It's what would happen if Josie, Liz Phair, and Sleater Kinney shared an E-Z Bake oven for a day and fed all their cupcakes to the other Pussycats. This Denver-born quartet takes their namesake from the old Playskool toy, "Dressy Bessy," and drives that retro "Pebbles and Bam-Bam play psychedelic" sound straight into the millennium. John Hill, guitarist formerly of The Apples (In Stereo), propels Dressy Bessy deep into the same indie world from whence he came, with the same simple, energetic, and delightful pop-punk electricity. Tammy Ealom's guitar and vocals are like rock candy--be careful not to cut your tongue--a little reminiscent of Tanya Donnelly's Belly days, if she had been singing the Go-Gos. The rhythm of Rob Greene's bass and Darren Albert's drums give the group their explosive edge.

Since 1997, Dressy Bessy has released three LPs and one EP, all on the Kindercore record label. Though a small jewel buried in the shallows of the underground, they've had two songs fittingly featured in the indie film But I'm a Cheerleader, as well as contributing to the cartoon series "The Powerpuff Girls" soundtrack. As you listen to Dressy Bessy's self-titled record, you may wonder if Tammy isn't one of the Powerpuff Girls herself, fighting evil with big mischievous eyes, a baby-doll dress, and a bow on her head to match. The album's kick-off track, "Just Once More," will get you jumping up and down on your bed-- or just really wanting to--for the next 10 tracks, and then some.

She may be singing about herself in "Baby Six String," chiming in "Hoorah, hoorah," at every chorus, sounding like a cheerleading rotten-apple who's "much too cool to be common." "Girl, You Shout!" will certainly make you do so as Tammy, the coolest chick on the playground, taunts, "Tag along with me." Every song is complementary in its bratty, rambunctious, tough, and irresistible sound. The whole album is sweet and sassy. Oh, and it's not for women--it's for girls.

To listen to "Just Once More," click here: .