Sexy Girls serves up summer-ready “Satan’s Hands” LP

If there’s one thing Sexy Girls has a knack for, it’s fitting in pop hooks where you’d least expect them. On the band’s latest release, Satan’s Hands, the first arrives at 1:15 on opener “Young in a Garden”: amidst a beach shack strewn with tube amps, Alex Whitelaw sings, “With a touch of your hand I’ll be at your command … Where can I take you?” before devolving into a chorus of la-las. Overall, the set is a more concise take on surf rock than 2012’s The Collection, with few changes to the instrumentation allowing Whitelaw’s songwriting – as well as Ben Semeta’s production – to shine. “It’s Painful For Me,” an everything-will-be-alright promise, stands out even without a discernable chorus or a single drum beat thanks to heaped-on distortion. On the title track, Whitelaw calls out to God to “meet me in the middle,” ending the album on an introspective note. Download Satan’s Hands for free on Bandcamp now or keep your eyes open for a physical copy at Sexy Girls’s upcoming shows in Portland, ME; Chicopee, MA; Portsmouth, NH; Jamaica Plain, MA; and Florence, MA. – Jake Reed (@jakejreed)