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It’s no surprise that The Virgins have become New York City’s
latest candidate for musical celebrity. Fashion-wise, leader Donald
Cumming and his mates bridge the gap between scruffy and glammy in
a manner that’s apt to entrance Drew Barrymore, and while the
band’s self-titled 2008 debut rocks, sort of, it doesn’t do so in a way
that less committed members of the downtown crowd will consider
gauche.
As for the songs, Spin says they reflect “the mirror-ball gleam of
primo INXS and Emotional Rescue-era Rolling Stones,” which is
just about right. (Too bad Emotional Rescue was one of the Stones’
lamest platters, and a couple tracks of primo INXS is usually
plenty.) Still, The Virgins have a few fairly enjoyable
tunes—like the bouncy “Hey Hey Girl”—and a sense of style
that should hold up until, inevitably, they’re replaced at the top of
NYC’s ticket. Shouldn’t be long now.
—Michael Roberts
