The band consists of (I will continue to use the present tense until they're gone for good) Katy Goodman on bass/vocals, Cassie Ramone on guitar/vocals and Ali Koehler on drums. While only being a band since 2007, they've had three drummers and three albums. I don't think their break-up came as a surprise for many people, seeing as recently they hadn't done much at all.
I got into them probably a bit late; first thing I heard was their latest album 'Share the Joy' earlier last year. I remember it surprising me because I don't think I've heard a band quite like them. While there are more and more all-girl bands surfacing, none of them sound quite as moany and noisy as Vivian Girls.
On their website there's a little goodbye and thank you message for everyone. Which means yes, it's real:
Hi friends,
Brooklyn, New York, March 2007: we started making music together
and became what we know as Vivian Girls. It's been a long and crazy
journey in the seven years since, and we feel as though the time has
finally come to let our band rest in peace. It's been an experience that
we'll look back on and cherish and we'd like to thank you for sharing it
with us. We have had such an amazing time being a band, touring the
world, releasing records and meeting all of you.
...
Thank you to everyone who has helped us along the way, everyone
who has come to our shows, bought our records and supported us, and
everyone we will meet in the future.
XOXO
Vivian Girls
Tell the World is a track off Vivian Girls' self-titled debut album, released in 2008. This album was the start of everything to come. Most of the songs on there are short but harmonious. I like their lo-fi sounding vocals that they keep to throughout all their albums. 'Vivian Girls' is an easy listen and very laid back; the chords sound almost as though no effect is being put into playing them at times.
A brief introduction to their albums:
Tell the World is a track off Vivian Girls' self-titled debut album, released in 2008. This album was the start of everything to come. Most of the songs on there are short but harmonious. I like their lo-fi sounding vocals that they keep to throughout all their albums. 'Vivian Girls' is an easy listen and very laid back; the chords sound almost as though no effect is being put into playing them at times.
The End is surprisingly not the last track on their second album 'Everything Goes Wrong'; it's smack bang in the middle. This album came a year after their first and sounds more vibrant. This album is summed up by it's title, but isn't as dismal as it sounds. If it wasn't for the faded vocals and disheartening lyrics, it would seem like such happy and 'I don't care much' music. It's raw and echoing, all round brilliant.
Dance (If you wanna) is on their last album. This one's happier and a more positive side to life; like they've flipped over the tables. Even though this one didn't score very high on Pitchfork's review, I still love it. Whilst it might not amount musically to their previous records, it's just an all round good album. It's like a sweet advice page for teenage girls in love.
Whilst in their prime, Vivian Girls have inspired a few bands including The Aquadolls. It's a shame I'll never see them together live, but I wish them all the best on pursuing their other interests.
Katie moved to LA to continue with her band La Sera, Cassie formed a friendship with Woods bassist Kevin Morby and started The Babies, and since re-joining Vivian Girls when they had become mainly in-active, Ali's gone back to fronting Upset (I love this band, ex-Hole member Patty Schemel's their drummer).
Goodbye Vivian Girls and thank you. x
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