11.28.2010

CD REVIEW: Anya Marina "Spirit School"

Spirit School
Anya Marina has undergone quite a musical transformation each time she releases a new collection of music. She started out pop and transformed into a indie princess now only to emerge as a gritty underground rock goddess. Her music is simple at times and at other times as complex as it can get. This digital EP has all of her incarnations and more, and the best of the short set is "Whatsit" featuring a guest vocal appearance by her new Portland, Oregon buddy Courtney Taylor-Taylor of The Dandy Warhols. Upon relocating from SoCal to the Pacific northwest, Anya reestablishes herself as a force to be reckoned with. She is artful, imaginative, and musically energetic. Each song on this album shows that she has elevated her indie pop to new heights, and it only whets the appetite for more.