She's Gone

Though they play it cool, like just another solid gutsy punk-pop band, Upset features Best Coast and Vivian Girls’ Ali Koehler, La Sera’s lead guitarist Jennifer Prince, and Hole’s Patty Schemel on drums. At times Upset sound much like the bands the members are from—and other times show what those bands are missing. Upset’s debut album, She’s Gone, is a straightforward and tuneful batch of buzzing punk-pop where the songwriting always leads with endearing harmonies and/or determined lead vocals. “Queen Frosteen” plays up the band's sweet side as the lyrics stick in the knife, while “About Me” puts the power move right up front in the tough lead vocals. Their Ramones roots bounce up for Prince’s “Game Over.” The nearly four-minute “Phone Calls” shifts the vibe to overcast. With 12 songs in less than 30 minutes (recorded primarily at Koehler’s house by Kyle Gilbride of Swearin’), She’s Gone smacks of the joy and immediacy that can only be caught when a band's still in the throes of its honeymoon period.