Nothing Really Remarkable

Verdigirls “Women In Fiction”

“Women In Fiction” is like a critical essay in song form, in which Catherine and Anna Wolk examine the often shallow and idealized depictions of women in stories created by men. There’s a lot of nuance in this critique, as well as humor and a strong yearning to connect with something on a page or a screen as a way of validating one’s own existence. The arrangement of the song is gorgeous in its balance of graceful synth pop and delicate chamber strings. Wolk sings with a lovely but prim voice that reminds me a lot of a young Natalie Merchant. It’s a similar mix of unapologetic overt femininity, introverted thoughtfulness, and low-key erudition. It’s just the right tone for the lyrics too – serious and incisive, but coming more from a place of idealism and empathy than spite or rage.

Buy it from Bandcamp.