
Pretty & Nice were an indie pop band based in Boston, known for their unique, new wave-influenced sound. They were active from 2004 to 2014, when they announced an indefinite hiatus.
The band began in 2004 as the project of Holden Lewis and Will Peters, accompanied by an ever-changing lineup. With help from producer Jeremy Mendicino, the band completed their debut, Pink & Blue in 2006, which set the scene for what was to come with its catchy melodies and experimental production techniques. After moving to Boston in 2007, they released the EP Blue & Blue, mostly containing remixes of songs from their debut, as well as 2 original songs. At this point, Jeremy also took on the role of guitarist/vocalist, "replacing" Will Peters in that accord.
Their sophomore LP, Get Young was released in 2008 on the Sub Pop subsidiary Hardly Art. By this time, the band was steadily gaining traction. After releasing their 2008 album, the band ran into label troubles that set back their ability to release their practically fully finished album, which was therefore not released till 2013.
2012 saw the release of the EP US YOU ALL WE, which was self released. While the dance-punk vibes on here are less apparent, they blend nicely with a more ambiguous indie-pop sound. This sound was perfected with their third and final LP, Golden Rules for Golden People, which was released on Equal Vision Records, featuring bassist Roger Feeley-Lussier who joined in 2009 and completed the final incarnation of the lineup.
Feeling that it was "just time for a breather", the band split up to work on their own projects in 2014. Their final release was Infinitely Forever, an EP containing two new songs and several remixes.
Pretty & Nice contains examples of the following tropes:
- Arc Words: "We are all instruments" on Golden Rules for Golden People.
- Many themes recur in their discography, including the sun and the sea.
- Audience Participation Song: The band would usually invite people onstage to play percussion for "Golden Rules".
- Concept Album: Golden Rules for Golden People is very roughly about greed and the upper class.
- Design Student's Orgasm: The cover for US YOU ALL WE.
- Fake Loud: Used to great effect on Pink & Blue. See below.
- Last Note Nightmare: The distorted maniacal laughter at the end of "Hey Hey Come On".
- Lyrical Cold Open: "Tora Tora Tora" especially.
- Lucky Charms Title: They have a song called "Q_Q".
- Performance Video: The video for "Q_Q" shows the band performing the song in various locations near SXSW.
- Miniscule Rocking: Their first two albums aren't even 30 minutes long, and Golden Rules for Golden People barely hits the 30 mark, clocking in at 32 minutes and 21 seconds.
- Mood Whiplash: Used twice in their discography, once on Get Young (the transition between "Peekaboo" and "Nuts & Bolts") and on Golden Rules For Golden People ("Gold Fools" and "Yonkers").
- Money Song: "Money Music", "New Czar", and plenty other songs off Golden Rules for Golden People.
- New Sound Album: Golden Rules for Golden People brought in a whole new array of influences.
- Record Producer: Jeremy remained this throughout the band's existence.
- Revolving Door Band: They never could find a permanent bassist or drummer in the early years. They eventually settled on Roger Feeley-Lussier as a bassist in 2009, but continued to rotate drummers until their hiatus in 2014.
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Signature Song: Arguably "Tora Tora Tora". - Song Style Shift: One of their most identifiable traits, especially on Golden Rules for Golden People.
- Stop and Go: Very common. One of their early songs is even called "Stop/Start".
- The Four Chords of Pop: Both variations are used in "Lazy Lazy Bumblebee".
- Vocal Tag Team: Holden and Jeremy, previously Holden and Will.
