REVIEWS - Giant Drag - Hearts and Unicorns (Kickball)

What exactly is a giant drag? A huge transvestite? A really, really large road? Some sort of medieval dress-code for the big and tall? Trying to make sense of the name of L.A.-based band Giant Drag serves to be as enigmatic as the group itself. Consisting of only two musicians, one male and one female, consider Micah and Annie the musical equivalent of Bonnie and Clyde. Of course, weapons aside - except of the more instrumental sort. And like their elusive title, live performances, although easy to come by, are just as binding. Drummer Micah can simultaneously play the drums and synthesizer, proving that one can successfully hit something with one hand and bust some killer tunes on the Moog. Annie falls nothing short of that uncomfortable position of the appealingly annoying– she talks like a ten-year-old boy on helium between songs. It’s a circus I tell ya. Fortunately, their latest album Hearts and Unicorns speaks volumes, unlike the band or its name. Every critic on the god damn planet has compared it to every god damn “shoegaze” effort, ever. I don’t really get it, but they are good, though they aren’t as strong as the JAMC or My Bloody Valentine, yet.

- Jennifer Miller