At a time when some of their contemporaries, like The Bangles, were embracing mainstream pop success, California’s The Pandoras were leaning back into the 60s with an aggressive thrust forward into 80s punk rock. Emerging from L.A.’s Paisley Underground genre, their sound was unique and appealing to me at the time, and continues to excite me over three decades later.
Led by vocalist/guitarist Paula Pierce, the band went through a revolving-door line-up, but by the time 1986 rolled around, Kim Shattuck (bass), Karen Blankfeld (drums) and Melanie Vammen (keyboards) were in, and the album Stop Pretending was being released. “You’re All Talk” is just one of the many fantastic tracks from this album, but it happens to be my favorite, and it’s also the perfect sound to enjoy while taking your vintage Mustang for a spin.
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About the Curator - Jane Asylum
When my mother wasn’t walking around the house belting out early 60s’ girl-band lyrics, she was collecting compilation albums, specifically from K-Tel. She may not have had the most refined taste, but she enjoyed variety, or at least that’s what I recall. I poured over them all, preferring some sounds to others. And when I found the perfect song, I’d play it over and over until ready to perform my latest theatrical dance incarnation.
With my family all gathered on floral grey sofas in our basement apartment, I’d set the vinyl on the turntable of a brown fibreboard stereo and not-so-carefully lower the needle. It would pop, screech, and crackle before any music spilled from the weaved-wheat speakers. My toes would press, lift, and sweep through the blue-green shag carpet, my arms would flail, and the music would bass and treble through my soul.
I’m no longer that 6-year-old doing private-audience interpretive dance routines, but my passion remains just as intense. I have no special superpowers as a curator — just my love of sounds and lyrics that transport, transform, move, and make your body groove.