Perfect Pussy
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Defunct | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Syracuse, New York , United States |
| Products | Music albums and EPs |
Number of employees | 5 (members) |
Perfect Pussy was a rock band originating from Syracuse, New York, comprising vocalist Meredith Graves, guitarist Ray McAndrew, drummer Garrett Koloski, bassist Greg Ambler, and keyboardist Shaun Sutkus. Renowned for their fierce punk energy and compelling live shows, they earned recognition as "the most significant punk act to emerge from Syracuse since Earth Crisis."
History
Prior to forming Perfect Pussy, Meredith Graves was involved in folk music under the name Mouse and the Love & Light Orkestra and also played in the Syracuse-based noise rock trio Shoppers.
Formation
Following the breakup of Shoppers, filmmaker Scott Coffey approached Graves to put together a band for his 2012 film Adult World. She assembled a temporary lineup including drummer Garrett Koloski (formerly of Sswampzz) and bassist Greg Ambler (from SoreXcuse) to record a track for the soundtrack. After completing this project, the group continued performing and expanded by adding guitarist Ray McAndrew and keyboardist Shaun Sutkus to finalize the ensemble.
I Have Lost All Desire for Feeling
Their initial release, a 13-minute demo EP titled I Have Lost All Desire for Feeling, came out independently in 2013 and attracted considerable attention. Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone described it as "punk-rock revelations" and "the raw essence of music that spares no emotion." Pitchfork included it as an honorable mention in their best albums of 2013 list, with critic Lindsay Zoladz emphasizing its intense emotional resonance.
Perfect Pussy appeared at the 2013 CMJ music festival and the 2014 SXSW event after signing with Brooklyn’s Captured Tracks label.
Say Yes to Love
Their first full-length album, Say Yes to Love, was released on March 18, 2014, through Captured Tracks and received widespread critical praise. Lindsay Zoladz awarded it an 8.6 rating on Pitchfork along with a "Best New Music" distinction, calling it both life-affirming and emotionally potent. At Rolling Stone, Rob Sheffield gave it four stars, labeling it "a ferociously impressive debut" comparable to early works by Hüsker Dü and Sleater-Kinney. David Anthony from The A.V. Club highlighted the album’s aggressive sound and experimental elements but suggested the band needed to further define their identity before broadening their musical approach.
Breakup
The band dissolved in January 2016 after unsuccessful attempts to record a follow-up album. Meredith Graves transitioned into a prominent role at MTV News, while drummer Garrett Koloski went on to form Philadelphia-based group Empath, whose debut album was produced by Sutkus.
Band members
- Meredith Graves – vocals (2012–2016)
- Garrett Koloski – drums (2012–2016)
- Ray McAndrew – guitar (2012–2016)
- Shaun Sutkus – keyboards (2012–2016)
- Greg Ambler – bass guitar (2012–2014)
- Ali Donohue – bass guitar (2014–2016)
LPs
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Say Yes to Love | Captured Tracks | 12-inch vinyl LP / CD / MP3 |
EPs
- I Have Lost All Desire for Feeling (2013, self-released; reissued in 2015 by Captured Tracks)
Singles
- Astonishing Adventures! "The Captured Crusader" 7-inch split EP released in 2014 in collaboration with Joanna Gruesome, under the labels Captured Tracks, Slumberland Records, and Fortuna Pop!
External links
- Official Bandcamp page
- Musical groups established in 2012
- Hardcore punk groups from New York (state)
- Indie rock musical groups from New York (state)
- American noise rock music groups
- Lo-fi music groups
- Musical groups from Syracuse, New York
- 2012 establishments in New York (state)
- Musical groups disbanded in 2016
- Captured Tracks artists
- Musical groups disestablished in 2016