: Press :
The Guilty Party - It Doesn't Hurt
The Guilty Party keep their music in the shadows of night, lacing it with a slight goth and cabaret edge. On this full length follow-up to their 2004 Five Songs debut ep, the Bay Area foursome's brooding drama is more defined and recalls that of early '90s Northeastern U.S. rock bands such as Come or Versus, or more recent likeminded Westcoasters such as Duchess or Whysall Lane. Woozy and intoxicated / intoxicating, their troubled torment ramps up sharply as the album progresses, not unlike a rapid unravelling of emotions and nerves. The spotlight is wisely centered on the powerful throaty vocals of Angelica Maze. The potency of her pipes totally hold its own next to the imposing swagger of the guitars and driving rhythm section. Together they pack quite a wallop. Check out the eighth track "Switch Away" in which the band injects a little Sonic Youth-y art/noise rock dissonance at the end. Very cool. Recorded and produced by SF rock maestro Doug Hilsinger (of the very like-minded but more rural Waycross and Enochestra, they of the 'Taking Tiger Mountain revisited' project) who's also been known to play a little drums and guitar with the band too.
Aquarius Records, San Francisco
The Guilty Party - It Doesn't Hurt
Don't let the pastel heart-shaped candies and the title, It Doesn't Hurt, fool you. The Guilty Party's debut LP unleashes an unapologetic and gripping soundscape of emotions often hidden or unexpressed, covered like a bandage by words as benign as the title. With these ten songs The Guilty Party travel well beneath the surface of modern love into a jarring dark and scary world where rage and anger are expressed in swelling urgent episodic crescendos of brutally honest lyrics and music evocative of despair, secrets, violence and dreamlike resolve. This is not a lighthearted or happy journey but the effect created is incandescent with a certain beauty, like the light of liberation from demons confronted or the steady glow of a controlled burn. This disc will sear its way into your psyche like a cattle brand, much like their riveting live performances have in the local SF rock scene. The Guilty Party have created an unusually powerful and intriguing debut. It's a dark, mysterious ride, exhilarating and full of scary parts.
Don Baird, Bay Area Reporter
The Guilty Party - It Doesn't Hurt
I personally loved their 5 Songs EP and this full-length debut album only adds more to how much I love the band! The voice of lead singer, Angelica Maze, still just pierces and penetrates the gloom and darkness of the music. Some, or many, may disagree, but her voice oddly reminds me of PJ Harvey - whom the band lists amongst their influences - though stylistically the band is completely different, erring more on the side of full volume mood rock and goth than on aching groul vocals and backing band.
Being out of San Francisco, CA these guys remind me of other local acts such as the equally emotion-laden Madelia, Empty Rooms and perhaps a little of the spunkier The Pleased.
Why bands like The Guilty Party and even Madelia haven't yet hit the mainstream is beyond me. Aside from only just starting out, Madelia has been around for years and it's not like it is difficult for them to be picked up on some Record Exec's radar, and why we have to put up with the filth and muck of such bands as the Arctic Monkeys is beyond me when we can have so much better to chose from!
Vincro, Last.fm
The Guilty Party - Five Songs
Five Songs is the debut release of this Bay Area moody rock band. What you first notice when you put this EP on for a spin is the contrast between the low, druggy female voice and the high pitched slinking guitar. The vocals and guitars sit prominently atop a bed of slow-boil bass guitar and drums. Shadowy, smoldering and more than a little bit gothy. Mixed by Doug Hilsinger (Waycross, Enorchestra).
