Shimmy Shimmy Dang!

Album review

You don't need to look further than the title (or title track) of this Louisville, Kentucky quintet's sophomore release to understand the band's retro sound and influences. Lead singer Sarah Teeple captures the innocent yet tough girl vocals of everyone from the Shangri-Las to early Blondie and songwriter/guitarist/occasional vocalist Jaxon Swain brings the raw Standells garage punk to snappy songs that kick in fast, have memorable hooks, and close without extending their welcome. Cheapo organ and keyboards lay down a base for twangy guitar and the one-two punch of Teeple's Lolita vocals along with a vibe from the '50s to early '70s to create music that's as exciting and energetic as the old 45s that inspired it. The spacy reverbed spaghetti Western instrumental appropriately titled "Shallow Orbit" provides further indication of the influences mixed into the band's stew. Occasionally, songs like "I'm Gonna Scream," a wink-and-a-nod tribute to all things Spector and American Bandstand, come off as overly stylized, even comedic, in a Hairspray way. But generally the Ladybirds have nailed a cool, slightly ominous high-school dance vibe in songs such as the eerie "Jack in the Box," at just over four minutes the album's longest track, reminiscent of Ronnie Spector or Lesley Gore fronting the 13th Floor Elevators. Add a smidgen of country, rockabilly, Doors, and Them to the already eclectic approach and you have an ambitious, sizzling, and above all vibrant group that has found its groove and rides it for 40 minutes that end way too soon. It's frisky, sassy fun that swings but also attacks with feline sensuality and a sharp, clean production that keeps enough rough edges to make these tunes jump out of the speakers.
© Hal Horowitz /TiVo