Frankie Rose has been quite a force in the Brooklyn indie rock scene over the past couple of years. She first broke out as the original drummer and founding member of Vivian Girls. Rose wrote “Where Do You Run To,” arguably the best track on the band’s debut album. But just as Vivian Girls started gaining momentum, the prolific drummer/songwriter decided to quit the band in favor of her new one—Crystal Stilts. Of the decision, Rose explained, "When we were writing the Vivian Girls record, a lot of the songs that I wrote were inspired by Crystal Stilts . . ." Both bands became indie sensations, touring relentlessly in support of two of the most exciting debut records of 2008.
Earlier this year, Rose announced that she would also leave Crystal Stilts. It was around this time that she popped up as the drummer for Dum Dum Girls’ first-ever live performance. It seems that any band that Rose decides to join strikes sonic gold. With all this on your resume, why not just go it alone? Well, that’s exactly what Frankie Rose has done on the new two-track single “Thee Only One.”
The title track vividly showcases Rose’s impeccable songwriting skills, all the while exploring the same musical landscapes as her previous bands. Classically blending the ideas of surf rock, Phil Spector, and Jesus & Mary Chain, “Thee Only One” is an infectious rock jam, with candy-coated girl group melodies to boot. On the flip side, Rose slows things down to a hypnotic dreamlike state on the haunting and gorgeous “Hollow Life.” The track recalls the anti-’80s aural beauty of Opal’s Kendra Smith.
With only two solo songs under her belt, Frankie Rose shows impressive promise for a brightly lit future. |