duggup

There is a musical pedigree here that can’t be denied. It is in the tunes, the lyrics and the voices of these three sisters who have been singing and playing together since they were young.

With a little help from the Wikipedia then:

The Chapin Sisters are an American musical group consisting of three daughters of Bonnie Chapin: Abigail and Lily Chapin, whose late uncle was Harry Chapin and whose father is folk singer Tom Chapin, and Jessica Craven, whose father is Wes Craven and whose stepfather is Tom Chapin.

They describe their music as a “blend of traditional folk harmonies and indie rock moodiness” and are known for their vocal harmonies.

Their music drifts loosely around the melodies. The voices twine and meet in delicious layers that fit in ways that come with voices practiced and honed as these are.

The covers they do are so unlike the originals as to make them brand new songs. Britney Spears’ song “Toxic” and Madonna’s “Borderline” are typical of the treatment they give to songs. The young women look and sound almost angelic but their own songs are anything but. They betray a worldliness that borders on the gothic.

The girls, who founded the band in 2004, grew up in Brooklyn. After all three had moved to Los Angeles, they began covering pop songs in a bare-bones acoustic style at clubs like Spaceland and The Echo. “We started off as a lark,” admits Jessica. “Then we realized we wanted to take it seriously.” The trio is about to record their first full-length album of mostly original material. “We write a lot of breakup songs,” Lily explains. “We have songs about loss, jealousy and death, and a few songs about one-night stands.” Papermag.com

I just love the album “Lake Bottom LP” that they released earlier this year. Gorgeous melodies, inspired arrangements and of course those voices that tickle and work their way into my head just like a burr. I suggest that you listen to “Kill Me Now” and the killer “Let Me Go”, no pun intended.

Their website is www.thechapinsisters.com but go to MySpace to hear six tracks from their current release and listen to a live version of “Kill Me Now”.

jools is a graphic designer who used to front a band on vocals and bass. All evidence of which have mercifully been obliterated or otherwise lost.
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