Giant Drag

Recently, I had the chance to talk a little bit with Giant Drag’s front woman Annie Hardy. I’ll be honest. I was a little intimidated. I mean– I’ve seen photos like the one below. She could cut me! But seriously – she was a total sweetheart.

L.A. rock duo Annie Hardy and Micah Calabrese make up Giant Drag, and their Hearts and Unicorns has quickly become one of my favorite albums of ’05. It is one of those that totally sneaks up on you and before long you realize you’re listening to it all the time. Like, it’s that good. Giant Drag hints at the best of the 90′s – like PJ Harvey, early Liz Phair, Mazzy Star… and some even say My Bloody Valentine.

Stream: Giant Drag – “Kevin Is Gay” (Real | Windows)

Insound has an mp3 of “Kevin Is Gay”

Travis: “Hearts and Unicorns” has a very “90′s sound” to it. Was this a deliberate decision or did it sort of just happen that way?

Annie: Just happened. We never set up to make a certain sound. I started writing music in the 90s and I guess I haven’t progressed much since then.

T: You’re a duo yet the album has a very lush studio sound. Do you try to or are you able to re-create this on stage? Do you feel pressure to?

A: No I don’t. They are two different experiences. As long as the live show doesn’t disappoint. We had a bunch of friends come in and work on the album.. we didn’t worry too much about recreating the album live.

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T: I haven’t yet had the chance to see you guys live but I hear you’re quite the comic on stage. What’s this all about?

A: It started because Micah has to change settings on the synthesiser between songs. Instead of one minute of silence, I just started talking… like how I’d talk to my friends. I guess I’m funny.

T: You guys have been getting great reviews on blogs. Do you read any?

A: Sometimes. My mom and the rest of my family send me everything – whether or not I actually want to see it.

T: Every review I’ve read has compared you guys to My Bloody Valentine. Are you comfortable with this comparison?

A: I guess. That’s more of Micah’s doing… layered guitars with whammy action. I guess I didn’t know they were the only band who did that. I like My Bloody Valentine alright.

T: So have you ever met Kevin Sheilds?

A: No.

T: What albums are you into right now?

A: The new Kayne West. The new Lilies album – I don’t know if it’s out yet but they’re like my favorite band. I like them more than My Bloody Valentine.

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Giant Drag’s “Hearts and Unicorns” is currently in stores.

Purchase: Insound | Amazon