Monday, May 19, 2008

Black Tambourine & Vivian Girls

The Slumberland website says that Black Tambourine wore their influences on their sleeves. The same could be said for Brooklyn's Vivian Girls with regards to Black Tambourine, and they readily admit to it, listing the band first among their influences on their myspace. Despite their existing about fifteen years apart, the similarities are uncanny. But don't worry-- Vivian Girls aren't just a cheap rip-off of Black Tambourine.

Black Tambourine made delightfully fuzzy pop in the early 1990s. They were part of the Slumberland scene in DC along with bands like Velocity Girl and Whorl, with whom they shared members. They released a couple 7" EPs and added a few tracks to compilations before calling it quits.



Slumberland compiled their discography and released it as a 10" and CD in 1999.

Black Tambourine's Pam Berry also supposedly started Chickfactor Magazine. You can read some great interviews with the likes of Tiger Trap and Heavenly on its website now. If you're in Cambridge, they have some old issues at the Papercut Zine Library (go ahead and mock me for this).

Many years later and a few hundred miles north come Brooklyn's Vivian Girls. I love pop, but hardly any good pop is made today. Vivian Girls, however, are delicious.

I haven't had a chance to see them live yet and am really mad I'm missing the big tour they just departed on-- especially their show at the Smell with the girls of Pocahaunted and BlackBlack.... it'll be fucking epic, and if you're in LA, you should be ashamed of yourself if you don't go. Seriously though, check out their tour schedule on their myspace and get to a show near you.



Anyway, so far, Vivian Girls have released a 7" on Plays with Dolls and have a couple new things out this month- a 7" on Woodsist and an LP on Mauled by Tigers. You can order the LP now and hopefully will be able to order the 7" very soon too.

Their first 7" came out in March and is called Wild Eyes. Two wonderful pop gems- "Wild Eyes" and "My Baby Wants Me Dead." Get it before it's gone.



I also came across their demo recently- even fuzzier but still excellent (not like fuzz would preclude it from being great).

GO BUY THEIR RECORDS.

Black Tambourine- Complete Recordings
Vivian Girls- Wild Eyes 7"
Vivian Girls- demo

1 comment:

Unknown said...

i've been listening to black tambourine this morning! it's mad good! firmly planted in 90s pop but i hear it tracing back to late 70s womenartpunk sensibilities... and how it's barely preceding soon-to-come pacific northwest scenes. or maybe i read into it too much. but thxxx for sharing so so much muxick.