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Deep inside the dark, demented recesses of the mind of a girl from California lies a world of twisted love, eschewed sexuality and off the wall humour. That girl is Annie Hardy and her band is Giant Drag. With the help of her marching band Micah Calabrese, who likes nothing better than to pound the fuck out of his drums and play a little keys on the side, they have created an album in ‘Hearts and Unicorns’ full of laconic wit, woozy grunge strewn melodies and the in their own words “sweet riffs” by the bucket load.
‘Hearts and Unicorns’ is an introspective play through Hardy’s psyche opening out with the breezy Breeders-esque ‘Kevin Is Gay’, a tale of romance book ended by Hardy‘s unsettling tourettes style yelping and audacious meows screeching across it‘s guttural hooks. While there are no obvious standout or ‘hit’ songs on the album this alongside the ode to mistaken love that is ‘This Isn’t It’ and the searingly poppy ‘You Fuck Like My Dad’ are the ones that will draw you in first and allow you to enjoy the rest of what the duo has to offer. The fact that all three come in the first tracks makes the album slightly lob sided initially but on closer inspection this effect wears off.
The simple strums and mesmerising tenderness of ‘Cordial Invitation’, the drowsy melodics and horns of ‘Blunt Picket Fence’ and the crushing monotone dirge of ‘High Friends In Places’ lack the oomph or intrinsic edge to grab you by the lugs at first but instead intrigue, creeping up on you until something inside your head clicks and they manifest themselves into some of the best songs on the album. A grower is what they’re called.
After a slight lull through the middle the ghostly, ethereal ‘Smashing’ lights up the second half of the album diverting from the usual grunge laden base to a world of dark synths. ‘My Dick Sux’ preceding it rocks like Nirvana’s little sister and bonus track (UK only - sorry everyone else!), a strung out version of Chris Isaac’s ‘Wicked Game’, courses with aching intensity like never before. Finishing the album on a high, if slightly bitter, note.
The thing to do with this album is to listen, listen and listen a bit more for it isn’t one to smack you face and throw you back aghast from the very first note. It grows round your heart like a rash, taking a little bit more ground with each play until it finally owns you. Welcome to Annie’s world, she hopes you like it - not.
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