Giant Drag
25 October 2005 :: posted by Travis
I’ve had Giant Drag’s Hearts And Unicorns kicking around my desk for a couple weeks now. I’ve been trying - trying to write about it. Call it writer’s block or call it lazyness. I don’t know. But I can’t seem to wrap words around this disc. Don’t misunderstand me though. It is not that I dislike Giant Drag. Actually, my feelings are quite opposite. I’m really getting into Giant Drag.
Others have just said it better (of course):
On the strength of one EP and a handful of live performances, the duo has been fast-tracked to it-band status with salivatory praise from Spin, NME, and Billboard, comparing them to such indie-rock heavyweights as Nirvana, the Breeders, and My Bloody Valentine. But the My Bloody Valentine comparisons aren’t entirely inept; Hardy has a similar penchant for the full, quavering at the edge of pitch indeterminacy guitar sound that was (and still is) Kevin Shields’ stock in trade. Yet Hardy’s vocals and lyrics are made of more emotionally direct substance; removed from the thick sonic gauze that enshrouds most of My Bloody Valentine’s classic tracks, they give her songs far more direct impact than those of her ascribed influences.
This L.A. boy-girl duo sounds so brilliantly snide and surly, so emotionally toxic, you’d hide under the couch every time they come over. It’s Mazzy Star for perverts, basically. Giant Drag have a surprisingly sharp shoegazer guitar sound, very My Bloody Valentine, which combines with the catty vocals for great tunes like “Pretty Little Neighbor,” “High Friends in Places” and “YFLMD,” which stands for “You fuck like my dad.” You could use a little Giant Drag in your life.
Hardy’s songs are as large as any nineties guitar supergroup, with nods to The Breeders, My Bloody Valentine, Smashing Pumpkins and Liz Phair (you know, before she sucked) along the way. “Pretty Little Neighbor”’s opening vocal harmony even reaches deep enough into the previous decade to touch upon a little Layne Staley/Alice in Chains flavor. This might sound like a dangerous idea, but Hardy and drummer Micah Calabrese are able to back it up by doing what they do best: simple rocking out — solid drumming, buzzing guitars.
Hmm.. I wonder if they sound like My Bloody Valentine.
Listen: Giant Drag - “Kevin Is Gay” (mp3)
Watch: Giant Drag - “Kevin Is Gay” (mov)
