Dressy Bessy

Dressy Bessy

DRESSY BESSYDressy BessyKindercore Recordswww.dressybessy.com

Since its formation in 1997, the Denver-based band Dressy Bessy has gained a reputation for dishing out sweet, retro power-pop reminiscent of the Beach Boys, sprinkling their sound with a bit of indie-rock and a healthy dash of influence from Sleater-Kinney and Letters to Cleo.

Songwriter Tammy Ealom still manages to make the music Dressy Bessy’s own, with her sweet and almost drawling vocals. She has also perfected the art of writing dance-in-your-seat melodies, complete with enviable hooks and catchy, girl-journal poem-like lyrics. The band has progressed nicely, breaking away from their doll-inspired name and shedding the songs written for the bubblegum set in favor of a grittier rock sound.

Even the glummest pop junkie will delight in this album. Guitarist John Hill, also known for his work with Apples (In Stereo), rips through chords, devouring every opportunity to make a song catchier, and bassist Rob Greene and drummer Darren Albert lays a solid foundation for all those hooks.