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CRITIC REVIEWS
90
They've tapped into the source of indie rock's greatness like few bands have been able to and Versions of Modern Performance isn't merely a homage or a neat trick, it's another very strong, very satisfying link in the chain connecting past to present.
90
The vocal delivery combined with the repetitive melody and the propulsive percussion are all I need to be happy.
90
With clear priorities and unsaddled creative impulses, Horsegirl are the authoritative future of noise pop. With their help, we too can run free.
85
To call Versions of Modern Performance a promising beginning would be to sell short all that it accomplishes. That’s not to say that pondering what comes next isn’t a worthy exercise.
84
It’s always confounding the amount of pressure music publications put on promising newcomers, but Horsegirl seem unfazed by all of that. They’ve delivered a certain-to-be-beloved debut – one that separates itself from its peers.
80
Do not confuse this album for some retread of the 90s alt-rock cannon. It stands on its own legs, as part of the ongoing saga of rock music, a 21st century reinvention of that which has come before.
80
Anti-glory's an easy in, but you'll need to retune your ears to Horsegirl's particular frequency before this debut reveals its full brilliance.
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1y
80
A layered, atmospheric, darkly playful headrush of a first offering.
80
Enveloping and inescapable, ‘Versions of Modern Performance’ is the kind of album that you find yourself returning to, losing yourself time and time again in its alluring trance.
80
The trio's debut album is rich in textural sophistication, carving hooks from fidgety harmonics and swooning whammy-bar abuse.
80
A debut album drawing on shoegaze, jangle, grunge and alt-rock is saved from nostalgia by the sheer quality of the music.
80
Horsegirl are a band of young women reimagining the guitar music of the late 80s and early 90s in their own, very modern image.
80
A gleaming window into a new generation of great American guitar bands.
80
The Chicago trio lovingly inhabit punk and no-wave spaces on their well-executed debut LP.
80
The teenage trio's accomplished debut album fizzes with songs that hit the sweet spot between experimental and anthemic.
73
Chicago’s Horsegirl mines a loose-limbed indie rock sound on their debut album, with an assist from some members of Sonic Youth.
70
Versions of Modern Performance isn’t the stuff of pastiche or mimicry; instead the trio doff their caps whilst creating a world entirely of their own.
70
A warmly familiar yet still sometimes thrilling debut album.
70
The future is seriously bright for Horsegirl, and they have every reason to be optimistic when they are curating such a beautifully unique sound as evident in Versions of Modern Performance.
65
This is a well-oiled creative team, and the fact that they were able to work together to make an album that feels this stylistically-clear is pretty exciting — even if it feels like it leaves something unexplored.
60
Debut album by Chicago teenage trio shows promise but leans heavily on its influences.
60
Horsegirl’s guitar tones are alternately cool and abrasive, and that sound sets the template for the band’s mixture of indie, punk, and art-rock.
‘Versions Of Modern Performance’ kicks things off on on album highpoint with ‘Anti-glory’. ‘Anti-glory’ packs in an unmistakable amount of note-bending slacker vibe.
While ‘Beautiful Song’ is far more glistening in it’s shoegazey guitar approach and it’s packed with reverb and a more back-in-the-mix and whispery vocal. It’s a vocal that approaches ‘Beautiful Song’ so delicately as if not too scare away the pretty ... read more
huge thanks and a big shout out to @GoodCompany who first alerted me to this band a few moons ago. he knew they were special at the time and he was absolutely right.
it is so tempting to over-rate this debut but there are enough rough patches and a sparse song count to not go overboard. I don't understand why they did not include "Sea Life Sandwich Boy" and "Ballroom Dance Scene" instead of three instrumental filler passages. the lead singles (1,5,9,12) are all fantastic ... read more
This isn’t modern you’re lying this sounds like the 90s how dare you pretend!!
Shoegaze indie rock is pretty damn good. I was hoping to like this a little bit more but I’m not really complaining with what I got. Especially with songs like Option 8, and Billy. FUCKIN BILLY. The production is a little odd but idk it’s not a huge problem. I like the vocals, and duh I like the guitars because anything even remotely Shoegaze I’m probably gonna enjoy. I like it I like ... read more
The production is not perfect and the music is perhaps too simple but the vocals and choruses are too catchy and the instrumentals are quite good and I think that horsegirl is a band with a great future, we just have to wait for their neutral projects
Blending in aspects of late 80s and early 90s alt and indie rock with performances more akin to the singer-songwriter of the modern age, Horsegirl serves up an album of solid, if not spectacular, songs.
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Track List
| 1 | Anti-glory 3:30 | 82 |
| 2 | Beautiful Song 2:57 | 75 |
| 3 | Live and Ski 2:23 | 68 |
| 4 | Bog Bog 1 1:53 | 64 |
| 5 | Dirtbag Transformation (Still Dirty) 3:05 | 78 |
| 6 | The Fall of Horsegirl 2:40 | 71 |
| 7 | Electrolocation 2 1:57 | 65 |
| 8 | Option 8 3:33 | 79 |
| 9 | World of Pots and Pans 2:52 | 76 |
| 10 | The Guitar is Dead 3 0:49 | 67 |
| 11 | Homage to Birdnoculars 3:37 | 74 |
| 12 | Billy 3:48 | 85 |
Total Length: 33 minutes
Year End Lists
| #5 | / | MAGNET |
| #6 | / | RIOT |
| #7 | / | Les Inrocks |
| #7 | / | Rolling Stone: Rob Sheffield |
| #12 | / | Crack Magazine |
| #13 | / | Rough Trade (UK) |
| #15 | / | Stereogum |
| #16 | / | No Ripcord |
| #18 | / | Northern Transmissions |
| #22 | / | Norman Records |
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1y
timbo, ma man, slacker rock is a particular style of lo-fi indie rock :D if you don't hear it on this... I don't know, you are writing reviews......
Added on: March 9, 2022