Sound Check

San Francisco, CA

(review of Sally's solo demo just before forming Picnic)

by Marissa Lopez

SALLY ANN "Light as a feather, Stiff as a Board" - Sally Ann's twangy, almost country voice lends her jangly, up-beat gurlie music a unique quality. She's the kind of stuff I would have loved to have listented to at slumber parties in Junior High; and I think this is somethingSally Ann is aware of.

Sally Ann may be gurlie music; but it's gurlie music with an edge. She borders on an angry woman; but her enchanting tunes save her from sinking into polemics. "Get ready to run, 'cause I'm loadin' my gun," she says; but the song is called "Toy Gun"; and it serve as a nice commentary on some men's irrational fear of strong women.

Continuing in the same vein, "Infinity Man" plays on male performance anxiety: "infinitely, you are loved by me, if you can take me to infinity." Very cute, and extremely groovy. The guitar line on "Infinity Man" makes you want to get up and be John Travolta.

I hope I'm not giving you the wrong idea. Sally Ann is no man hater. Her songs are inspiring and they make you laugh, as well as making you feel empowered. That goes for men as well as women.

In "Rhinoceros Hide" she says "They're gonna catch you eventually. That's for fuckin' sure. They're the ones who fuck you mentally. Reality's the cure." It's a total commercial for staying aware and informed and not letting anyone rip you off. Sally Ann is powerful not only lyrically, but musically as well. I guess the best way to put it is that she's definitely not background music; but play her at a party and just watch all your friends party down.