The Coathangers

The Coathangers (Rob’s House Records)

By Anna Breshears
Published: September 7th, 2007 | 2:58pm

You may think that with a loaded name like the Coathangers, this all-gal Atlanta punk band has an overtly political agenda. But songs like “Nestle In My Boobies” and “Parcheezi” prove this foursome is out to have a good time and not necessarily change the world. In their short-n-sweet debut (they blow through 15 tracks in 31 minutes), the Coathangers throw one hell of a house party with kicky melodies, mostly silly lyrics, and hard-to-resist hooks.

The economical guitar riffage, whiney keyboard, and cheeky delivery on “Tonya Harding” get the joint rockin’. The pounding drums on “Shut the Fuck Up” make it impossible to resist joining in on the chorus: “Just grow up / And then shut the fuck up!” Songs like “Parking Lot” show a more sophisticated ear for pop amid all of the screaming, and “Buckhead Betty” uses a ballad as a sarcastic shout-out to the ladies of [television show] The Real Housewives of Orange County. “Bloody Shirt” nicely pays tribute to classic girl groups like the Shangri-Las, but closer “Missing Letter,” though ambitious, is a bit of a mess.

It’s hard not to compare the Coathangers to early Donnas, which is a sincere compliment. While they aren’t Bikini Kill (and don’t claim to be), the Coathangers’ lack of pretension makes this album a nice way to spend half an hour. Listening to a caterwaul of voices shrieking, “Leave my shit alone! / Don't touch my shit! / It's my shit!” (“Don’t Touch My Shit”) makes me wanna chug a beer.