From the fire of D.C.'s own Priests and on to a stark and smart solo debut, Katie Alice Greer has served up post-punk that is always engaging. She consistently ventures into surprising areas. Her first record in four years is here now, and it's one that pleases through the use of new vibes and new textures from her old band's work.
Perfect Woman Sound Machine, Vol. 1 opens on the blissed out "Expo '70", but it's the punchy "Unglued", all Kim Gordon-isms and a Cassavetes/Gena Rowlands-inspired vid that really draws you in. This is a hella track, as punk as Priests were, but also more varied in attack. The title cut is slinky New Wave / noise rock and it's superb. As unnerving as the best stuff on the criminally underrated second Priests album, this number is one of the best things here on this second long-player from KAG. The subtle "Talk to Leslie" is gorgeous and affecting, and stands, along with the sharp cover of "I'm Your Man" by Leonard Cohen, as further proof that Katie Alice Greer's art is something that deserves far wider audiences.
For all the rabble-rousing that Priests seemed to be after -- or at least an approximation of same -- it was Katie Alice Greer's star-power up front that gave the band the potential to be absolutely huge. That didn't quite happen, but Perfect Woman Sound Machine, Vol. 1 is so good that it works without a listener even thinking of Priests. It's certainly the culmination of a sonic journey that KAG's been on since Priests, but it's also a bold, clever, and iconoclastic work. This is highly recommended.
Perfect Woman Sound Machine, Vol. 1 by Katie Alice Greer is out now. Details via Bandcamp.
[Photo: Katie Alice Greer]