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April 25, 2006
lost a laundress
Even though Matt Fluxblog just wrote about them a few weeks ago, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to say something about Nouveau Riche's music, especially since the band is (mostly) from Philly. 'Wait a Minute' has the same kind of bright summertime semi-porous pop appeal as some of Fannypack's more elastic songs, with more of a focus on a live-band approach (which serves the material well, I think). Put aside that amazingly bouncy groove they build (for a second), and listen to Dice Raw and Nikki Jean's great lyrics- the two capture, from opposing sides, one of those strangely public-private moments: when some chance instance of quick eye contact with a stranger gives way to over-the-shoulder glances and second thoughts, etc. Dice Raw unabashedly exclaims, "I think you're cute and got a big butt/I just want to get to know it/I hope saying that don't blow it", and spins out a vision of his and the girl's potential future, involving Porsches, crazy dinners and a hundred kids- to which Nikki retorts, "no, I ain't got a number/no, I ain't got a man/no, you got a short attention span", and even better, "all you know about me is the way my jeans fit/when you tell me that you want me/yeah I know you mean it". The best part comes at the end, when she says she knows that the guy can't see her for more than just 'a piece of ass', and that's why she doesn't stop to listen to his pitch (the way Nikki Jean sings this whole verse is so impressive, it reminds me a little of that scene in P.T. Anderson's "Magnolia", when April Grace's character (Gwenovier, the reporter) is interviewing Tom Cruise's T.J. Mackey and has to gently curb his ridiculously chauvinistic behavior). Then, as if to emphasize this point, at the 4 minute mark the band lets loose with an absolutely pummeling jam, frustrated drums and a shuddering bassline.
You can listen to some more of Nouveau Riche's stuff at their other website, and you can find out more about upcoming shows, etc. over here. Their EP should be available soon. On Friday, a song from someone intimately involved with the band (the drummer).
Posted by Kevin at April 25, 2006 12:16 AM