Scissors For Lefty is not an indie band, nor a pop band. They are a passionate personality. Their cute demeanor contains a healthy dose of mischief, and their friendship is authentic. If they were an article of clothing, they just might be your favorite sweater.
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The resulting Underhanded Romance album (L.A.’s Eeenie Meenie Records, released June 12, 2007) feels both wildly fresh and instantly recognizable. There are touchstones — the Cure-like guitar of “X’s Are Forever,” the Modern English breakdown of “You’ve Got the Moments,” the delicate Beach Boys-ish ballad of “Bring Us a Brick”. But, more than anything, there is exuberance and fun (remember fun?). Imagine the Strokes rip-snorting rock, if Julian Casablancas were smiling instead of sneering. Imagine the Gang of Four covering the early Kinks and Stones catalog, with a healthy dose of American mischievousness. Imagine pumping bass, chunka chunka guitar riffs, the kind of piano hooks that stay in your head for days, all topped off with Bryan’s hiccupping, lascivious vocals (not to mention the occasional whistled bit, hand clap, or Jew’s harp twang). Songs like “Ghetto Ways” and “Mama Your Boys Will Find a Home” (released as singles in the U.K. via Rough Trade) and “You’ve Got Your Moments” are as giddily insistent as anything Karen O could come up, without all that bothersome ennui. “Lay Down Your Weapons” may be the most joyous tune ever written from an ex-con’s point of view, and “Marsha” is the most festive kiss-off song since, well, the Violent Femmes’ “Kiss Off.”

Scissors For Lefty is a rock ‘n’ roll party machine, one that runs on gasoline, cheap liquor, and BFF power. “Some bands don’t look like friends; they look like five people who are independently hoping they succeed,” says Bryan. “That’s not us at all.”