it was not all that but it was okay i guess

Teenage Girls reach this album's highpoint on "Exactabox," an energetic, punk-influenced rocker that switches between pondering emo verses and an energetic, Q and Not U-influenced chorus. While "Box" is the full-length's most noteworthy tune, there are also a number of other good aspects to the album, including some interesting melodies and vocal rhythms. The band's primary goal, despite often being laced with occasional whininess and pop simplicity, is to rock. Every tune, even those that fall under the sentimental emo banner, manages to - at some point during its duration - kick into rock mode. This is good news for fans of "college rock" and "alternative rock", which are both tags that apply to the band's style. The aptly-titled "My First Ballad" comes closest to ignoring the band's rock vein, remaining completely restrained for two-and-a-half minutes, before finally breaking out the distortion for the last quarter of the track. "How Callous Is The Sound (Biggest Fan)", meanwhile, epitomizes the band's college rock style, coming forth with mock-indie rock stylings and a pretty catchy, spastic melody that recalls Sebadoh's excitable "Gimme Indie Rock," except with a less rough sound. All around, "The Initial Assault LP" is a very fine effort. While lots of the stuff of this genre ends up sounding too bland and generic to really matter, TG sure sound as if they're doing something right. While repeated listens may be somewhat limited, there is still plenty to enjoy (and hum along to) here. 78% Matt Shimmer [Vitals: 9 tracks; distributed by CD Baby; released 2002]

The press release that came with this CD could not say it any better “Warning Teenage Girls are not what you think: end of warning.” When I first got this CD I thought that the Teenage Girls would be a made up of a bunch of whiney teeny bopper girls singing about who knows what, so when I begin to play the CD I was shocked to hear a male fronted band pop punk band, that only has females add a few back up vocals throughout the CD. The songs here are an example of well-produced pop punk with several more mellow emo-ish songs thrown in here and there. I have to say that I was quickly sucked in by the opening track. After listening for only a few seconds of “How Callous Is The Sound (Biggest Fan)” I was tapping my toes and had a smile on my face, but be warned not all the songs are quite as poppy and upbeat as the opening track, something you realize one you hear the second track “American Beauty.” Although there is definitely an emo aspect to this CD, the songs are not as whiney as much of the emo that is popular and thankfully unlike many of the trendy bands out there the lead singer does not have an annoying voice. Like most pop punk, The Initial Assault LP: The Art of Friendship is not with out its repetitive cheesy lines like “She wanted to kiss me, but she just stood there safely staring” found in “Kissing Ugly Boys (In Callow Fields)" and what is up with lyrics about quoting Nietzsche? The band also has several songs about the music industry. These lines seem to show a sense of displeasure with the industry and those who work in it, such as “calling all the kids out to kill the A and R” which is repeated in the chorus found in “How Callous Is The Sound (Biggest Fan)” and “Lets rip the tongues from the critics…” in “American Beauty.” If they have fans who actually pay attention the lyrics this might help Teenage Girls gain fans or loose them depending on how they feel about the industry overall or if they care at all. The band sounds pretty tight throughout the entire CD and there are some interesting guitar riffs found here, including the opening track and in “Dry.” The opening track and “Come: she’s lost her way” are probably the best tracks on the CD, but the others can hold their own as well. A few of the tracks might get annoying after too many listens but that is why there is a skip button on your stereo. Almost all of the songs here are pretty straightforward and easy to get into. This is a band whose sound would easily appeal to anyone who likes catchy pop punk and would probably appeal to fans of many of the popular emo bands. You might want to check them out soon, because I know it won’t be long before all the kids to be talking about this band. Added: October 8th 2002 Reviewer: Caroline

Teenage Girls By JOE STUDENT Weekender Staff Writer Rating: B+ Perhaps the saddest commentary about the state of original music in Northeastern Pennsylvania is that though indie rock band the Teenage Girls consider the area to be its base, the band does not play the region's club circuit very often, instead gigging more frequently in Philadelphia. A quick listen to the group's work on "The Initial Assault LP: The Art of Friendship"shows why Philly audiences have much to appreciate. Frontman Bob Zanicky snarls into "How Callous is the Sound (Biggest Fan)," a scathing commentary on radio and the music industry machine. On this track Zanicky states in his Elvis Costello-esque vocal that he's "callin' all the kids out to kill the A&R." His delivery flavors this cut, and the entire record, with an acerbic, smart-assed tone that is a perfect fit to the band's unapologetically bold attitude made obvious by its music's often rebellious themes. Throughout the disc Zanicky is backed by the tight rhythms of drummer Gene Padden and bassist Matt Buhler and the melodic guitar playing of Mike Russo, all of whom help tunes such as "American Beauty," "Dry" and "Come" grab the listener's attention and interest without blasting them with nu-metal anger or muddy post-punk blather. Each song commands repeat listens for both the lyrical and musical nuances that may have been missed on the first sampling. Zanicky's lyrics, in particular, are often peppered with language whose content is simultaneously cerebral and brazen. Producers Bret Alexander and Paul Smith at Saturation Acres Studio did an admirable job of both capturing the raw energy of the band and unharnessing it at the appropriate times on the CD, as is the case with "Kissing Ugly Boys." This catchy track, perhaps to the chagrin of the band, belongs on radio somewhere. The mid-tempo song oscillates from soft introspective notes to raging cacophony and back, then to an anthemic finish as the best cut on the disc. On a lighter note,"My First Ballad" serves as an interesting, tongue-in-cheek aside that asks critics for understanding while offering up yet another lyrical smack to the music industry with "what the markets need now is a bad boy with a golden heart" within its hilarious lyrical structure. Undoubtedly, the Girls could fill this suggested musical void. The lyrics, musicianship and production on the record are all very solid for any release and very impressive for an indie effort. The band delivers its music with a chip-on-the-shoulder mentality that conveys a fiercely independent sound that is fresh, energetic and impossible to ignore, even for NEPA.