(Panty)
Review: Russell Baillie
Blame it on the confectionery-heavy artwork but the debut album by Auckland guitar-pop gals Mary is a bit like a packet of homemade sweets - a frills-free, old-fashioned sugar rush that's a bit rough around the edges.
But when you hit a good one, as you often do on the 14 tracks - which take in the songs from two previous EPs - the lack of artificial flavourings in the production is easily overcome.
Although the better songs, such as the giddy Matt! (originally written by dearly departed Auckland band Nothing at All!), the bittersweet Stupider ("calling me names won't make me stupider" tersely sings one of the three Mary-singers resembling an ego-deflated Courtney Love), or the energetic girly-punk of Kissing Booth, all tend to leave some of the lesser songs sounding samey and lethargic. Not many make it to three minutes either.
Still, there's something neatly understated about the vocals, which are deadpan in some warm harmonies, helping some effortless pop hooks. And in Ophelia there's a feline-devoted song that's almost as cute as its natural local predecessor, Look Blue Go Purple's Cactus Cat.
Mary play a CD launch gig at the Kings Arms tonight.
<i>Mary:</i> Maryland
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