CHORDS ARE DEAD - THE SIREN EP published October 11, 2006, The Owl Mag

Not to sound like a total philistine, but I usually turn my nose at any band that comes out of Berkeley. It's really hard to take a mush of bands as seriously as they take themselves when they all sound the fucking same. That said, Chords Are Dead are a refreshing shock. The sound is still oh-so-Berkeley, don't worry. But along with that is a poppy energy made respectable with the right amount of grit.

One thing is for sure: the androgynous voice of Amelia Terry is the answer to the prayers of any retired riot grrrl who hasn't been moved by a female vocalist since Kathleen Hanna. However, Chords Are Dead are more the image of Sleater-Kinney than Bikini Kill with their more gentle approach. This is the kind of band I loved as a kid: simple and sleek with just enough edge to make an impression.