The Reclusive Diaz.
The Continuing Story of Shirrelle C. Limes
Shirrelle C. Limes and the Lemons is a one-person pop quartet run by founding member Shannon Diaz. Diaz, an avid swimmer has struggled against hardship to become Columbia, Missouri's first female musicians. See what the kids on MySpace are saying now! Or email her yourself at shannon@shannondiaz.com.
Rual Punk Society Review
Summer is approaching, and with it some blissful expectations. Good times with friends, new adventures, all of the things you wanted to do throughout the year, but had put off until now. What could be a more appropriately fun soundtrack for all of this than the innocently titled EP Hot Salsa by Shirrelle C. Limes and the Lemons?
"Hot Salsa" is a somewhat misleading title. It serves more as asoundtrack for a summer of turbulence, of uncertainty, and of that very cold feeling of loneliness. Don't get me wrong. This record isfun, and it need not spoil the party. Although its beats are set at up-tempo, and although it is mostly comprised of electronic instrumentation, it is every bit as cold and serene as The Moon and Antarctica. It is mostly comprised of electronic instrumentation, yet there is something much deeper to it than the ambivalent dance punk stuff that has, somehow, had its way with both independent and mainstream music.
What makes this record a real gem is that you can get right into the head and heart of its creator. You can love this record ... because you can trust the person who has made it. It doesn't talk down to you. Though no part of it does it put itself over and above its listener. And really, no matter how hard you try, there is no message to be gotten from it. Instead, at its heart you find someone as lonely as any of us. It's truly a companion for anyone who feels alien, and it is an inevitable reminder to all that we have felt the same way. But unlike our familiarity with loneliness, Hot Salsa takes the unfamiliar risk of being vulnerable and honest.
Let's not get too down on ourselves. Whereas "A Toast to the Month of July" certainly highlights what I've said so far, tracks like "My Amorous Eyes" and "Mirror Image" give way to other emotions. "...Eyes" exudes the kind of hope that you cheer from the broken. It really romances how we can feel so compelled by others – how others are investments into how we feel about ourselves. It is also a song about how fantasy can make us sane for once. "Mirror Image" is absolutely haunting, intense, and stabbing. If I've made you think that Hot Salsa is some whiny, weak confessional, then please let me correct myself, for with "...Image", one really gets an understanding of how strong loneliness can make a person. And although the vocal harmonies on this track are as sweet and intentional as the Beach Boys, the main vocal is uncompromisingly strong and primal.
So not only has Shirrelle C. Limes and the Lemons succeeded – perhaps without trying – at being unconventional about making a record that is both fun and vulnerable, its vocals are also puzzling and full of tension. Panic and calm, effort and ease are all wrapped up in one dazzling note. Take this over an entire record and you have something that resembles ordinary life ... or at least a very memorable summer. It's not surprising that this record stays with you.
Perhaps one might wonder why I haven't compared this record to other genres and bands. I think it should be apparent why I haven't. Because it has so successfully given me an emotional picture, I really feel no need to get into that kind of thing. What can I say? It's electronic, danceable, and fun – so you might think "80's." It's also simple and common – so you might think "50's." It is 5% comparable to Xiu Xiu – so you might think Xiu Xiu! It's recorded well, it's thought-out well, its vocals are sweet and truly strange ... and it is rare, in that it feels familiar to any of its listeners.
Joel Dittmer – ruralpunksociety.com
The Columbia Daily Tribune Review:
Some of you probably know Shannon Diaz as the tiny, punky employee who helps you make your rental selections at 9th St. Video.
What you might not be aware of is that Diaz also has a load of musical talent, and she's unleashed a significant sum of it on Shirrelle C. Limes & The Lemons' "Hot Salsa" EP on Apop Records.
Quite simply, "Hot Salsa" is the most exciting and promising local recording I've come across in some time, impressively pumping Diaz's confessionals up past the standard DiFranco-inspired coffeehouse fare with propulsive electronic instrumentation. The result is pure pop confection with an acidic lyrical twist.
