Sweet Spirit

(Nine Mile Records)

Four love songs, each one a different facet: confusion, rejection, criminal conspiracy, and fucking. Sweet Spirit thus tickles, caresses, and snaps heartstrings on its first offering, 10 inches of vinyl spinning a high-energy mix of Fifties pop, punk rock, and electric country. The clash of classicism and modernity characterizes the songwriting of Giant Dogs Andrew Cashen and Sabrina Ellis, whose prayer-worthy lyrics and melodies find an accessible platform in Sweet Spirit. The amped voodoo rhythms of “Let Me Be on Top” hit the G-spot with a tireless guitar riff that climaxes into the chorus: “If I ask real nice, you’ll let me be on top?” Jake Knight’s music-box piano slows the roll on “I’ve Made Up My Mind,” evoking the Shangri-Las right down to the spoken vocals. On Side B, Ellis’ dark humor showcases on “Baby Doll,” in which a homely woman laments her status as late-night leftovers. Closer “Outlaw” tops beachcomber chord progressions with low-culture Americana: “Would you burn down a house in my defense? It’s so sweet when you eat the evidence. Swear and tell a story that makes no sense. Get off with the jury – they’re all convinced.”

***.5

This article appears in April 3 • 2015.

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