Arts & Entertainment

Comments (0) Best Rock n Roll Band - 2004

Naked Barbies

Aside from the Dead, we can't think of another band as enduring as fellow locals Naked Barbies. Founded in 1990, the group has retained essentially the same lineup over three albums (four, if you count the one under the Vagabond Lovers banner): Patty Spiglanin, vocals and guitar; Mike Conner, keys, accordion, and harmonica; Evan Eustis, bass; and Dan Lashkoff, drums. The exception is guitarists, who have a recurring tendency to explode, à la Spinal Tap. (Well, not all of them blow up: Dan Vickrey now plays in Counting Crows.) Naked Barbies' sound isn't easily labeled: Its tunes are visceral and catchy as all get-out, but they're not power pop; they have sincere undertones of country, but they aren't Americana/alt-whatever. Spiglanin's songs have the dark depth and fine detail of Townes Van Zandt's, but she's not a folk-oriented, angst-filled singer/songwriter type. The group rocks the hell out of Led Zeppelin's "Ramble On" and plays with the soulful poise and subtlety of the Band, but without the retro tendencies. Spiglanin has one of the most distinctive voices anywhere, heady and amber-hued, reminiscent of a fine whiskey. She sings like a mature, resolute woman, not a rebellious/ angry/randy brat or a nervous young intellectual with a guitar. Naked Barbies play thoughtful but stirring adult rock 'n' roll, although young people can dig 'em, too.

Download our Free Best Of App

Write Your Comment

*indicates required fields. Please enable browser cookies before filling out this form. All reader comments are subject to our Terms of Use. By clicking Add Comment, you acknowledge that you have reviewed and agree to these Terms.

Comments may take a few minutes to process and appear on the site. Please do not click the "Add Comment" button again while your comment is being added.

  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *

    (The four characters are not case sensitive):
for free stuff, concert and dining info & more!

Find A Coupon

Popular Coupons

Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places

    Voice Places

    Discover restaurants, nightlife, travel, shopping...

  • VOICE Daily Deals

    VOICE Daily Deals

    Get 50 to 90% off every day on restaurants, movies, massages...

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    More than 10,000 of the BEST things to eat, drink, and experience

  • My Voice Nation

    My Voice Nation

    Join the Village Voice community and get exclusive deals and info

  • Happy Hour

    Happy Hour

    Your local Happy Hour guide at your fingertips

or

Log in or Sign up

Social Connect:

Use your favorite account to access My Voice Nation.


Use your My Voice Nation account to log in:





Forgot password?
or

Sign Up or Log in

Social Connect:

Sign up for My Voice Nation with your preferred network.


Sign up for a My Voice Nation account:



Privacy policy