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Entertainment - Found Sounds
by David Piesner
Quick Ref:
Led by Elizabeth Elmore, the fiery former frontwoman of the critically acclaimed, Champaign, Illinois, outfit Sarge, the Reputation play buoyant, guitar-driven power pop that’s flavored with the scent of Elmore’s relationship disasters. Rounded out by bassist Sean Hulet, bassist Joel Root, and a rotating cast of drummers, the band, now based in Chicago, sounds a little tougher and more seasoned than Sarge did, though Elmore hasn’t lost her gift for vibrant pop melodies.
For Fans of:
The riveting and emotional guitar pop of Buffalo Tom, the romantic pathos and sexual bravado of the Afghan Whigs, the unapologetic infectiousness of Juliana Hatfield/the Blake Babies.
Last Heard:
On their throttling self-titled debut. Doubts and insecurities riddle Elmore across contemplative ballads such as "This Town" and "The Uselessness of Friends," but when she lets fire with ferocious, hook-filled, guitar blitzes like "Either Coast" and "The Truth," it’s clear they’re not getting the best of her.
Why You Should Care:
Elmore spits blunt and often vicious honesty without resorting to icky confessionals, while the band plays with an energy that borders on manic.
Up Next:
The Reputation will hit the road for dates in the summer and the fall, as Elmore tries to put off finishing her last year at law school for as long as she can. Yes, you heard that right, she’s currently on a leave of absence from Northwestern Law School. "I guess it’s not very ‘rock,’" Elmore says, "but you have to look at who’s defining what ‘rock’ is. Because the people I’ve met in law school are smarter, more interesting, and far more liberal than people in the music scene. I want to do something that’s useful in the world, that makes a difference. Not just playing for 300 white, post-suburban kids in a club. I feel like music is such a selfish, self-indulgent thing that people do. It’s great but I have a massive guilt trip with it already because I think, ‘Well, I could be helping people instead of wanking off.’"
Every Breath You Take:
Elmore’s openly personal lyrics have fostered a strong emotional bond between her fans and her music. Sometimes too strong. "I got stalked for a year and a half. I had the guy thrown in jail a number of times. I spent six months fucking scared. And I’m pissed because nobody’s ever been able to make me scared before. I can take care of myself. But he’s 50 years old and mentally ill. The FBI fugitive task force was looking for him for a while for some kidnappings.’"
Swearin’ Like a Sailor:
Is it just us or is there something unceasingly cool about hearing someone with a self-described ‘girly’ voice sing about sex in terms so frank they’d make Snoop Dogg blush. "These days it’s rim jobs vs. platitudes," Elmore croons in one memorable refrain in "For the Win," before adding. "I’m your favorite piece of ass," a revelation which, by that point, doesn’t sound surprising. "I’m not really good at self-censorship," she explains. "My little sisters came to a show the other night, one is 17 but the other is 8. I was swallowing words right and left. It’s passive-aggressive in a way because that song is actually about the guy who helped record part of the CD. He was like ‘Jesus Christ! Are you saying what I think you’re saying?’"