Apartment
Most grandmas would kick you out of the kitchen if you put on Apartment's second release, The Girl Is Not Right. But one grandma hit the nail on the head when she described the Chicago band's sound as "tough titty ditties." OK, so it was the lead s
By Ann Heppermann
Published: October 18th, 2002 | 9:12am
Most grandmas would kick you out of the kitchen if you put on Apartment's second release, The Girl Is Not Right. But one grandma hit the nail on the head when she described the Chicago band's sound as "tough titty ditties." OK, so it was the lead singer's grandma who said it. But still, it's the best description I've read so far — way better than "witty art punk," which in my opinion a) sounds snotty, b) does the band's music a disservice, and c) sounds really fucking snotty. And hey, what band wouldn't want to be compared to rock-hard breasts?
In this case, I think grandma's words even parallel the lyrics' disturbing vividness. There are plenty of references to bodily fluids, belly fat, boogers, and blood. As for the notes and musical tones, the sextet — made up of four ladies and two guys — proudly declares itself as "unclassifiable." They then go on to tell people it's "OK to like them." So who would like them? Mostly those who like their music on the dark side, with a bit of twistedness thrown in for fun. Apartment is eerie to the core.
Caila Lipovsky's singing includes howls and cackles that would make the Wicked Witch of the West proud. Dub that over music which lies somewhere between gypsy caravan and creepy carnival and you've got a mix that makes Apartment seem like the voice you hear when you're…well, hearing voices. This does not mean it's bad. In fact, the music is highly orchestrated and well-played. Natalie Brewster Nguyen's cello is perfectly weepy and damn can Christine Heinisch play the trumpet. Admittedly the music does sound like an art flick soundtrack — which really comes across in the CD's only instrumental. It's not surprising that the band lists John Waters as an influence. The verbal theatrics are fun, too. Lipovsky's singing is more like Alice Cooper spoken word, and I mean that in the best way.
Apartment is not for the faint of heart. If you're afraid of the dark or squeamish, this may not be the album for you. Otherwise, break out Pink Flamingos, open up your favorite Edgar Allen Poe novel, put Apartment on the stereo, and get ready for a creepy good time. It would make one grandma proud.
The CD is available at the band's web site or at CDBaby.
Issue #35
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