Review: Glistening Pleasure

By Amanda Degard

What does a slip and slide, tilt-a-whirl, shamu, turtlenecks and somersaults have in common? They are all in the lyrics of a band composed of five teens that are barely out of high school who are having the time of their lives. Who are these free-spirited, full of life teens? Luke Smith, Shaun Libman, Claire England, David Price and Liam Downey Jr make up Seattle's newest underground electro, pop, freestyle band, Natalie Portman's Shaved Head or NPSH. What makes NPSH different than the other new underground bands of this obscure music century we live in? Well, they are actually having fun.

One thing you will not here in their debut album Glistening Pleasure is a sappy love song or an emo redden ballet. NPSH's songs cover topics from candy to facial hair to side ponytails, oh, and seeing your neighbor in their "bedroom costume" because they forgot to close the blinds.

In their song "Beard Lust" NPSH discusses facial hair. Lyrics include: look at my facial hair/Oh man, hot damn! It's everywhere!/Where'd you get that beard?/I grew it/How'd you keep it so clean?/I shampoo it. In the music video for "Sophisticated Side Ponytail" the band uses a green screen, face paint, 80s sunglasses, an Indian headdress and special effects to show the world just who they are.

Their songs have fun lyrics, upbeat tempos and most include handclaps, it is hard not to enjoy NPSH music, I mean who wouldn't like to hear about Shamu in a song?

Track list:

1. Me + Yr Daughter

2. Slow Motion Tag Team

3. Iceage Babeland

4. Mouth Full of Bones

5. Holding Hands in the Shower

6. L.A. Noir

7. Staying Cool

8. Bedroom Costume

9. Hush Hush

10. Beard Lust

11. Sophisticated Side Ponytail

12. The Malibu Highlife

13. Confections

For more information: myspace.com/natalieportmansshavedhead