Girl in a Coma – Trio BC

Texan trio Girl in a Coma has built their career around the stunning vocals of Nina Diaz.  Her impressive vocal command gives her a presence unlike many, and is somewhat unheard of in the punk soundscape.  But the fact is: in a genre dominated by coarse raspy voiced men, she couldn’t sound more at home.  It’s one of those rare exceptions to the rule, like how leather studded,mohawk sporting punks can be found gushing over Tegan & Sara.  Girl in a Coma’s sophomore release, Trio B.C., feels so foreign to anything I typically embrace; yet feels right at home in my playlists.

Nina taps into an almost 1950’s style croon, comparable to, but ultimately surpassing, those of psychobilly staples Patricia Day (Horrorpops) and Liz McGrath (Miss Derringer).  Some have even compared her style to the legendary Morrissey, which despite a clear difference in gender, is probably the most accurate comparison.  Every word has a certain charm to it, enhanced by a wide backdrop of sounds ranging from rock’n roll and rockabilly, to punk and pop.

Trio B.C. opens with a few lone strings found in “BB,” instantly conjuring imagery of some sort of secluded little New Mexican bungalow.  The guitaring has a distinct twangy feel, clearly inspired by traditional rockabilly.  The basswork follows suit, admirably imitating that of an upright double bass, giving the track a rich feeling, contrasting nicely with the crisp background strumming of a stringy acoustic guitar.  Such minimalism plays a key role in highlighting Nina’s vocal talent.  For extreme example, in “El Monte” the band strips their sound down to a few simple chords and percussive chimes with huge results.  As far as I’m concerned, the band could eliminate instrumentation altogether and every track would still be just as captivating.

But Nina can also rock with the best of them.  When bandmates Jenn Alva and sister Phanie Diaz explode into a sudden barrage of fuzzy guitars and heavy drumming (as heard on “Static Mind”), Nina matches their energy with a rock star’s enthusiasm.  It’s no wonder the legendary Joan Jett snapped up Girl in a Coma for her personal record label after witnessing a single performance.

Trio B.C. clocks in just shy of a massive fifty minutes, yet never feels bloated or dragging.  That Nina’s voice carries the album so far really speaks to her mesmerizing talent – she’s just so far beyond her peers.  Simply put, Trio B.C. is the new gold standard for female fronted punk.  Highly recommended.