I defy you not to like this band. A three piece, all girl, garage/pop/punk/alternative band with a heavy dose of kitsch, 60’s go-go boots, references to slumber parties and a truck load of cool songs, produced by Ed Stasium, of Ramones and Joan Jett fame.

The cutesy image is played to the max; their press release is a quarter-sized booklet titled "Super Fly, Speedway, Groovy Baby, Power Puff, Dragsterlicious Band Mag & Activity Book". Song titles include "He’s a Vegetarian", "Cat Food Banter" and "Nail Polish". In other words don’t expect the inane semi-literate ramblings of the likes of Alanis Morrisette (Oh I’m going to get hate mail about that). This is pure fun pop played with style and attitude by three twenty something LA based Babes.

To be fair, great as they are, they desperately need a kick ass single if they wish to push themselves to the kind of fame they have the potential for. The song’s presented here could easily form the backbone of a special debut album, but they need at least one track that is going to move across musical barriers. The kind of song that will inspire teenage girls from LA to Tokyo. They are simple too good to not be shared with the masses.

As musicians they are more than capable. Vocally they are great on harmonies, Amy the singer’s voice does get lost in the mix occasionally, but that shouldn’t be hard to fix. Lyrically they present a deeper side than their bubble gum pop image; musically they are a retro rock band with a sure ear for melody, and the ability to craft a chorus worthy of the name.

Girl bands are rarely this good, because they fall into the trap of being all image with no substance, or try to be indistinguishable from their male counterparts. Dragsterbarbie are very much about image, yet they have the music to back it up. They call themselves "Garage Pop Princesses" and I can’t think of a more apt description. Their live work has already gained them one famous fan, the lead singer of Counting Crows, and it is hard to predict anything but a big future for them.

Check out their website for details of how to get hold of this EP, or better still beg them for the Reviewers copy which has an extra two tracks. As I said before the only think they lack is an out and out single, and I hope they find it before the inevitable record companies come knocking Big Bad Wolf style at the door. In the meantime " He’s a Vegetarian. He’s like the Dalai Lama, he really loves his momma". Great Stuff.

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