I Wanna be Your Girl, the opening track of Vices, the new album from Brighton's Peggy Sue is one of the most assured openings to a record I've heard this year. Grounded on guitar riffing that's pure late Velvet Underground and embellished with the kind of wry vocal delivery that Courtney Barnett has been specialising in during recent years, it sets the bar incredibly high for the rest of the album that follows.
Vices doesn't do too badly all things considered. Peggy Sue are relative indie veterans by now, having been putting out records and treading the boards since 2007. Hardly prolific, this is only their fourth album, but certainly consistent, this record delivers on all fronts without ever really breaking through to the spectacular.
The most relevant reference point here seems to be The Breeders. Peggy Sue give us Breeders lite, without the durm und strang but with plenty of melody, charm and layered dual female harmony. Perhaps a little formulaic at times but immensely enjoyable at the same time.
So if you know where they're coming from and where they're likely to go, Peggy Sue remain highly enjoyable company, like a catch up with a good though not great friend who you haven't seen for quite a while. These are people who know who they are and seem more than happy with their lot. Some of the tunes here ride a quite lovely melodic wave for their three or four minute course. Go on, indulge yourself!
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