The Jezabels: She’s So Hard

BEST USE:
An emotional cleanser. Let it help you clean out your closet, throw away old notes and photos, and shake off both proverbial and physical dust.

Mix one part Coldplay, one part Tori Amos, and one part airy, sunlit room. The result? Melodic piano and sophisticated vocals, a refreshing combination identified as The Jezabels.

Four Australian musicians (Hayley McGlone, vocals; Heather Shannon, piano; Nik Kaloper, drums; Sam Lockwood, guitar) combine texture and emotion with pop influences on their second EP, She’s So Hard. McGlone’s voice, unmistakably capable of intense pitches and high volumes, remains light and almost delicate throughout most of the album. However, the select moments in which she unleashes her true capabilities, most notably during “Hurt Me” and “Into The Ink,” pack an invigorating auditory punch. The result is an eerie beauty, a full-bodied wail that spills over clashing drums and pounding piano.

The Jezabels possess a uniqueness like that of Tegan & Sara, infused with the power of Rush (think “Tom Sawyer”). Citing influences from ABBA to Prokofiev, their unconventional vocals and flowing instrumentals give off a cool incandescence. The album art, simplistic and white with sparse color splashes, further instills a sense of clean, empty spaces. Lyrics concerning lost innocence and disenchantment with love are complex enough to appease the critical poet, yet speak earnestly to the naive young girl searching for truth. She’s So Hard will inspire listeners to cast off old demons in favor of new beginnings. Save it for a Saturday afternoon; thrust open the window, bask in the sunlight, and let The Jezabels carry in some fresh air.

Sources: http://www.thejezabels.com/;http://www.myspace.com/jezabelsband

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