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Spells

(self released; US: 26 Jan 2010; UK: Import)

It seems to be the popular trend in rock journalism to compare any female singer fronting a rock band and harboring a sweet, wounded voice to Kim Deal. But the thing about Los Angeles’ the Happy Hollows is that front woman Sarah Negahdari sounds so much like the Breeders/the Pixies firecracker it’s next-to impossible to ignore. That’s really where any comparisons to the former Mrs. John Murphy stop. Armed with an electric guitar and a mean knowledge and skill to accompany it, Negahdari displays a fearlessness and confidence that is equal parts Carrie Brownstein and Lita Ford, as Spells so righteously signifies. If this is the now sound of the Los Angeles underground, then New York City needs to step it up a notch or three.

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Ron Hart is currently enjoying his 11th year as a professional music journalist. In addition to PopMatters, he has also written for such publications as CMJ, Billboard.com, SPIN.com, The Village Voice, Gear, Paper, SHOUT NY, Paperthinwalls.com, Blender, Yellow Rat Bastard, Good Times, Paste, and Barnesandnoble.com among others. He is also the editor and publisher of the Interboro Rock Tribune, a free NYC music zine now in its 6th year in print. Please give us traffic on our website at http://www.irtmag.com.


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