Lauren RabainoIt’s nothing new: feeling nostalgia for the present moment. So I’m not in the least surprised that, when I pop this CD in, my first thought is an idiotic, “Damn, too bad they don’t make music like this anymore,” even though the CD I’m listening to, “Looking Into It,” is brand new. In case you’ve never listened to All Girl Summer Fun Band, just picture the cutest kitten in the world. That’s it. That’s the whole metaphor.
I was immediately dragged, giggling and squealing, back into the world of cute girl pop. But something’s changed – this definitely has a different feel than the band’s earlier releases – the guitars are all crunchy and wrapped up in razor-wire. I’m convinced lead vocalist Kim Baxter has a man’s handshake – that’s how confident she sounds. Picture the world’s cutest kitten wearing an oversized spiked collar, which just makes it a million times cuter. Plus, even when they go up-tempo, they stay on meter and the songs are all longer than two minutes – most are longer than three! The lead track goes so far to use some very well timed back-up Ooo-Oo-Ooo’s, which reminded me a lot of “Pretend to be Nice,” the fictitious chart-topping single in “Josie and the Pussycats.” So it’s a more professional affair this time. (The tighter tempos are courtesy of new drummer Kathy Foster of The Thermals.)
But I’m putting the ice-cream wagon before the pink pony – a new full-length from All Girl Summer Fun Band? Their last release was six years ago, and, hey, weren’t they supposed to be a one-summer only collaboration project? I’ve caught asking myself what statement they possibly still have to make. But then, of course, I remember that they never had a statement in the first place. That’s why I liked this band so much in 2003 and why they’re still such a standout today. The girls have hidden no sociopolitical axes to grind up their skirts. Imagine a band totally free of posturing and mission statements. Weird right? They just want to play some super fun sounds for their own sake. Ultimately, they are still making music. six years later for the same reason I’m still going to school. Six years later: no goals. In music, this is an admirable thing.
As expected, the song set is more diverse than those of their other records. “Rewind” is a gentle number that might evoke member Jen Sbragia’s former work with The Softies. Put it on to lull children to sleep. But only cute children. My personal favorite at the moment is “Trajectory” which plods along with a lilting melody, and reminds me of Weezer for no absolutely no reason that I can justify or legitimize in any way. The song most reminiscent of their old stuff is “Something New.” Irony intended? I don’t think so. That’s not All Girl Summer Fun Band.