CD Review: Dressy Bessy - Electrified

In June, journalist and critic Ken Tucker pittted Dressy Bessy and Coldplay against one another. It doesn't take a genius to see how different these two bands are. One a colorful, sweet and uplifting indie band and the other...Coldplay. "Cold" being the operative word here.

Dressy Bessy has been getting praise left and right from all kinds of people. Entertainment Weekly called them "the best thing to come out of Denver since John Elway", which is, when you think about it, the most stupid remark to make about a band like Dressy Bessy, but there you have it. The best thing out of Denver. Spin called them "infectious" and Giant Magazine labeled "the best dressed/most awesome band" from Denver. I don't know, but there isn't a whole lot that comes out of Denver. Dressy Bessy deserves better comparisons here, people. Coldplay, John Elway and the best dressed band in Denver.

So I'll compare them to one of my favorite things.

Dressy Bessy reminds me of a rootbeer float. You know how when you drop the vanilla ice cream into the rootbeer it gets all fizzy and fun? That's Dressy Bessy. Fizzy and fun.

Or they could be compared to cotton candy. Sweet and pink and full of sugary goodness that will probably kill your teeth but you can't get enough of it.

Tammy Ealom is that always cool girl that manages to make everything cooler than it actually is: that cheesy dress, a bad haircut, even a pimple. Her Go-Go girl vocals paired with her colorful clothes and vintage sound and the lush guitar work of John Hill (of Apples in Stereo) make for 60's inspired pop songs with 70's new wave and modern, fun lyrics.

You get the feeling that it's always sunny with Dressy Bessy, even when a storm is threatening, there still seems be a hint of sunshine peeking out from behind the clouds. Even with the song, "Who'd Stop the Rain?", it's clear that Ealom herself can, and does, stop the rain. "You'd never see it comin' from under my umbrella / You don't mind if I'm dancin' in the rain / though it's cold outside and I could use a drink".

Article Author: jen best

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