Discovering new music during quarantine: Giant Drag

Recently, I have been looking into more new music. One of the bands that drew my attention the most was Giant Drag, an early 2000s indie rock band. Their sound is a mix of several of my favorite artists, and I was instantly hooked.  

The group formed in 2003 and consists of members, Annie Hardy, Collin Deatharge, and Micah Calabrese. They were centered in Los Angeles, California and released their first EP in 2004 with their debut album, Hearts and Unicorns, coming the following year. They have very few albums, but they are continuing to work on a new project.  

Hearts and Unicorns was my favorite from their discography. They have a raw, grunge-like sound that is always refreshing to listen to. What stands out most from their tracks is the consistent guitar. It carries a strong sound throughout while maintaining variety and substance.  

Of the 14 tracks on Hearts and Unicorns, the ones that stood out the most were “Kevin is Gay” and “Wicked Game”. Both are full of unique lyrics and an addicting sound.  

In a Pitchfork review of the album, the author writes that they sound like My Bloody Valentine without all the noise, and I agree. While they maintain a gritty edge, the vocals are solid and loud. This is a band that should be investigated if you are into shoegaze, Hole, or loud female musicians. The lead singer, Annie Hardy, cultivates her sound to a T.  

While I enjoy their music, I do not think that their sound has really evolved. Big Drag sticks to what they are good at, and while it is enjoyable, their discography could use more variety than what they have given in the past. They are not as well-known as many of the other early 2000s indie rock groups, and I think this is why. Unlike groups like The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Big Drag has yet to really try something out of their comfort zone.  

Overall, Big Drag was a pleasant find and one of my favorite new additions to my Spotify playlist. This is a band that anyone can listen and enjoy, even if their sound is not what the listener is traditionally a fan of.