Music Review: Band of the Week - Girl In A Coma

Part of: Band of the Week

Girl In A Coma (GIAC) is a modern, ultra-hip mixture of 50s retro, modern punk, lilting Irish folk rock and alt rock with a tough girl attitude. Think Indigo Girls, Siouxsie Sioux and Shirley Manson in a dark alley kicking the shit out of the Pixies.

GIAC look like the Suicide Girls, and have more attitude than a pissed off Alanis Morissette with PMS. But don’t get me wrong, there is nothing girl rock about GIAC. Their stylised punk hooks and riffs, Nina Diaz’s slick, swaggering vocals and lyrics that show an impressive IQ and startling wisdom in one so young (19) are the building blocks of a sound that is, by turns dreamy and ethereal, edgy and angst-ridden.

GIAC in blueNow their debut album Both Before I’m Gone is getting recognised and spreading their fast-paced gritty brand of alt rock/punk to a wider audience.

Most recently the San Antonio based trio landed the support tour of the century, when they were asked to support Morrissey on the European leg of his latest tour. All this since they were signed to Joan Jett’s Blackheart Record label in 2006. GIAC have been working to polish their sound and stage presence over the last couple of years, culminating in the release of this physical, brazen, raucous debut full-length album.

Both Before I’m Gone begins with the first single “Clumsy Sky”, the perfect track to demonstrate GIAC’s range in all its glory. “Clumsy Sky” begins as a subtle ballad but moves quickly, if slightly clumsily, into a punk-riff filled fearless track, which is as dirty and beautiful as it could be. From there the album slides into its second track and single “Say” (video included below) with driving drum beat and straight edge guitar riff.

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Article Author: A.L. Harper

I'm a writer and music journalist originally from Salt Lake City, but now living in Scotland. I was a Punk/Goth in the '80s and these artistic influences have stayed with me; although a love of Chopin, chamber music, and Spanish guitar would seem to belie this. …

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  • 1 - ollie

    May 21, 2008 at 6:00 pm

    Girl In A Coma is awesome! Great band.. a fun interview with the ladies here.

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