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Historians studying the JFK assassination have played the “Zapruder Sequence” film footage countless times. Pretty Girl Charm Lies by the Dallas band named after that footage requires far fewer plays to reach a conclusion: It’s a mixture of great songs and boring filler that sounds like records you already own.
“Mason Jar” and “Makin’ Eyes” are a one-two punch of Jordan Munn’s best songwriting, both perfectly capturing the anger and resignation of a guy dangerously pissed off at his gal, yet afraid he’ll give in to her charms again. Beautiful pedal-steel licks, twangy guitar strumming and sloppy trumpet blasts accent the two songs perfectly.
But too many tracks like “Marianne,” with its predictable organ blasts and its unimpressive guitar solo, fail to distinguish the band from Dallas’ slew of generic roots-rockers. Frequently, the Zapruder Sequence could be mistaken for an Old 97’s tribute act. Sometimes all that differentiates them is the occasional organ or banjo part. The minor-key “My Reply” in particular conjures a 97’s vibe with its mix of acoustic strumming and snarling electric guitar leads, a shuffling country beat and an odd Rhett-like singing style.
The Sequence admit the similarity in their press release for the album, appropriately name-checking the Replacements and Slobberbone as well. Unfortunately, Pretty Girl mostly just showcases a band doing good impressions of those superior acts.
