Army Girls

Earlier this summer, when Toronto, ON's Army Girls released debut single "The Power," it boded well for the full release that was to follow; it was a perfect slice of top-40 pop from a decade gone by, dirtied with distortion and brimming with the rudimentary rawness inherent in a guitar/drums two-piece. And though that song is the clear stand out on the Close to the Bone EP, the other four tracks are equally as arresting. Featuring barely post-teen Toronto scene stalwart Carmen Elle (Donlands and Mortimer, Dance Yourself to Death, Austra and more) as our fearless leader and Andy Smith (Heartbeat Hotel) on drums, Army Girls deliver a succinct set of soulful garage-pop, and the rough recording/production from Ben Cook (Fucked Up, Young Guv) serves the songs well. Elle is sweet and savage, and Smith's drums snap tightly, while closer "Always" could easily fit on any Land of Talk record, as could the clean, off-kilter notes in "Cold and Alcohol." However, Army Girls' dynamic and energy are all their own, and they're killer.