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Album Details

• Artist: Vivian Girls
• Album: Share The Joy
• Label:
• Year of Release: 2011
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: tosnob on 2011-04-15

On their first two albums, Vivian Girls seemed to just pick up their instruments and bang away. The results were catchy garage rock songs that had a spontaneous charm to them. The Brooklyn trio take a little more methodical approach on Share the Joy, their forthcoming third full length album (out April 12th).

The maturing of the band is palpable. The songs retain some of the clattery garage influence that we've come to appreciate from the band, but the overall feel is a record that's more structured. Greater attention has been paid to detail and song-craft.

They throw us a curveball right off the bat with "The Other Girls". The song has a very deliberate pace, with 60's girl pop and surf guitar featured prominently. The 6-minute epic truly foreshadows the remainder of the record.

Aside from the cleaner arrangements, the lyrics have taken a giant leap forward as well. Often an afterthought on previous records, the lyrics really take the spotlight on songs like the lover's lament "I Heard You Say". With it's spoken word narrative and relationship advice, "Take It As It Comes" is the most poignant offering the band has given us to date.

The element that does suffer a bit is the hooks. Numbers like "Sixteen Ways" definitely grab you, but the more planned-out sense of the album seems to have come at the expense of some of the harmonies and other byproducts of youthful exuberance.

Not every moment on Share the Joy can be billed as an unmitigated success, however Vivian Girls are certainly due some respect for being able to take positive steps forward with their art.

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