VIVA LE VOX / PAPERDOLLS:
Split: 7”
Viva Le Vox is a South Florida three-piece that plays bluesy, rootsy rock and roll. First song, “Down at the Laundromat,” with its shuffle beat and raspy vocals kind of reminds me of the alley cat band Tom puts together in “Solid Serenade” to woo the lady cat with his soulful rendition of “Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby.” Next up, “Six Inches Off the Floor” picks up where “Down at the Laundromat” left off, and is one of the peppiest songs about suicide I can recall. A fun couple of songs here, worth repeated listens. Paperdolls is a South Florida acoustic two-piece. The wilting vocals, gothic and romantic lyrics (in the classic, literary sense) and Django Reinhardt-inspired gypsy folk guitar by Guido Castellanos on the first song “Dark. Cold. Sudden” is certainly impressive. Next, “Woodburning Kit,” with band mate Tara taking lead vocals, follows in similar fashion as the lead track, though Tara’s voice seems to be more playful with a bit more range, though both songs are beautifully crafted. All in all, this is a very nice pairing. –Jeff (Incest)