23

SUNDAY

Seattle’s Pretty Girls Make Graves’ debut album, Good Health, may be making waves among the emo(ronic) set, but it’s the most annoying thing to hit my ears since the busy signal. Passionate, sincere, and utterly humorless, this five-piece is what you’d get if you took Austin’s the Kiss Offs and drained off every last drop of contagious, post-punk joy. The rhythm section’s tight, and the guitarists slash at the melodies like deranged Benihana chefs at raw chicken, but boy are they earnest. Vocalist Andrea Zollo attacks each song like Pat Benatar with distemper, and the lads sound as if they’ve spent their whole lives singing along with “Waiting Room”—which they probably have. The anthemic first track, “Speakers Push the Air,” will appeal to anybody who wonders why music doesn’t move him the way it used to. As for Good Health’s remaining songs, I guess I could listen to ’em. But I choose happiness. The band plays with Blood Brothers at 9 p.m. at the Black Cat Backstage, 1811 14th St. NW. $7. (202) 667-7960. (Michael Little)