| Pretty Good for a Girl Band | |
| Type: | EP |
| Artist: | Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers |
| Cover: | Pretty Good for a Girl Band.jpeg |
| Released: | 13 May 2022 |
| Genre: | |
| Length: | 15:01 |
| Label: | Domestic La La |
| Producer: | |
| Prev Title: | Creepshow |
| Prev Year: | 2017 |
| Year: | 2022 |
| Next Title: | I Love You |
| Next Year: | 2023 |
Pretty Good for a Girl Band is the debut extended play (EP) by Australian rock band Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, released on 13 May 2022 via Domestic La La. Produced by James Tidswell and Alex Lahey, the record won Best Independent Punk Album or EP at the 2023 AIR Awards and received three other nominations for the band.[1]
Lyrical themes on Pretty Good for a Girl Band include facing the misogyny that the female band members face, with lead singer Anna Ryan describing "Girl Sports" as: "a big middle finger to all the men that have treated us like we’re less than in the music industry". The track was inspired by bass guitarist Jaida Stephenson's male dentist who told her she should "stick to girl sports".[2]
Sonically, the bassline in "Girl Sports" was inspired by the song "War" by English rock band Idles. Further, the slow burning closing track "Bull Dragon" was musically inspired by "505" by Arctic Monkeys. Lyrically, Stephenson said the band wanted to channel the same emotional energy as the work of Waax.[3]
In terms of recording, Stephenson said that one of the tracks was recorded two and a half years prior to the EP's release.[4] "Girl Sports" was massively altered in the studio, with the band saying they cut out half a verse, re-wrote the chorus and completely changed the arrangements and instrumentation.[5]
The lead single, and the band's first after signing to Domestic La La, "Ahhhh!" was released on 23 July 2021.[6] It later polled at number 117 in the Triple J Hottest 200 of 2021.[7] On 16 November, the second single "Miss Your Birthday" was released, which was co-written by Alex Lahey.[8]
On 29 March 2022, the band announced the title, cover art and release date of their debut EP.[9] The news was accompanied by its third and final single, "Girl Sports", which was described by Ellie Robinson from NME as a "notedly darker cut for the Canberra-native quartet" featuring "more grisly guitar runs, snappy, cymbal-heavy drums and cutthroat lead vocals". The track later polled at number 55 in the Hottest 100 of 2022.[10] The band embarked on a nationwide tour supporting the EP in August 2022.
Writing for Under the Radar, Andy Von Pip concluded that the record is a "spiky and impressive debut EP that fizzes with modern riot grrrl energy and swaggering melodies and encourages you to push back against reductive societal expectations and follow your own path".[11]
Reviewing for The AU Review, Dylan Oxley said Pretty Good for a Girl Band is "bursting with energy and irony". He praised Ryan's songwriting, writing their "candid lyrics are more reflective than angsty and the whole group channels their inner punks with an assertive eloquence".
Ebony Story of Wall of Sound said "every song is basically a singalong" and praised the EP's catchy choruses and lyrics, making for a satisfying debut. She concluded that "it hits all the spots you've been waiting to itch since [the band] first hit the scene".[12]