Review: The Girl With Violent Arms - Two Song Sampler

I usually don't do reviews for acts not from Southern California but in the case of The Girl With Violent Arms two song sampler I made an exception to the rule. Why? Three reasons; first of all The Girl With Violent Arms is a one man band originally from Colton, which if you don't know already, is part of the I.E. Secondly, his upcoming album, of which these two songs are from, is being released by Southern California based label How To Be a Microwave. Third, he made the trek, recently, from Northern California all the way down to our little town of Palm Springs to play a show. So I owe him this much at the very least. With that being said...

I have an affinity for noise. Personally, I can sit around for hours just making interesting noises come out of instruments. It's definitely not for everyone and those aspiring to endeavor into this genre may come out the other side more frustrated than successful. Yet I do feel that a good noise band has a lot in common with a good free form jazz band. It takes an incredibly talented and patient mind to successfully employ the use of random noises, feedback, blips, loops, squelches, chirps, and such to create a song that discriminating noise fiends would enjoy. Even more so when it comes to those who attempt to integrate noise and pop. Sonic Youth, and more recently No Age, have done this with a level of success that have alluded others greatly.

Being this is just a sampler from the upcoming album The Sun Will Swallow Me Whole and possibly rough cuts of songs I must tread these waters carefully. Mostly because I enjoy these songs and seeing his live performance I understand the task he is undertaking. His live performance can be a bit confounding to the casual listener. It takes the kind of patience that noise fans and free form jazz followers alike are gifted with. It takes time to "get it" but in the end it's extremely worthwhile.

The first song on the sampler, Glass Shatters, begins and kind of bumps up against the meat of the song, A.K.A. the more musically recognizable to the pedestrian ear, like the comedy skit part of a rap CD but with a little more tact. But once the song gets going that's where it begins to earn it's merit. Central Nervous System is much less noise much more pop. It chugs along like an angry steam engine with a sole purpose of smashing into a car that makes the poor choice of crossing the tracks at the wrong time.

This sampler definitely whets my appetite for the full length. Some may dispute that this is not a noise band, possibly Mario himself, A.K.A. TGWVA, may disagree. Regardless, there are many people whose ambition is far beyond their reach. Here is not the case. Yet once again, for my tastes, the live version of TGWVA is a bit more rewarding to witness in comparison to the recorded version but not by much.

The Girl With Violent Arms - Two Song Sampler
The Sun Will Swallow Me Whole
Available soon through How To Be a Microwave