Bright Midnight - Skinny Girl

Hear The Track Here

I'm very partial to skinny girls as it happens. Asian skinny girls even more so but I'm sure you definitely do not need to know this, in fact I can feel the storm clouds brewing amongst my female companions as I speak (as it were) but hey, I like to live dangerously. So, Bright Midnight... (Ed: to get off the dirt track) Having worked my way through easily half the material this Texas based band has to offer, I can state that I am a fan, and one among many they have gathered since arriving on Soundclick a year or so ago. Mind you, all has not been love and roses, because there is often a rough edge to their sound that has put me off, although it's a small thing in the scheme of things but it does keep them from the higher ratings their music and songs deserve.

My ratings that is, and that is personal innit??

I like Bright Midnight because they bridge a gap between old time classic rock and the electronica/misery engendered by generations of Manchester (England) bands like the Smiths, Echo & The Bunnymen etc. Hillis Emanuelson (who is the vocalist I think) does a very good job indeed of resurrecting the ghosts of both Jim Morrison and endless navel-gazing, mopy Northern Englishmen, with the emphasis of Skinny Girl being on this side of the Atlantic. I've mentioned before that this band can come out with a very convincing English sound and, believe me, that's actually quite difficult if you are from America. AFAIK, only one other band manages that as convincingly and that's Avalanche.

Skinny Girl is definitely Alternative in feel and tone, all wordy vocals and jangly guitars, although (to my ears) it also has a touch of the dreaded prog-rock about it, especially in the middle section. There is an edgy, sharp feel to the sound that I find a bit jarring (especially with the closed hi hat) but again, small change - especially if you like a good shoegaze tune. There is no doubting that this is an artist that excels in neat songs, decent arrangements and a fine delivery, despite all my carping and moaning. For sure, they make Alternative music that doesn't, for once, bore me to death with tales of introspection and self-doubt and that's got to be a big plus.

Highly Recommended Alternative blend.