The Pierces - Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge

Allison and Catherine Pierce are Alabama-bred and based in New York City. They are pretty photogenic, and one of the duo is stepping out with one of the Strokes, so they are guaranteed a fair amount of exposure.

They also have a novelty single, in Boring, that attempts to skewer modern culture.

While the music often comes across as a bit Eurovision, or a bit Katie Melua, the lyrics are deadpan sharp and wry.

That is probably the only theme across the album - the music is all over the place, from Girls Aloud pop to Abba to Joanna Newsom.

This isn't a demanding album to listen to, but its depths are there for exploration - it is better than the output of almost any single female singer-songwriter.

The two sisters, who both write and play, come across as remarkably self-assured, confident and witty, and their harmonies are sweet, country-tinged and astonishingly mature.

Thirteen Tales is a great noughties disc - eclectic, knowing and post-modern.

Rating 7/10
Mike Rea