I was listening to the Go-Go’s this morning, including the surprisingly moody and heavy “This Town.” It’s my song of the day and is off the adorable quartet’s debut 1981 album Beauty and the Beat.
What a salvo the opening riff is! It’s reminiscent of Enio Morricone’s epic spaghetti-Western compositions. Some kind of stand-off is taking place.
Listen to the bass chugging, like Metallica on progesterone and Prozac. And then things get downright surfy. Like you’ve taken acid and are watching the ’60s surf-doc “Endless Summer,” with its echoing, tide-emulating soundtrack.
Why didn’t I notice how hard-core the Go-Go’s are? Maybe it’s the Perrier-like quality of Belinda Carlisle’s voice, a vibrato so effervescent it should only be achievable through a wah-wah pedal.
Respect, ladies. Respect.
–Sarah Torribio
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