On September 9, Pretty Girls Make Graves, a Seattle-based quintet, released their long-awaited, second full-length album, The New Romance. In a truly Seattle fashion, there was a CD release party, signing, and half-hour live in-store performance at Ballardʼs Sonic Boom Records. The store was packed with eager faces ready to hear the bandʼs new songs. There were even people pouring out of the storeʼs main entrance that had to view the show from one of the front windows. The show radiated the familiar energy that PGMG is locally known for, and the band portrayed an approachable vibe, mingling with the varied crowd of friends, fans, and pedestrians passing by.

The New Romance, follow-up to the bandʼs debut album, Good Health, is already getting international recognition for its polished Seattle indie rock sound. After only listening to the first track, “Something Bigger, Something Brighter”, you can tell from the heavy keyboards, bass-line, and brilliant switch from quiet whispers to loud-yelling anthems that the whole album is bigger and brighter than their debut album.

Although The New Romance explores all sorts of new sounds that werenʼt in Good Health, the band continues its tradition of insightful lyrics sung, whispered, and yelled to death by front-woman Andrea Zollo.

Pretty Girls Makes Graves has been working hard for several years, continuing to shine brighter with each new project and each new live performance they do, making themselves and Seattle once again noted on the national music scene. PGMG is performing live with another local band, Visqueen, on Friday, September 19th, at the Showbox Theater.