There’s a real naive, almost Go-Go’s like charm to the sound of this one. L.A.’s Little Girls were one of those bands that are completely new to me and yet a band you feel with a little more exposure might have made it past being just alternative radio favourites.
Openers and best know songs ‘Earthquake Song’ and ‘How to Pick up Girls’ are alt Pop rockers that have real charm and will easily drag you in to hear more. ‘Bandana’ is a little rockier and the Dave Clark 5 cover ‘Anyway You Want it’ rather cool.
It’s gems all the way though: ‘I Really Want to be With You’ is a great song, ‘Rich Girl’ could be prime Go-Gos, and ‘Left Without a Real Kiss’ shows those 60’s influences. 7 tracks in you know you want more. The slower ‘No Time to Say Goodbye’ and ballad ‘Second Thoughts’ also sound like hits.
The creative vision of two sisters, Caron and Michele Maso, ‘Little Girls’ are lush melodies, Pop hooks and some really great songs. Mixing up that 80’s sound with a little Rock, Punk, Pop and New Wave. They soon attracted the attention of guitarist Kip Brown (from LA Punk band SHOCK), and things took off from there – by 1982, they recorded their lone Mini Album ‘Thank Heaven!’ Parting ways in 1985 due to a lack of commercial success there is more of the story on this compilation.
Listening to the purposeful breezy Pop of standout ‘Not A Perfect World’ and the iconic teen valley girl anthem ‘The Valley Song’ it’s a wonder that they didn’t hit it bigger. This new compilation through Australian label Playback Records comes with 26 tracks and a big 28-page booklet which features rare photographs, words from the band and a bio. As well as the Mini Album you also get demos from those sessions, reunion sessions, collaborations with the likes of Clem Burke and Nigel Harrison of Blondie, plus never before released tracks.
8/10