Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge

The Pierces

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 20, 2007)
• Original Release Date: March 20, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Lizard King Records
• ASIN: B000MV8CUC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #53,277 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Allison and Catherine Pierce are from Alabama, they're sisters, they're rather attractive, one of them is supposedly (as of this writing) dating someone from the Strokes, and as kids they were both "accomplished" ballerinas. Together they make some pretty fine, artsy pop with provocative lyrics vaguely in the vein of Regina Spektor. Thirteen Tales is the first album the duo has made with their own say-so; their earlier records were pleasant if innocuous, slicked-up folk. There's a dramatic flair to their country-inflected orchestral New Wave folk-pop. With its doubled-up and contemporary-sounding pop vocal style, the macabre "Secrets" sounds like the soundtrack to a Tim Burton movie with words written by Dame Darcy, as sung by half the members of the Pussycat Dolls. If anything, they're a little too ambitious on their third album. With each track assigned its own stylistic variation (however slight), the album is scattered as a whole. But this is definitely a super entertaining duo, one to watch out for. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant and Eclectic!, March 20, 2007

By	Amy Shine (Newport, OR) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

runs a crazy gamut from haunting carnival calliope in "Secret" to an almost middle eastern groove in "Lies" -- the girls' voices thread the songs with palpable notions. "Turn On Billie" hooked me first and stayed circling in my mind for weeks. (i kept returning to their myspace page just to listen to it day after day, previous to the CD's release!!)

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it, March 21, 2007

By	T. S. "T.S." (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

I hadn't heard of The Pierces before this album came out. I listened to snippets from their previous albums and wasn't too impressed... sounded rather adult comtempo. But I read that this album marks a new direction for The Pierces--the direction they wanted to go in, as opposed to the direction music execs wanted them to go in, I heard--and I gave it a listen. Love it. It is fun and cheeky and hip and full of personality. It makes me sing along and bob up and down in my seat every time. I might like a bit more depth in the lyrics, but the attitude of this album--the ambience the sound creates--is quite enchanting. I highly recommend it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Such a wonderful style, July 17, 2008

By	angel.white "There is no greater adversary to... - See all my reviews

Heard "Secret" on some chickish CW show that was on in the background while I was studying, it was so amazing I had to write down the lyrics and look it up, finally bought it off Amazon, and I have to say I absolutely love this CD.

There is a style here that is so unique I just love it. My favourites are "Secret," "Sticks and Stones," and "Kill Kill Kill." I'll be studying and suddenly realize I'm swaying with the music, or chanting out a chorus and look up at the playlist, and it will be one of these three. "Secret" is this sort of waltzy haunting tune with a delightfully macabre quality. "Sticks and Stones" has a similar haunting quality to it, it's witchy little tune, I adore the lyrics, the vocals, the bass, the bell things. And I just can't help sing along to "Kill Kill Kill" it's a poppish happy song with some dark undertones, the lyrics are sort of obsessive and desperate, it's a different take on love, it sort of flirts with insanity.

Second favourites are "Boring," "Turn on Billie," "Lights on," and "Lies" These are all great songs too. "Boring" reminds me of a James Bond intro. "Turn on Billie" is a really great song, and I love it, but just not as much as the top 3, but it still gets me going.

Third favourites are "The Power of," and "Go to Heaven" Go to Heaven is actually really good, but not the kind of music I get into, but still good enough that I enjoy when it comes on.

Three Wishes really isn't my style of music, but the lyrics kind of sucked me in, so I like it too.

"Ruin" and "It Was You" don't really stand out in my mind, they're sort of "meh" not bad, but not special either. At least not to me, I wouldn't be able to pick them out of a lineup.

"Boy in a Rock and Roll Band" I am ambivalent about. I think I would like it more if I didn't understand the lyrics. I love the sugary style of the music, but the lyrics just irritate me.

All in all I gave it 5 stars, it might deserve 4.5 instead, but the style of music is very unique and beautiful, I absolutely love this. I tried to find similar music on [...], and noone else on the playlist could compare. (One of their older albums popped up on it too, and nothing I heard on it was as good as this album).

So yeah, this is worth the buy, definitely, I hope their next album is as wonderful as this one. (Are they touring? I'd love to see them live)