Thao - Bag of Hammers

If I had told you that Thao (Nguyen) was signed to Kill Rock Stars and you had yet to hear her, I would certainly forgive you for thinking her music might have an aggressive edge to it. In reality her sound couldn't possibly be further from whatever preconception you may have drawn. Thao and her backing group "The Get Down Stay Down" make music which could be the soundtrack of long summer days from your lost childhood. Even the title of her album "We Brave Bee Stings And All" hints at such. "Bag of Hammers" begins with Thao meldically singing over a short, catchy guitar riff (perhaps being strummed with a toothbrush as mentioned in her KRS profile). Her delivery suggests a sense of mischief as she impatiently waits for a friend to join her outside. The hooks quickly kick in and keep on hitting one after another as Thao sings about different methods which are employed in order to get the friend to come out and join the fun. The two analogies used in the song - bee stings & licks of ice cream - reflect its light-hearted feel and the tone of the album as a whole. If sugary pop songs are not your thing you may be a bit turned off by this track, but if you can appreciate a well written hook then wait no further to give this a listen.