Glass Candy and the Shattered Theater

Chic beats, A Certain Ratio riffs and David Bowie allure? Few bands in the so-called death-disco explosion of this millennium have straddled such disparate elements with the grace and glamour of Glass Candy and the Shattered Theater. Anchored in a punk ethic that's more Bikini Kill than Blondie, the Portland...

By Jason Heller

June 2, 2005

Audio By Carbonatix

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Chic beats, A Certain Ratio riffs and David Bowie allure? Few bands in the so-called death-disco explosion of this millennium have straddled such disparate elements with the grace and glamour of Glass Candy and the Shattered Theater. Anchored in a punk ethic that's more Bikini Kill than Blondie, the Portland trio of singer Ida No, guitarist Johnny Jewel and drummer Dusty Sparkles brings a welcome burst of credibility and creative desperation to its sparse, glitter-strewn sound. After making waves with the raw yet promising Brittle Woman single, the band released its 2003 full-length debut, Love Love Love -- a miniature opus that had No sharpening her already lustrous voice to a bright, diamond edge. If the Rapture brought you down instead of raising you to heaven, Glass Candy (along with kindred-spirit local acts Mannequin Makeout and the Hot House, who will open for No and crew Tuesday at the hi-dive) might just redeem your faith in the holy trinity of noise, rhythm and drama.

Jason Heller is a staff writer at Westword. He's the author of the book Strange Stars: David Bowie, Pop Music, and the Decade Sci-Fi Exploded (Melville House/Penguin Random House), and has contributed to the New Yorker, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and NPR.org. His work has won a Hugo Award and a Colorado Press Association Award.

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