Sisterhood of Convoluted Thinkers

Biography

With the release of their new CD 'Better Days, Coming Now' the Sisterhood of Convoluted Thinkers' Rob Christiansen and Jeannine Durfee are back on Mark Robinson’s Teenbeat label, where they have appeared on records by Eggs, Viva Satellite, Phil Krauth, Andrew Beaujon, Grenadine and many others over the past decade. Rob has also been well known in the DC indie-pop scene for playing in Simple Machines bands Tsunami and Liquorice, and recording albums by Labradford, Wimp Factor 14 and others. The Sisterhood previously released two full-length CDs on Darla Records and singles on Stewart Anderson's (Boyracer) 555 Recordings.

The Sisterhood sound has evolved over time, moving from the in-studio experimentation of their self-titled debut (Darla/555 U.K.), toward the smoother-sounding pop of their second record, 2001's 'Ume Sour' (Darla.) All the while they've kept the same off-kilter sense of humor.

The band follows up on their second album which documented their two-year stint in Japan, with an album of human-scale sketches of life in Brooklyn, NY - their current location. While personal, Sisterhood songs hit a universal chord by touching on simple daily rituals. The jingle of “Morning Coffee” rushes us out the door and gentle “Cradle” drags us home bleary-eyed to a welcoming pillow. Quirky lyrics tile a mosaic of intimate details that adds up to a feeling familiar to any listener.

The title track turns a melancholy dirge by Britain’s Kyoko into an up tempo anthem of determination and resilience. This is fun music, but its happiness comes in spite of – in defiance of – life’s imperfections and harsh realities.

The rest of the new album continues to play with the listener’s expectations. A spurned lover pines from the dance floor to the disco rhythms of “All You Want to Do Is Make Me Cry.” The catchy melody of “Winners” is undercut by bittersweet memories of lost childhood friendship. The soothing lullaby “Bug Light” mourns an ephemeral, well, pet bug. Even the band’s celebration of sex tempers an infectious tune with the coy refrain “You Don’t Mind Me.”

The Sisterhood make pop music through the looking glass – solid hooks skewed by odd harmonies, unconventional structures and wildly creative concepts. Their off-kilter sense of humor is ever-present, with unexpected nods to the Bee Gees (albeit in 3/4 time) and even Brittany Spears (though composed as a puppet show soundtrack). The intention, says mastermind multi-instrumentalist Rob, is “more musical than ironic.”

The live excitement audible on the record will be translated into a high-energy stage show this fall with the addition of drummer Jessica Weil and guitarist/sampler Mark McAdam. 

“Better Days, Coming Now” is available at www.teenbeat.net and discerning record stores everywhere. They are touring on the West Coast in September. For tour dates, MP3’s and more about the band visit www.convolutedthinkers.com.