Velocity Girl - “Audrey’s Eyes”

I always associate Velocity Girl with TeenBeat Records. They came of age in the indie pop scene in the early 90s in the Washington D.C. area amongst bands like Tuscadero and Unrest, but unlike them, Velocity Girl released a series of singles on Slumberland Records before getting scooped up by indie behemoth Sub Pop. Their debut for the label, Copacetic, was a staple of the D.C. indie pop sound despite coming out on a label from the Pacific Northwest. It became the label’s second best-selling album, behind Nirvana’s Bleach. Though legions of fans like myself adored the record for its shoegaze-obsessed charm and towering vocal melodies, the band themselves were unhappy with the sound of the finished product. Now, some 32 years later, the long out-of-print Copacetic is getting the reissue treatment, along with a formal remixing and remastering. The album’s standout track and lead single, “Audrey’s Eyes,” is the first peek at the classic record’s glow up.

“Audrey’s Eyes” is the brightest and most uptempo song and the rhythm section benefits greatly from the fresh mix. The shoegaze-y characteristics of the original version remain prominent: vocalist Darab Shannon’s booming voice sits fairly evenly with an array of distorted guitars, but the drums and bass come through much clearer now. So fear not fans of the original mix, this one is new and improved without sacrificing any charm.

Stream the track below!

You can pre-order UltraCopacetic (Copacetic Remixed and Expanded) on limited edition vinyl via Bandcamp. “Audrey’s Eyes” is available on all streaming platforms. Velocity Girl has two shows on the calendar for 2024. On October 25th, they’ll be performing at the Teagram Ballroom in Los Angeles and on November 23rd, they’ll be performing at the Black Cat in D.C. Keep up with the band by following them on Instagram.