Pretty Girls Make Graves - Elan Vital

[Photo courtesy of Matador Records]

Pretty Girls Make Graves, "Pyrite Pedestal"

Pretty Girls Make Graves, "Parade"

I'm going to resume the Philly music stuff over the weekend, so in the meantime, here is a look at a band playing in town this weekend. Pretty Girls Make Graves have a buzz going, big enough to get my lame attention. This is the their most recent album, Elan Vital, a departure sound-wise for the Washington state group. The main spark for this change in direction probably relates to the new keyboardist in the band, Leona Marrs, as the band has a looser, more groove-oriented focus.

It's frustrating, as I don't have any prior knowledge of this band. I haven't heard their first two albums, which seem to get better reviews. I feel like I will definitely lose some blogger points, or perhaps won't be allowed in Johnny Brenda's or something, but I will try to remedy this condition of ignorance. I don't mind this album at all, unlike Pitchfork's Sam Obi, possibly because I didn't have any expectations coming in. You know I love female-fronted bands (I notice more and more of this, a great sign imo), so I am a bit biased. Occasionally, this looseness leads to excess, like the interminable guitar solo during "Domino." It's a shame, because this song is so good for the first 3 minutes, achieving that rock band-in-a-disco sound that they're striving to achieve. I really really like the above two tracks, two of the best songs I have heard in a minute. The rest never quite does it for me, almost like indie-lite music, made for The OC or some WB teen show that I secretly watch but won't acknowledge in public.

Bows + Arrows has a review of Elan Vital and a few more tracks from the new album, as does Dance Hall Hips, You Ain't No Picasso, and When Apes Rule The Earth!. Act Up and All Things Go have some older tracks, which seem like a good starting point to know if looking back is worth it. Buy the album here, and maybe pick up something else from their discography.

-What's happening in Philly: crit favorites Danielson play at the Kensington South Forum tonight, Making Time tomorrow night at Transit with White Rose Movement, a Baltimore Invasion at the Pop Off Shack as Aaron LaCrate and Debonair Samir join Low Budget and Brendan Bring'em at the Metro Lounge, the historic Dad Vail regatta kicks off Friday and lasts through the weekend, Pound for Pound's mom hangs out with her failure of a son on Sunday.

-New York City, White Rose Movement play the Bowery tonight (afterparty at Don Hill's), a release party for Team Shadetek's newest 12" "Brooklyn Anthem" goes down at Galapagos in Williamsburg, Danielson plays at North Six nearby and Dafnis Prieto is playing at the Jazz Standard all weekend.

-Kudu plays Saturday at Love for the Return of Jaxx party, then get back to business with a midnight show at home base Nublu.

-Finally, for the film lovers, both cities have amazing events to get into. In Philly, head to the International House tonight at 7:30 for a screening of the Brian DePalma classic, Blow Out, set in our great city during the 80s. See what it was like to be in the city when most of y'all were growing up in suburban wastelands, act like you know. Best of all, it's a benefit for the Friends of the Boyd, the group that has been behind the saving and restoration of the amazing movie palace on Chestnut Street. In New York City, the B Noir Festival continues, the single greatest event ever done. We shall speak of this fest soon, but get a jump on my pretentious musings by attending the Nicholas Ray double feature tonight or tomorrow.

-Finally, head to Berkeley Place and check out Ted Leo A-Z. A simply amazing post from BP, looking at one of the best. It's funny to see everyone jerking off to Neil Young and Pearl Jam getting political, when Ted's been doing this all along, even when it wasn't easy and the polls were in favor of the bad guys. Dedicated to TA, who first turned me on to his music and has taken a huge step in her life recently that takes just as much courage. Yeah!

-Sunday is Bob Dylan Sunday, 'nuf said.