Electric Boy Shock
S/T
By Jillian Abbene
(SugarBuzz Wash DC/Richmond VA)
SugarBuzz Magazine
Electric Boy Shock doesn’t proclaim what they are not. They do not pretend they are just pop, and they do not pretend they are just punk. Instead, they have cleverly recycled throwbacks of new wave, pop, punk and alternative with inviting guitar works and logical dance tunes. Theoried with the shiny trends of today invigorates retro pulp bubbling underneath the crisp, sexy vocals.
Heard recently on XFM (Glasgow), the song, ‘Electric Lips’ has struck a nerve and it's no wonder. Lead vocalist, Kirsty McGarrigle delivers sharp yet simple lyrics that are charged with sexual emotion, placing her in the same arena as Debbie Harry. Tin-guitar effect from Michael Conaghan reminds me of the stolen style of Buzzcocks and adds the flavor of electronica--done right.
‘Girls Love Rock and Roll’ electrocutes with melded thump-bass one-third flat by John McGarrigle that fits perfectly with metal-on-metal guitar, and shimmy-hip special effects. This song is an anthem preached to all women everywhere to rock out in patent leather stilettos while schmutzing on the electric red lipstick while proclaiming as being queens of today‘s rock and roll.
Additionally, the song, ‘Lovesucker’ slinks through fuzz-out guitar with a great female pull on Lou Reed style verbage, that puts a new spin on the feel of the band altogether. However, ‘Vegas’ should be the number 2 slot on XFM. We’re talking rockabilly slow-skid, with Kirsty snarling raspy crisp lyrics, like a dirty secret, and recede as the creep-n-stom of drum and resonating twang bass take lead. Nice…
Electric Boy Shock is capable of scaling new wave and rock combined and gives a heave to bands such as The Clash, Kraftwerk, Velvet Underground, Blondie and the Buzzcocks that will remind listeners to touch base with their bottom-roots with these influences. As best described here, “…not a particular genre, its just what we all come up with--where it goes is up to the listener, I guess. We just want to make great music, and we are not afraid to try new things,” quoted by John McGarrigle on the band’s stance and purpose.
In the end, Electric Boy Shock exudes luscious sound, bolsters the jaunty bass, soft-sawing of metal guitars and raspy steamy lyrics. Songs that put on the perfect mood for a dance night out or a bent intimate evening.