Aquarius Records, San Francisco
The Guilty Party - Five Songs
Mixed and mastered by Doug Hilsinger and The Guilty Party at Sauce Faucet Produced by The Guilty Party
Reviewer -noMiko
If the Guilty Party's CD Five Songs could be described in a single word, this album would be called hypnotic. From the dirge-like tempos of each song to Angelica's closely miked breathy mezzo, the whole album is imbued with a tensely depressive aura. There is a feeling of floating in thick dark water with the cold musical tendrils of each song swirling around you and dragging you further beneath the icy flow of sound. At times Angelica's pronunciation is barely understandable, which can be annoying as you struggle to hear what she is saying. However, her voice breezes softly over the industrial metallic clang of the musicians and adds an unbearable urgency and intensity to each song. They could almost be called a melancholy blend of the Sundays and the Cranberries, while melding easily with This Mortal Coil. Bass lines pulsate like a demonic heartbeat full of simple power while the drums crash their harshness into an already abrasive rhythm. Though far removed from typical rock, the music can seem a bit dreary at times since there are no exemplary displays of skill from the rhythm section. To counteract this, guitars provide an ethereal and intricate wail over the subdued tones of the singer, floating on the waves of her oceanic voice. Electronica is used sparingly and tastefully, adding just the right amount of chaos to the whirlwind of sound. This mesmerizing album is so full of shadowy ambience that it is a pity there are only five songs. The Guilty Party is a beautiful shadow over the realm of rock that will hopefully spread to an all-encompassing veil. (Evil Eye Records)
West Coast Performer Magazine
The Guilty Party - Five Songs EP
Here's an interesting new band to look out for. The Guilty Party are yet another entry in the growing number of San Francisco based dark Post-Punk bands. The first track on this five song EP "View From a Closet" has a nice downtempo strut and swagger that creates a very unsettling atmosphere. The song really invokes a sensation of claustorphobia. Like hiding in the closet of a seedy motel, hoping that whoever is stalking the hallway outside won't find you! "Hit You" starts off with a similarly downtempo style, but quickly kicks the energy level up while retaining an atmosphere of dread. "Ten Minutes" is the soundtrack to a journey down an old twisty abandoned back country road at 3am. The song seductively slides around each curve, leaving you wondering where exactly the end of the road leads? "Incandescent" starts off on a slightly more somber note. It slowly climbs a wall of sound and then drops back out again, very reminiscent of early 90's Dreampop.. just a whole lot more sinister. The final track "Lapse" is an excellent way to dust off this taste of brilliance. With an insanely catchy melody and rhythm, it has hints of a nursery rhyme gone horribly awry. Driven by tribal drumming, stinging guitars, and vocalist Angelica Maze's banshee like wail. This song is just begging for an extended mix (*hint, hint*). I can't wait to hear more from The Guilty Party, and you should go and order their EP right now!
5/5
Post-Punk.com
The Guilty Party - Five Songs EP
The Guilty Party are a female-fronted rock band from San Fransisco. This mcd, appropriately called "Five songs", makes a good impression on me. The music is intense and dynamic, with a moody postpunk sound. The rather low, nonchalant sensual vocals of singer Angelica Maze make me think somewhat of PJ Harvey. The first song, 'View from a closet', is rather claustrophic and builds up a lot of tension, but does not have a real climax. 'Hit you' starts off in a brooding batcave manner, but has a great energetic acceleration which rocks heavily. 'Ten minutes' has a nice pumping rhythm section, very suited to listen on-the-road, but mind your speed, especially as the song gets heavier. Then it's time to relax a little with 'Incandescent', a slower atmospheric dreampop-like track. Finally 'Lapse' is a nice dark indie rock track, which sounds familiar, without becoming clear of which it reminds me. An EP with twenty minutes of convincing music. I think The Guilty Party would be a great band to see live, according to their website they already have quite some experience on stage.
Punk Rock Parents
The Guilty Party is a dark and moody band from San Francisco. This five song CD has a very good production with a spooky and almost gothic feel to it. Captivating female vocals are supplied by Angelica Mazé. Ultimately, this reminds me of The Birthday Party for lack of another quick comparison. This is good for anyone who is into moody indie rock. I smell somewhat of a New Wave revival coming. I'm not sure if The Guilty Party has any part in that, but they could likely ride on this resurgence of 80's music.
Punk Rock Parents
The Guilty Party with Space Vacuum
Live music returns to the old Covered Wagon Saloon, now an up-scale dance club called Cherry Bar & Lounge. Cherry kicks off its new "Chick Bands" night (second Thursday of the month) with a performance by local, born again post-punks The Guilty Party, whose dark, gothic-tinged clamor will surely strike a nerve with fans of early Siouxsie and the Banshees.
San Francisco Examiner
The Guilty Party - Five Songs (Self Released 2004)
Another great local act from San Francisco, The Guilty Party has dominated the true underground scene here is SF for about 2 years now. I have had so many people attempt to classify their music as either, Indie or "Dark Indie", Altermative even Gothic Rock and Post Punk. In truth the Guilty Party doesn't need simple genre classification but they do possess all of the above elements and a bit more. A bit of electronic trip hop comes into play as well as a bit of blues. Angelica Maze is a fantastically talented, soulful, lusty and feisty femme fatale behind the mic. However we know that a singer is only as good as the band, Serge Vladimiroff , Sam Holt and Anthony Short are fantastic in their own right as they deliver powerful yet at times very fragile drums, guitar and bass. I was turned onto The Guilty Party by Mike Peaslee who is the frontman for Stalking Tom and ex- Cynic frontman. I was truly impressed and I enjoyed seeing them live even more. They keep the crowd fixated on them as if they were under some musically conjured voodoo spell, it was fascinating to observe.
You can catch them live in SF easy enough, these talented musicians do not rest and are usually planning shows well in advance but getting the CD is most important objective you must accomplish. Support local bands everywhere!!
The Haven [Mystchief]