Fuck Yeah! Queer Music

Wild Flag is Portland supergroup of sorts, featuring members from Helium, The Minders, and most notably, Sleater-Kinney. They released this two song 7” for this year’s Record Store Day, and it’s awesome.

Now, it’s hard not to make comparisons to Sleater-Kinney when talking about Wild Flag’s sound. Both Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss have such unique and instantly recognizable styles that there is really no use in trying to avoid the inevitable. Yes, Wild Flag kinda sounds like Sleater-Kinney, but they are far from being Sleater-Kinney Part 2. Weiss’s heavy, driving drum beats provide the base for Wild Flag, and also its edge. These songs are no doubt rock songs, but they are mellowed. There is control here, and little of the harshness that was Sleater-Kinney’s trademark. Rebecca Cole’s key work is all smoothed out synth pads, and provides some really interesting melodic moments, especially on “Glass Tambourine.” I thought it was bass at first, until Wikipedia told me they don’t have a bass player. It’s a nice contrast to the many bands that utilize really harsh synths, particularly in rock and punk. The second song, “Future Crimes,” is all rushed vocals and super fuzzy little riffs, with a beat that is driven by snare hits, harkening far more to the riot grrrl and grunge that many of these women first made their mark in. Out of the two, it’s probably my favorite track.

I’m excited to see what will come next for Wild Flag. Hopefully there will be a full-length in the near future, because they are seriously making some good music and this 7” is really just a tease.

Check ‘em out:
http://www.myspace.com/wildflag
http://www.facebook.com/WILDFLAG