Thursday, June 21, 2007

Mp3 of the Week: 27

The hirsute, godless followers of the Pennsylvania-based underground metal label Relapse have by now gotten over the aural blasphemy of having a quiet, pretty (we'll say it: heavenly) girl-led trio on the roster. So you can too. The latest disc by Boston's 27, Holding On For Brighter Days (out this Tuesday), congeals around Maria Christopher's voice -- dreamy, breathy, brooding -- and her chiming, distant strumming. (Which is not to suggest she's any kind of shrinking violet: just check her out on their MySpace-only cover of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy.") On "Brighter Days" the band's sense of melody is stronger than its ever been, tying up loose-ended guitar chords with crispy hooks. It's the perfect antidote to that Agoraphobic Nosebleed reissue you've been blasting all week. And for those of you who need more clouds in your life, here's the video: