Quirky in the best possible way.
The Pierces appeared on the British music scene earlier this year with the single release of 'Sticks and Stones', which sadly and undeservedly slipped under the radar of many radio stations and music press workers. The Alabama sisters are back however, with 'Thirteen Tales Of Love And Revenge' - an album that delivers just what it says on the tin.
'Secret' brings listeners into the world of the The Pierces - a place of Victorian fairground mystery and deep yet understated emotion. With its lo-fi but crisp sound and gentle melodies, 'Secret' is a subtle opener, but an intriuging one nonetheless; containing a "talky bit" as well as a slightly repepetive yet effectively quirky climax at the song's end.
Second track 'Boring' is nothing like its title; a track seemingly inspired by both Abba and the 1920s it combines a lush chorus and spoken word verses to epitomise dark pop - with a special twist. Everyone sing along - 'Nothing thrills us anymore'.
The album then progresses into 'Sticks and Stones', which, along with 'Turn On Billie', some may recognise from The Pierces' earlier single release. Both songs are catchy and pleasant, and whilst they keep up the quality of the album's sound they are by no means the pinnacle of its achievement. 'Lights On' is a retro yet modern gem of a song, backed by a sultry electro beat Le Tigre would be proud of and packed with quirky vocal arrangements. 'Lies' follows closely with a salsa feel that demands to be danced to, although its placment is very firmly in the pop camp - something that may make it one of the album's more forgettable tracks for indie fans, but also one of its most accessible for pop lovers.
Ballads are provided in the form of 'Ruin', 'Three Wishes' and 'The Power Of...', which occupy a breathing space in the album's centre. None of the three tracks are as strong as the more upbeat and/or faster-paced pieces, and they are certainly more pop than indie; but they showcase the girls' vocal abilities and manage to summon and convey far more emotion than the average pop offering.
'Kill! Kill! Kill!' and 'Boy In A Rock And Roll Band' have a 60s feel The Long Blondes would be proud of, complete with a selection of carefully put together (and thus joyous to hear) vocal arragements and a beat that makes one want to sit on a high stool and tap one's feet, or alternatively, and particuarly in the case of 'Boy In A Rock And Roll Band', join a high-kicking caberet line. 'Go To Heaven' rounds off 'Thirteen Tales Of Love And Revenge' with the best slow track of the entire collection and a song that would very firmly belong in a previous era. Lavish string arrangements underlay soft yet strong vocals, conjuring a warm midnight atmosphere sadly rare in music today.
'Thirteen Tales Of Love And Revenge' is not a rock album by any means, or even your typical noughties' indie offering. There's barely a guitar riff in sight and the two sisters prefer to sing rather than shout their lyrics - and that is precisely what makes this album so special. Some of the slower, poppier tracks are not hugely memorable, it is true, but lively, quirky gems like 'Boring', 'Turn On Billie' and 'Lights On' more than compensate. Buy the album before the crowds ruin it - if you love female-fronted bands who dare to step outside the box you won't be disappointed.