Conventions often make listening to a diverse range of bands and genres possible. If one can conceive of what musical conventions an artist is tapping into, processing the aural information becomes manageable. The point being, when one comes across a band as UNconventional as eX-Girl, one stands up and takes notice. That's not to say that eX-Girl doesn't follow some conventions, rather they manipulate usually recognizable patterns and align seemingly incongruent styles, but emerge triumphantly from it all. The basics of eX-Girl's Endangered Species can only be broken down into a list of parts that paints an incomplete picture: Melodramatic lead vocals, thematic melodies, left-field harmonies, and unusually employed instrumentation. And of course, it would be remiss if I didn't mention the neon body paint and outlandish visual style.
With their prior album, Back to the Mono Kero, eX-Girl took that style to its pinnacle. On their return with Endangered Species (sporting two new members) something had to change, lest the band fall into relying on their own unconventional conventions. Opening with a red herring of sorts, "E-Sa-Ya" possesses a memorable theme that brings a new "accessibility" to their sound. It is the third track, though, "Pretty You Ugly," that announces the band's newest addition to their arsenal: the huge rock riff. Granted, rock riffs are about as unusual as Led Zeppelin fans, but in the context of eX-Girl, it's enough to rekindle anyone's love of guitar. Given their predilection for already bold themes, this new aesthetic pushes the band into ecstatic realms of bombast, particularly on the soft/loud "Resonance."
In the end, their sound may be a bit more user-friendly, but things are still wild enough that a commercial breakthrough is unlikely. Rather, eX-Girl neatly avoids conventionality and have crafted a sound every bit as loud as their much-lauded appearance.
1. E-Sa-Ya
2. Hettakorii No Ottokotou
3. Pretty You Ugly
4. Pujeva
5. New Pulse
6. Venus vs. Gas Onna
7. Rocket Keronian
8. Resonance
9. Endangered Species
10. Dodo
11. The Letter From Mr. Triscuits
More about: eX-Girl
