Good Girl With a Wink

Whenever I listen to April Smith and the Great Picture Show I can't help but wonder "what type of music IS this?" Is it pop, is it folk, is it rock? I still haven't decided the answer, but whatever it is, it's infectiously good. April Smith's past album "Loveletterbombs" was good, but it's her latest album "Songs for a Sinking Ship" that really shows just how good she is.

"Songs for a Sinking Ship" is a must have in any burlesque dancer's collection. Practically any of these songs would be perfect for performances, especially because of April's cheeky good girl with a wink way of performing them. "Loveletterbombs" is a little too rock for April's voice, I think she was always meant to sing the material she now performs.

The obvious standout song is Colors, which is the type of song that is addictive, bubbly, and likely to end up in several commercials or tv shows. I'm surprised it hasn't already been picked for an iPod commercial- it's that good. Dixie Boy and Terrible Things are also excellent. Terrible Things is actually really cool because it was written as an ode to tv's Dexter, one of my favorite characters. Check out Colors and Terrible Things below.

Besides the songs just being cheeky as hell, April's voice is really wonderful. She has the type of voice that is so smooth and effortless that it makes you forget how difficult of a range she has- until you try to sing along with the songs and realize just how high those notes are. A voice that good makes sense considering she comes from a very musical family. Her stage presence is also wonderful, I especially love her penchant for tutus.

I think the song Colors would be a really fun choice for a runway show, especially if it has a little bit of a wartime/pin-up feel to it. Imagine bathing style shorts and curled bangs. If I was to dress April I would stick to vintage pieces mixed with something modern. Possibly a full skirt with a modern t-shirt. Bows and lace. A modern dress made from retro fabric with a cinch belt and a military-style jacket perhaps. Here are a few ideas (only the last two are by me):

The detailing on this dress is really wonderful, She could wear this with a belt and a cardigan or blazer.

I love the idea of polka dots for her and you can't beat the combination of red/white.

This would be a great alternative to a tutu.

I would make some changes to this for her, but I love the vintage textile of the skirt, the fullness, and the fun belt.

I would change the color and possibly add straps but I like this skirt because of how similar it is to a tutu.

I can't wait to see what happens with this group!

Terrible Things


Colors


-Melissa