ICKY BLOSSOMS / ICKY BLOSSOMS
Saddle Creek (Release: July 17th, 2012)
Review / LOGAN BRENDT
The self-titled debut album from Omaha-based Icky Blossoms is throbbing with fun and sexy dance, enhanced by the vocal interplay between primary vocalist Sarah Bohling’s deep sultriness and guitarist/vocalist Derek Pressnall. Produced by TV on The Radio’s Dave Sitek, the eminently heavy sonorous synths throughout the album are understandable.
The first track, “Heat Lightning”, is a striking intro that is closely followed by “Sex to the Devil” which contains nonchalant vocals that will remind you of the spoken word section in Madonna’s “Vogue”. Icky Blossoms know how to fluctuate well between these strong dance songs and the dreamy pop songs like “Cycle” which is instrumentally seductive and includes poetic imagery in lyrics like, “Dance dance in the night, close your eyes and hold them tight, the sun is slowly rising”.
Other dominant songs like “Burn Rubber” has an arousing bass line while the lyrics in “Babes” can seem almost humorous: “Babes with four inch heels, airbrushed nails, at the club…back and forth on the stage, couldn’t keep my eyes off that killer babe”. However, the vocals are executed with such confidence that the song is too great to ignore. Victoria’s Secret might want to take note for their next televised fashion show to play this song as the model babes strut down the runway.
This self-titled debut is an ultra cool album by a band that knows how to have fun.
Icky Blossoms – “Perfect Vision” Video from stereogum on Vimeo.