Tom Lynch

The team of teenage sisters must have their classmates really jealous--in 2002, while 8 and 10 years old, they made "She Like Electric," a collection of child-pop songs that charm and disturb at the same time, both because of the girls' ages. Four years later, they are 12 and 14, and while this is still quite alarming, they have progressed musically in unbelievable ways, and "Free to Stay," the duo's debut on Seattle label Barsuk, impresses from start to finish. With just keyboard, drums and vocals, the sisters enlist the help of Death Cab for Cutie's Jason McGerr as producer, and the results are sweet, mysterious and deliriously enjoyable. Using different effects on the keyboards, no song sounds the same--they even throw in some Sam Coomes-like distortion--and sister Asya's vocal delivery ranges from ice-cream-truck-innocence to pissed-off teenage gore. Although the ballad "Waiting for Something" uses the same dreaded chord progression of The Cranberries' "Zombie" and Smashing Pumpkins' "Disarm," "Free to Stay" is a different kind of indie pop, without any hidden agendas or anything to prove.

Smoosh plays August 5 at Schubas, 3159 North Southport, (773)525-2508, at 7pm, presumably because of curfew. $10. (2006-08-01)

Also by Tom Lynch

Stay Sharp
More than a decade ago, then-Weezer bassist and co-founder Matt Sharp branched off and formed The Rentals, a solo project that would offer him significant creative input--something missing from his work with Weezer--as lyricist, vocalist and chief songwriter
(2006-07-25)

Tip of the Week
Glascow's dynamic indie-pop outfit Camera Obscura returned this summer with "Let's Get Out of This Country" (Merge), a not-so-subtle reference to a fairly common sentiment around these parts, a bubblegum dream of an album that's both melancholic and nostalgic
(2006-07-25)

Tip of the Week
Sullivan recounts his annual family cross-country road trip from Oregon to New York--there are disasters, affirmations, ironies and epiphanies, all the things you want and need in a really long road trip
(2006-07-25)

Fest Funk
In a summer stuffed with overcrowded and steaming street festivals and art fairs, any self-respecting Chicagoan has to pick his battles. When considering which of the sweaty messes to attend, there's one indisputable fact that's unavoidable--there's always gonna be assholes
(2006-07-18)

Tip of the Week
(2006-07-18)

Tip of the Week
(2006-07-18)

Soundcheck
(2006-07-11)

Tip of the Week
(2006-07-11)

Tip of the Week
(2006-06-30)

Tip of the Week
(2006-06-30)

Tip of the Week
(2006-06-27)

Tip of the Week
(2006-06-27)

about Newcitychicago | about Newcity magazine | advertising | privacy policy | FAQ | employment