Life Without Velocity Girl - Pop 4

In 2002, six years after the dissolution of Velocity Girl, lead singer Sarah Shannon released her first eponymous solo album. A wide departure from the jangly distorted guitar and shoegazey harmonies of her work with the band, this album offered us a mature songstress in the vein of Carly Simon. Her signature sing-songy twee vocals persevere in this recording and is an addictive draw to this very Adult Contemporary sound. The album was not a commercial juggernaut, but the listener gets the message that this is an album that Sarah Shannon made for Sarah Shannon.

This was the age of Myspace; a time when social media did not yet monopolize communication. Internet quizzes gave rise to identity politics, and the fall of Western civilization gained that much more speed. I was able to check out a few songs. I felt blessed to hear her swing into the hight notes again with the cadence unique to her only. But it was not Velocity Girl, I was young man attempting to cling on to the warm security blanket of youth. The void persisted.

Two years later, I became a father. Work and new obligations took me to the West coast of Florida, and with it a search for child care. I searched for, and eventually found, the babysitter that met one of my highest criteria items: access to Kindie Rock.

The early 2000's gave us the rise of Kindie Rock: music performed by indie rock artists and intended for children. DEVO, They Might Be Giants, and The Aquabats were among the throng of seasoned musicians creating music for this new demographic. In this milleu, Sarah Shannon gave us her most ambitious, accessible work since VG With her new Kindie Rock band The Not-Its, Shannon gave us a new-found energy, using her noticeably trained up vocals in conjunction with the rock sensibilities of a full band. Other bandmembers include Micheal Welke of Harvey Danger and Danny Adamnson of Kentucky Pistol. With a proper indie rock pedigree, Sarah Shannon's new vehicle was the offering that would make me whole.

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