RAMONE, CASSIE / XRAY EYEBALLS
I'M A FREAK / ONLY YOU (SILUH RECORDS)
Though CASSIE RAMONE is best known for her work as the singer, guitarist and songwriter for Vivian Girls, as well as lead guitarist and co-songwriter for The Babies, Cassie Ramone's solo work reflects a different side of the esteemed Brooklyn musician.
Looking to escape the squalling amplified guitars and distortion of her established bands, Ramone has created a set of hushed dirges, haunting melodies and eerie hymns that add up to a revealing portrait of an artist unafraid of change.
Stripped down to the core elements of an acoustic guitar and her signature emotive voice, Ramone's songs offer a sweetly melancholic vision that immediately makes the listener feel like an intimate confidante.
And despite a lyrical emphasis on love lost, existential dread and cultural alienation, they never fail to leave room for the possibility of redemption and even joy.