Band, *2003 US
Rock and Pop
Parenthetical Girls (formerly The Swastika Girls) is an experimental pop band formed in Everett, Washington, and based currently in Portland, Oregon. Begun primarily as a recording project, the actual touring ensemble consists of vocalist Zac Pennington, Rachael Jensen, Eddy Crichton and Matt Carlson, all sharing a variety of instrumental duties. Former touring members Jherek Bischoff and Sam Mickens (of the band Dead Science) still join them for recording sessions. Their music is notable for its combination of saccharine pop and experimental elements, and has been compared with such disparate acts as Brian Eno, Philip Glass, Xiu Xiu and Phil Spector. Originally taking their name from the Brian Eno composition "Swastika Girls", original members Zac Pennington and Jeremy Cooper self-released their limited run debut EP Christmas With Swastika Girls in 2002. After Cooper left the band, they changed their name and Pennington released (((GRRRLS))), the band's vinyl-only debut album on his own Slender Means Society label in 2004. This got recorded with the help of Jherek Bischoff and Jamie Stewart (2) (of Xiu Xiu fame). A split 7-inch with the band Dead Science was released by Obsolete Vernacular in 2007. In 2008 they switched labels to Germany's Indietronic source Tomlab.
![]() | Zac Pennington voc |
![]() | Sam Mickens voc, g GB |
![]() | Jherek Bischoff cb *1979 US |
![]() | Owen Ashworth *1977 US |
![]() | Freddy Ruppert voc, syn |
![]() | Matt Carlson p |
![]() | Rebecca Carlisle-Healy |
![]() | Rachael Jensen voc, key, vn *1984 US |
![]() | Eddy Crichton perc |
![]() | Paul Alcott dr, g, key, perc |
![]() | Brenna Murphy US |
![]() | Amber Smith voc |
![]() | Jeremy Cooper |
Track list and 30sec audio provided by
Title | Artist | Year | Type |
---|---|---|---|
The Tomlab Alphabet Singles Series Z | Parenthetical Girls | 2012 | Single |
Privilege, Pt. V: Portrait Of A Reputation | Parenthetical Girls | 2012 | Album |
Privilege | Parenthetical Girls | 2012 | Album |
Privilege, Pt. III: Mend & Make Do | Parenthetical Girls | 2011 | Album |
Head Shrinker/I Was The Dancer | Parenthetical Girls / Extra Life | 2011 | Album |
Privilege, Pt. IV: Sympathy For Spastics | Parenthetical Girls | 2011 | Album |
Privilege, Pt. II: The Past, Imperfect | Parenthetical Girls | 2010 | Album |
Privilege, Pt. I: On Death & Endearments | Parenthetical Girls | 2010 | Album |
The Scottish Play | Parenthetical Girls | 2009 | Album |
I Am Hated For Loving / Handsome Devil | Xiu Xiu / Parenthetical Girls | 2009 | Single |
The Christmas Creep | Parenthetical Girls | 2009 | Single |
Entanglements | Parenthetical Girls | 2008 | Album |
Aagoo Records Presents: A David Horvitz Picture Disc With | Parenthetical Girls | 2008 | Single |
A Song For Ellie Greenwich | Parenthetical Girls | 2008 | Single |
Jackie's Strength / On Your Shore | Parenthetical Girls / The Dead Science | 2007 | Single |
Safe As Houses | Parenthetical Girls | 2006 | Album |
Twenty Bees 7" | Parenthetical Girls | 2006 | Single |
(((GRRRLS))) | Parenthetical Girls | 2004 | Album |