Pitchfork

Until now every brief but tantalizing mp3 the Blondes have released siphoned from the source of least resistance. Whether copping stiff upper lipped post-punk ("Autonomy Boy"), beefed up girl group ("Once and Never Again"), or glossy new wave ("Giddy Stratospheres"), nailing the genre's only been a matter of clearing out enough space in the garage. "You Could Have Both" scoffs at that notion, however, reaching for the kind of clean production that Dad's tool chest just can't provide.

Like Frank Black refining early Pixies' simian stomp into the cultivated Bossanova, the Blondes put on airs but the proletarian imperfections still shine through. While the interlocking bass and surf guitar lines scream Kim Deal/Joey Santiago tag team, these guys can't hide the Britannia in them. Staying true to lead singer Kate Jackson's self-proclaimed "glamorous punk" image, "Both" stays more loyal to Pulp's or British Sea Power's Pixies interpretation than the touchstone itself. No longer spinning yarns in a tinny soundscape, Jackson unfurls her narrative buttressed by howling synths and a dizzying chorus. Perhaps they're deliberately rolling out the red carpet before the debut album drops, but it's their gala and so far the hors d'oeuvres taste good.