3.5/ 5 Stars

In today’s world, all-girl bands have become something of a joke. A group of girls can easily get together, write mediocre songs and end up far more popular than they should. Excess estrogen in a band has become more like a shtick than a coincidence. A group of DeKalb locals, The Prom Queens, never got the memo.

The Prom Queens take a blend of influences ranging from The Beatles to the avant-garde band Flipper and meld them into a unique sound. The band, formed earlier this year, has a few stellar melodies that are able to maintain their sparkle even while buried under a mountain of guitar fuzz
and primal drum beats.

A six-song demo, featuring two covers and four originals, is posted on the band’s MySpace page. Six songs doesn’t seem like enough, though, since only four are actually by the band.

Once the sublime beauty of “Worry Waits,” the demo’s standout track, begins, the audience wants more. While every song on this album is great, those beautiful chord changes hit home the hardest.

The girls don’t like to be serious all the time, though, as evidenced by distorted freak-outs like “Fuzzhunt.” While more of those gorgeous pop gems would be ridiculously welcome, it’s pretty obvious the group isn’t content just being quiet little indie-rock darlings. They want to hang out with the guys, drink cheap beer and play like a wild, teenage garage band. If they can do it well, no one should be complaining about a lack of ballads.

While more originals would have been more fun to hear than two covers, “The Prom Queens” do them ridiculously well. The aforementioned glow found in “Worry Waits” is also incredibly evident in their version of The Beatles’ classic “I’m Looking Through You.” Their delivery is superb, laying down just as much emotion and connection to the music and lyrics as John Lennon and Paul McCartney did. It’s very rare these days to hear a good, honest cover, so get your fix with this band.

The “Prom Queens’” demo is currently only available on their Web site at www.myspace.com/thepromqueensz and is worth a listen. Plan to hear them in town at Krystal’s Ultra Lounge, 122 S. First Street, on Sept. 24.

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