Nice As F(ASTERISK)#k
"Nice As F(ASTERISK)#k"
(Love's Way (ASTERISK)(ASTERISK)(ASTERISK))
This week's three-woman supergroup _ on the heels of Neko Case, k.d. lang, and Laura Veirs' self-titled album _ is "Nice As F(ASTERISK)#k," the indie trio fronted by Jenny Lewis, with Erika Forster of Au Revoir Simone and Tennessee Thomas of The Like. The band that debuted at a Bernie Sanders campaign rally has surprise-released this nine-song, self-titled debut, complete with an amusingly grandiose bio by Father John Misty.
Under the byline "God's favorite evolved male music journalist," he calls the trio "objectively the best all-female band in the last 25 years (like that should even matter, you know, do you describe RADIOHEAD as an 'ALL OPPRESSOR BAND NO YOU DON'T')."
With bass lines high up in the dub-friendly mix and drummer Thomas (daughter of Elvis Costello & the Attractions' Pete Thomas) providing forward momentum, the tunes are catchy and to the point, veering away from the narrative songwriting on Lewis' solo records. The project feels a bit hasty and underproduced, but the casual vibe largely works in its favor, with the straight-talking "Guns" answering the call for an anti-gun violence song for these bloody times.
_Dan DeLuca
