September EP Hilton Head Island SC

September EP

Lift

Orangestar Records, 2000

REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 11/23/1999

If Lilith Fair proved anything, it's this: female-led (orall-female) bands are to be taken very seriously.

Of course, I've known this for some time; I've long been a fanof such artists like Melissa Etheridge, Indigo Girls, SarahMcLachlan and Liz Phair. While I might not have counted myselfamong their fans, I could appreciate what people like MeredithBrooks and Shirley Manson of Garbage were accomplishing. But thelong-term effects of Lilith Fair are now being felt, as more bandsof this ilk are coming forward to be heard; if only some people hadtaken the time to listen a long while ago.

Take the Decatur, Georgia-based trio Lift, for example. Theirrecent release September EP shows the maturity and musical development thatmany of the artists who presently enjoy airplay have, only they'restill struggling to make a name for themselves. Chances are that'sa statistic that's going to change real soon.

The group - vocalist/guitarist Molly Bancroft, bassist MeimiSato and drummer Simone Simonton - have three things going for themright out of the gate. First, they are master songsmiths; there isnot a bad track on this mini-album. Second, their harmonies areethereal, if maybe a tad underutilized. (Then again, maybe that'sdone on purpose.) Third - and this is the key element for me - thismusic rocks.