Lemona

by

Giant Drag

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The EP 'Lemona' (2004) was their first commercial release. Amazingly 'Giant Drag'

is a band with just two members:

Annie Hardy - guitars and vocals

Micah Calabrese - drums/percussion and synths

Amazingly the two of them still manage to sound like a full band - furthermore they also play live thus. The opening track "This Isn't It" rather reminds me of 'The Duke Spirit' and, on this track in particular, Annie even sounds rather like Liela Moss. This is no bad thing and can only be coincidence as both albums were recorded a continent apart at about the same time. 'Giant Drag' is Los Angeles based while 'The Duke Spirit' is a London band.

"This Isn't It" is the best of the five tracks presented here, but not by far, and it's also reprised on their recent debut LP 'Hearts and Unicorns' (I will review this shortly), which also includes "yflmd" from 'Lemona'. Overall this is a good EP from a band that is in many respects rather unconventional.

The version I have also includes CD video for "This Isn't It" that has - the lo-fi production and poor definition, probably a mere necessity at the time, work perfectly with the music - a sense of seedy and self-perpetuating disappointment. This atmosphere is something this recording does unbelievably well - and yet it somehow avoids becoming overtly depressing. That alone is a fine achievement.

I can't help but like Lemona--Giant Drag sounds like My Bloody Valentine forcibly merged with Smashing Pumpkins, fronted by Kim Deal. It's totally lightweight and derivative but it quickly burrowed into the part of my brain stem that loves early 90's alt.rock. Plus this EP features one of the most disturbing song titles ever: "You ***k Like My Dad". Think about that. Nasty.

The thing keeping me from going 4 stars or higher is a nagging suspicion that Giant Drag is not really an indie band. I wonder if this disc and the subsequent album are really stealth major label releases. I can't put my finger on anything specific--something just doesn't feel right...