Album Review: Sorry We Killed You – The Nice Device

My friend Zak said he heard someone say “What’s Hannah Montana doing here?” during The Nice Device’s set at Dally In The Alley this year, and while that assessment isn’t 100% accurate, it is possible your little sister might like them. They did get a song on teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation after all.

The Nice Device‘s new EP Sorry We Killed You offers five new songs in the vein of radio-friendly bubble-punk. N.D. frontwoman (also a recent Von Bondie and deceptively badass “Detroit SWAT” associate producer) Alicia Gbur is front and center of every song, her personality alternating between the cool urban drawl of The Cardigans’ Nina Perrson and the excited wail of Kathleen Hanna (more Le Tigre than Bikini Kill, that is). To complete the sound are slick pop keyboards and power chords aplenty.

Highlights of the EP are Alicia playing heartbreaker on two songs in a row, “No Apologies” and “Can’t Be Friends”, as well as the hook-heavy synth vs. guitar tug-of-war “Crawlspace”. There’s only a few songs, but there’s a lot of action.

The Nice Device are giving away free copies of Sorry We Killed You at their release show at The Magic Bag on Friday. You can bring your little sister.

Featured Track: “Crawlspace”