Campfire Girls

A near cult classic, this seven-song EP was the closest the Campfire Girls ever came to putting out a full-length. The disc certainly isn't groundbreaking, but the rocked-out grunge and fuzz rock influences somehow combine for a record that avoids ever sounding too dated. The trudging riff of "Motorola Casanova" is an acknowledgement of the Campfire Girls' heavy mentality, and on "Little Wolverine" they showcase their ability to fuse quiet and loud parts with impressive results. Even the acoustic "P.F.A.M.G." (Perry Farrell Ate My Girlfriend) has a rough edge that gives the band directness filled with melancholy believability. It's a dirty-sounding record all around, but that really works to the band's advantage, especially on the final hidden cover of the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever." Drenched in soggy guitar fuzz and overdrive, the track is a drum-driven tribute that is earnest and amazingly powerful, and it gives the record a bit of an uplifting finale. The Campfire Girls were a strong force that never really got too far off the ground and, since this is the only real document of their music, it is a worthwhile listen for anyone with an ear for mid-'90s rock songs. ~ Peter J. D'Angelo, Rovi