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After listening to this cd once a day for over two weeks, I still am not tired of it. These two sisters have great voices, rich harmonies, and a talent for black humor. They know how to write a song that keeps you listening close, because if you don’t, you’ll miss the point. With these two sisters, you definitely want to make sure you see what they’re throwing at you, because it’s often very sharp. I read the bio, and am not sure how seriously to take it. It talks about Allison being kidnapped by gypsies at age 16, and her sister Catherine joining a ballet troupe to find her. Obviously they were reunited, and began making music. The back story gives you a good idea of the mood of the music they make, though, no matter how embellished it may be. There’s a gypsy, folksy vibe to it, often rhythmic and finger snapping. If you close your eyes while listening, you will get lost. It’s not a bad thing to wander their land, unless you’re a man who wronged them. Let’s discuss some of the songs. The cd starts off with the sweet and simple song, Secret. The heart of it is in the words “Two can keep a secret/When one of them is dead.” They sing it with such breathless innocence you might not notice the underlying threat. There’s the single, Sticks And Stones, which has a great beat to it, and even better lyrics. “Sticks and stones will break your bones/And leave you lying in the mud/But you get scared when we’re alone/Like I’m going to suck your blood.” Classy. If you get a chance, check out the video that goes with it on their MySpace page. These ladies definitely have a wicked sense of humor. Truly the most overtly threatening songs are Secret and Sticks And Stones. The cd is after all called Thirteen Tales Of Love And Revenge. They start off singing about revenge, but when The Pierces do sing about love, it’s aching in intensity. They feel things very strongly, and the way their voices combine it digs deep. The song Three Wishes is very gypsy-sounding, and it’s so ethereal it could bring tears to your eyes. It is one of my absolute favorites on this album. It’s not funny like many of the others, but it’s beautiful. I appreciate that the sisters aren’t a one trick pony, and have a range of stories to tell. The production on the album is as close to perfect as it could get. It’s not slick or polished. It leaves their voices to do the work of drawing you in. There are instruments, but they’re subtle and only there to add nuance. I don’t know if these songs could be pulled off live unless it’s going to be in an intimate setting. If they hit it really big, an arena show won’t be able to do them justice. The only complaint I have with this cd is that the lyrics aren’t printed anywhere. I can hear them nice and clear, but I worry that I may be missing something subtle in mishearing one word here and there. There was plenty of room to sneak them in, in between pictures of the sisters lounging in their pink forest with the big bad wolf in the background. Missing lyrics aside, I absolutely love this album. I might get tired of it after the next fifty listens, but I’m willing to take that risk. At first glance you might think they don’t fit into a site for heavy music. However, the carnival horror house vibe they present on so many songs makes a strong argument that they do. Going into the new year, I think more people need to check The Pierces out and fall under their spell. They may be beautiful and look sweet, but that just makes them more dangerous. They work as a team because while one is distracting you, the other can stab you in the back. I want to be them when I grow up.
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