Scooterbabe, an Athens, Ga.-based noise pop trio, recently released an EP. The 5-track Scooterbabe EP is available digitally on a “name your own price” basis, and the band also released the project on a limited number of cassette tapes… Yes, I just said (well, wrote) cassette tapes… As in those plastic music squares that had a unique relationship with pencils and share a nostalgic sorrow with floppy disks. Scooterbabe’s choice of genre and audio release format clearly display their respect for noise pop and their nostalgic tendencies. So be sure to grab your Walkman, throw on a pair of jncos, and give them a listen.
If you played Tony Hawk Pro Skater and enjoy bands like The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, then this EP might be for you. The band finds their niche with songs like “Clean” where the soft “oh’s” that comprise the melody smooth some of the rough production edges.
The album has an untainted garage-rock sound that feels dreamy and seems to embody Athens. The town is constantly producing new artists, and new artists are constantly altering the Athens music scene. Scooterbabe’s most recent self-titled album is one of them. I’m sure I’ve seen one of its members downtown or on campus. Little did I know this person was working out a lyric about Annelise, “Why’d you let yourself down, waiting for some boy to set you straight?”
Scooterbabe presents an indie pop sound, with surf-like guitar riffs and base and catchy lyrics. The attitude is fast and fun as Scooterbabe chants, “Are you bored? If so, scooterbabe, go.”
Scooterbabe is Athens. It is feel-good; it is easy to sing, and it is easy to relate to.
