the Bad Brains, Thursday, 5 March 2009 12:41 (fifteen years ago) link
i've had the phrase 'kickball cansy' in my head all day thanks to this thread
― w/ sax (electricsound), Thursday, 5 March 2009 12:45 (fifteen years ago) link
This is pretty otm, but it doesn't explain why the Vivian Girls have such a strong nationwide following w/ hardcore indiepop fans who do realize that the music is more-or-less old hat. If you lurk on the indiepop list & read the year-end poll, you'll see people gushing over them with very little backlash. This is (presumably) a crowd who followed Black Tambourine 20 years ago and Slumber Party 10 years ago, so you'd expect a little less excitement from those parts.
Even ten years ago the indiepop list had the same split... posters liked C86 bands and they liked the 90s bands that were inspired by those same C86 bands. And there were people posting the exact same observation you are on the list as well, except they were asking why all the fuss about Black Tambourine!
Putting aside the somewhat subjective claim that the C86 bands were actually better, the advantage of the contemporary bands was that their records were easier to get a hold of and you could maybe see them perform live. And as others have noted, the concept of "old hat" doesn't really map onto indie pop aesthetics.
As for the strong nationwide following... they don't have that. They get press because they're young and they're cute and they put out a record they're happy to give interviews about. It doesn't take much more than that. Operating out of NYC probably helps a lot as well.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Monday, 4 May 2009 03:53 (fourteen years ago) link
if they encourage kids to get into early/ier slumberland albums then their existence isn't a total waste
― and the gold loogie goes to... (electricsound), Monday, 4 May 2009 03:57 (fourteen years ago) link
the new single is reeeeeeally good imo
― barrymore, murdrewland (J0rdan S.), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 23:02 (fourteen years ago) link
minute plus instrumental outro = good idea!
― barrymore, murdrewland (J0rdan S.), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 23:07 (fourteen years ago) link
is that "when i'm gone"? it is pretty good.
― north sea jazz dit weekend (call all destroyer), Friday, 17 July 2009 15:32 (fourteen years ago) link
― best "Courtroom/Lesbian Scene" titties (gnarly sceptre), Friday, 17 July 2009 16:09 (fourteen years ago) link
I am on board with the Vivian Girls.
― kornrulez6969, Friday, 17 July 2009 16:28 (fourteen years ago) link
xp lol is that boobs or something?
― north sea jazz dit weekend (call all destroyer), Friday, 17 July 2009 16:33 (fourteen years ago) link
it's kneading tits
― born s1ocki (cankles), Friday, 17 July 2009 16:34 (fourteen years ago) link
looks like a butt, to be fair, but it's the best we got
― best "Courtroom/Lesbian Scene" titties (gnarly sceptre), Friday, 17 July 2009 17:07 (fourteen years ago) link
Finally listened to the new album and IMO if you love Black Tambourine, Tiger Trap, Slumber Party etc etc etc and you don't like this there is something wrong with your ears.
― Colonel Poo, Wednesday, 14 October 2009 11:47 (fourteen years ago) link
mentioned this a bit on the other thread but yeah i think the 2nd album is ridiculously better than the first. also they were pretty darn tight live
― get up and use(rna)me (electricsound), Wednesday, 14 October 2009 21:50 (fourteen years ago) link
there is a new song available through lol polyvinyl.
it's clean and midtempo with lots of harmony i.e. it's v. boring :(
― call all destroyer, Tuesday, 1 February 2011 13:32 (thirteen years ago) link
xpost nsfw pic rip
― ship_rex (+ +), Tuesday, 1 February 2011 17:11 (thirteen years ago) link
Such an angsty thread. Those 2nd and 3rd records were pretty solid. Mostly. The world could do with more Vivian Girls songs than we ended up getting.
― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Wednesday, 10 October 2018 05:51 (five years ago) link
Wow, I was the last poster on this thread.
Anyway, they're back, and I've not seen any mention of it here. This sounds kinda promising.
https://youtu.be/OYwmrOCAd_s
― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Sunday, 21 July 2019 10:47 (four years ago) link
Yeah, we have tickets for SF
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 21 July 2019 14:37 (four years ago) link
here for this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oUWoj6KXpM
― devvvine, Wednesday, 14 August 2019 20:19 (four years ago) link
yes
― Colonel Poo, Wednesday, 14 August 2019 21:22 (four years ago) link
The whole album sounds nice and dense. Possibly similar to Everything Goes Wrong in that it may take a few listens to absorb the finer details.
― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Saturday, 21 September 2019 01:47 (four years ago) link
Show the other night was quite great!
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 28 October 2019 17:33 (four years ago) link