LC Meridian

Issue date: 9/3/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Sub Pop

Being sexy is tough. No, really. Just ask Cansei de Ser Sexy, a six-piece Brazilian band that was formed in 2003. Portuguese for "tired of being sexy," Cansei de Ser Sexy (CSS) blends pulsating electro-pop beats with stringent rock n' roll rhythms. On their self-titled debut, CSS,the South-American band makes it clear that, unlike some of their musicial peers, they aren't going to exploit their bodies in order to sell records. Instead, they've decided to captivate an oversexed generation with shamelessly cheeky commentary on pop culture.

While it almost seemed natural that the artistic bunch would venture into a musical career, none of the members have a musical background. Lovefoxxx is the band's frontwoman, but she is also an illustrator. Ana (guitarist) studies Cinema, Carolina (guitarist and drummer) is a graphic designer, Ira (bass) is a fashion designer, Luiza (guitarists and keys) is an art student, and Adriano, the only male in the group, plays the drums.

On CSS, their provocative international debut, via the Seattle-based record label Sub Pop, Cansei de Ser Sexy unveils an eclectic yet easily digestible music style. The synthesized and psychedelic sounds on CSS could be considered products of the post-punk and 1980's new wave movement, but CSS still remains modern and nifty. Lovefoxxx's Portuguese accent is partly the reason why. Though she sings in English instead of her native tongue, her Portuguese outbursts in songs like the metaphoric, "Music is My Hot Hot Sex," adds a unparalled flare that cannot be replicated.

"Alcohol" has a Yankee-doodle inspired jingle, but the song's title is an obvious indication that parents should not use it as a nursery rhyme. Lovefoxxx's foul-mouthed, fluffy vocals tend to have atypical connotation, behind simple song lyrics.

In the electro-synthesizing, "Alala", Lovefoxxx sings saucily, while tempting zealous listeners with a playful run-around. "Cuz you know but you don't wanna," she teases. "Cuz you can but you can't have it." Some CSS songs like "Paris Hilton" are so obnoxious that it could well pass for a drunken-tirade. "ArtBitch" is feisty, but sung innocently and though straight-forward, "Off the Hook" is indubitably addictive. On the popular "Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above," Lovefoxxx delivers cheeky and flirtatious lyrics with a fearless hip-hop swagger.

Cansei de Ser Sexy's debut shows that they are worthy of being any music listener's fixation, if not forever, then for the moment. Their bizarre yet cozy melodies are effortlessly amusing, and cleverly intertwined to appeal to everyone from the hipsters to those eccentric bunch.

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