“A Song for Ellie Greenwich“
from the album Entanglements
2008
iTunes
Parenthetical Girls, sometimes endearingly referred to as (((GRRRLS))), is actually comprised of four men and one woman, but the band sees a regularly rotating cast of musicians contributing to its music, as evident on its forthcoming Entanglements. As its name might suggest, the release is a dense arrangement of sound, orchestral in style, with synths, organs, accordions, snares, and the odd piano here and there. Combined, these instruments create a composition that hangs in the balance between pop and experimental — with an edge of darkness thrown in for good measure.
Named for the 1960s Brill Building pop singer/songwriter, “A Song for Ellie Greenwich” augurs well for the rest of the album, proving that it’s possible to make modern orchestral pop without sounding too slavishly indebted to The Beach Boys, The Zombies, Van Dyke Parks, et al. While the grand orchestral statements of the ’60s are undoubtedly an influence here, the band has assimilated those sounds into something that feels strikingly new. Sure, there’s a tongue-in-cheek quote from Burt Bacharach’s “Close to You” at the top of the tune, but even with its retro-conscious title, “A Song for Ellie Greenwich” seems surprisingly forward-looking.