Parasiticide

Minimalist, visceral dance rock. Impassioned, torchy (almost operatic) female vocals courtesy of songwriter/bassist/multi-instrumentalist Sherry Fraser, the woman who is Two Ton Boa. Arty and heavily percussive: most songs are (loud) drums and (loud) bass guitar and (loud) voices. Sparse but every song's a unique, fascinating piece unto itself. (Many angry, at least two mention suicide.) Tracks vary in feel from dark... to surreal... to darkly, surrealistically funny. A favorite for 2006 (even though I didn't hear it till this year). Play with The Sharp Ease, Quixotic, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Witchypoo, Love Life, Morphine. FCC clean. Start with 5, 7, 9.

1. Sexy, rolling trash dance rock. Starts with in-your-face drums. Ends with drum hits.
2. High energy mid-tempo rocker. Starts with sparse, quiet percussion. Fades.
3. Lolling, quirky rocker about girls hurting girls. "Tongues packing sweet words like pistols firing on my back like heat seeking missles." First 30 seconds is an odd playground rhyme over bass guitar. Ends cold.
4. Broadway-musical-tinged trash rock. Vocals take on multiple "parts." First minute is "Lady in the radiator" vocals over music box plinks. Ends cold, then cymbal fades.
==> 5. Epic, psych piece that goes from gentle to anthemic. Multitracked vocals sound a bit like Mates Of State. Starts with simplistic organ. Fades.
6. Trashy/pretty psych dance rock. Starts quiet and echoey. Fades.
==> 7. Lilting, bouncy rhythm reminiscent of Tom Waits. Rhythmic and textural changes throughout. Starts spooky and quiet. Ends with several seconds of ethereal spookiness.
8. Very sparse, slow ballad... that slowly picks up energy. "A skinny, pearly, straight talking girlie. Cold as ice cream with a heart that melts for just one thing." Spooky. Starts with bass and voice. Slows and fades.
==> 9. Epic, mid-tempo psych opera about suicide. Starts quiet and mysterious. Ends with quiet descending wail.