Way back in May, I posted a funky number called Rich Girls by New York new-wave rockers The Virgins. A month later, they released their eponymous debut album which is still, at the time of writing, only available in America. A short while ago, however, I managed to track down an import copy here in Brisbane and I’m glad to say that it was well worth the (minimal) effort that went into obtaining it.
While none of the tracks manage to recreate the hopelessly addictive groove of Rich Girls, they do manage one other important thing: to make you feel like you’re having a good time even when you’re not. This is one of those albums where almost every track feels like a single.
Unsurprisingly, given their name, The Virgins sing about one thing and one thing only – girls. Debauched tales of young love, the playboy life, fast girls, private affairs and the inevitable folly of it all are expressed through a well-crafted assault of angular guitars, dancefloor synths from a bygone era and a rhythm section so deliciously funky that you’d be hard pressed to keep completely still while it’s all strutting around between your ears.
Private Affair
Kicking the door down with a rather sudden, NSFW sound bite from the 1990 cult-classic New York gangster flick, King of New York, and ending with an unorthodox hidden track starring what I can only assume to be a couple of vodka-guzzling Russian groupies (do correct me if this is wrong), the 10 tracks in between are dripping with vivid images of New York’s hipster club scene that could have only been painted by a true NYC native. Indeed, having grown up in lower Manhattan’s Tribeca district, 26-year-old singer and songwriter Donald Cumming tells it all rather convincingly, and thankfully without the pretense. He sounds, if anything, a little world-weary despite the energy of the music around him. One Week of Danger highlights his confident swagger, and proves to be the the album’s biggest nod to its more traditional rock influences of yesteryear. Teen Lovers is a prime example of the band’s knack for fusing dance and rock to wonderfully nostalgic effect. Fernando Pando, the album’s only somewhat acoustic respite from the dancefloor jams, takes a sweet, reflective turn that whilst definitely welcome, admittedly sounds a little out of step with its neighbours. Murder conjures a hammy, late night cinematic vignette whilst Radio Christiane delivers one of the most devastatingly cute “doo-doo” singalongs I’ve heard in a long time. Amidst all the free-flowing depravity and drug-addled notions of “cocaine brunches”, however, glimpses of wisdom can be heard on album closer Love is Colder Than Death (“It’s easy when it hurts/So say goodbye/We’ll fall in love again/Just give it time”).
At first glance, it would be too easy to heap The Virgins in with that infinitely dense galaxy of bands that have failed to sparkle in the spotlight. The hype around them before this release, even though it never really hit Australia, was nonetheless formidable. Consider this: their third ever live gig was opening for Patti Smith in front of an audience of 3000 at Paris Fashion Week in 2006. Atlantic signed them without ever having caught a live show. Cumming was once a model for award-winning, nude-loving photographer Ryan McGinley (whose work recently inspired Sigur Rós’ Gobbledigook video). The TV series adaptation of the Gossip Girl novels featured performances of their entire 5-track EP in one episode. That’s enough hipster hype to melt even the most hardened balls in the business, yet fortunately The Virgins have escaped the flames (balls clearly intact) with a slickly produced album that, despite having jacket art plastered with bubblegum, delivers songs displaying a surprising level of craftsmanship. Let’s just hope that all the good times don’t get the better of them.
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Tracklist
The Virgins
Atlantic Records, 03/06/08
01 . She’s Expensive
02 . One Week of Danger
03 . Rich Girls
04 . Teen Lovers
05 . Fernando Pando
06 . Murder
07 . Hey Hey Girl
08 . Private Affair
09 . Radio Christiane
10 . Love is Colder than Death
Band
From left to right
Nick Zarin-Ackerman – Bass
Wade Oates – Guitar
Erik Ratensperger – Drums
Donald Cumming – Vocals, Guitar
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