From Billboard.com:

“I can’t pay my rent but I’m f***ing gorgeous,” Justin Tranter sings on “Semi Precious Weapons,” and it’s a fitting mission statement for his band of the same name. After wrapping up a world tour with Lady Gaga in 2010, the quartet spent six months living rent-free in their manager’s pool house as they prepped their sophomore album and adjusted their “filthy” Brooklyn vibe to the West Coast.

Their style’s hard to define: they’re the kind of guys who’ll match high-fashion jewelry with yard sale cast-offs. Of course, when you design your own Barneys bling, as Tranter does with his Fetty line, you can rock whatever you want.
“As a band, we’ve probably assembled over 400,000 pieces of jewelry,” Tranter says.

Both their style and work ethic extend to the writing process: guided by new mentor Tricky Stewart, they’ve penned over 40 songs for sophomore album consideration. And, in Tranter’s case, all in high heels.

“We look like this while we write. We always look like this. I wouldn’t want to write a song in a pair of sneakers,” he says. “I think it would be a horrible song.”

Interview by David Greenwald & photography by Joseph Llanes

Semi Precious Weapons have posted up a video of Justin singing “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” with Stevy on the guitar. Check it out above!

Semi Precious Weapons recently performed two new tracks at their show at The Roxy, “Drink” and “That’s My Friends”. Check them out!

November 19th 8pm – The Roxy – Free – All Ages
RSVP by emailing roxy@semipreciousweapons.com
Concept by Naomi Knights, Video by Stevy Pyne, Music by Semi Precious Weapons. “LIVE” produced by Tricky Stewart

November 19th 8pm – The Roxy – Free – All Ages.
RSVP by emailing roxy@semipreciousweapons.com.
Video by Stevy Pyne, music by Semi Precious Weapons, produced by Tricky Stewart.

Happy Birthday to Stevy Pyne, the genius guitar hero of our favourite band, Semi Precious Weapons! We hope you have a great day, and party like the world is going to end!

By Laura Lyne

Several days ago, I was fortunate enough to receive four new songs from my favourite band, “Semi Precious Weapons”. Since then, I have had them on non-stop repeat. Now that I have had some time to gather my thoughts and give the songs a proper analysis, I have decided that it’s time to give them a detailed review.

I want to state one thing before I begin. These songs are nothing like fans have heard before. The sound is more mainstream than anything they have ever released – but that’s a good thing. They have not lost their signature sound. They have not lost their attitude. They have seasoned it and developed it. These songs scream growth. Danny Garibay (the brother of a certain Fernando that you all know and love) and Tricky Stewart have worked with the guys to create something new, something that will bring in a lot of new fans. It’s a change that they needed.

“Fuck The Dance Floor” is classic Semi Precious Weapons. It makes you want to get drunk, dance until you can no longer move and have the best night of your life. In my opinion, from what I have heard so far, it is a perfect album opener. It would get the listeners hyped for what is to come as they continue to listen. It’s filthy. It has a sound that you can dance to. Lyrics that will make you want to have the best night of your life. This song had a great reception from fans when it was performed during the Monster Ball. It hyped them, it excited them. You can picture Cole, Dan and Stevy banging their head along to it as they play, while Justin sings his heart out on stage. Then, the pace changes. It slows. A church bell rings. And it makes you wonder…what’s coming next? Then, BOOM! The song amps up higher than it ever has, and you just know that these guys seriously want you to enjoy yourself. And it’s hard not to as you listen.

“Free Booze” might have a less than conventional title, but this song shines. The lyrics tell a story, and it’s not a happy one. The beat reminds me of classic 80’s, mixed with techno and the filthy rock style of the band. The lyrics show how talented Justin really is; he is a fantastic writer. While he writes party songs, about getting drunk, getting laid and having a damn good time – he is also writing songs that convey emotion. It is these types of songs that show exactly why the band should be taken seriously…they are musicians. Not because they can play instruments. Not because they can hold a tune. They take their livelihood very seriously, and so should you. They have studied their craft and they want to perform for the rest of their lives. I can picture this song being played on the radio. It’s catchy and very easy to sing along to. Yet, it still has that meaning behind it. I think this song could surprise people.

“Cherries On Ice” is an experiment. Personally, it’s an experiment that I think is very successful. It is no secret that Semi Precious Weapons are fans of hip hop, especially Jay-Z. Anyone who has heard or read an interview, or has seen them perform knows how much they are influenced by the sound. A classic Stevy Pyne guitar riff starts the song…but then the beat comes in. It reminds me of Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” mixed with the Swizz Beatz produced “On To The Next One”. Justin practically raps on the song, but still manages to belt out the verses. There are several vocal sounds that could be considered their own style of beat-boxing. The techno edge that can be heard in other songs also features in “Cherries”, and it works. It was the one song that I was anticipating greatly, and I was not disappointed. Even though I have said previously that “Fuck The Dance Floor” is a perfect album opener; this could be too. It would immediately make seasoned fans hear a brand new sound, and it intrigues you. This is a sexually intense song with an aggressive sound, and the new style we hear in it could become a favourite.

Last, but certainly not least, is the never before heard or performed “Drink”. The main lyric in the song cries, “Wish I had a drink, so I don’t have to think about you”. Out of the four songs, it is the one that sticks in your head. That you find yourself singing as you write down notes in class. The sound is mainstream, but still true to what these guys are all about. Once again, Justin’s song-writing shines. These are serious, emotional lyrics – and this song is the song that could change everything. It’s techno. It’s rock. It’s hip hop. It’s pop. It’s the future. The guitar reminds me of heart strings being shredded apart. Like Justin’s heart is literally being destroyed. I can picture Dan playing the drums like it is the last thing he has to do before it all ends. This song was made for an audience. An arena, filled with fans, jumping and screaming their hearts out as they sing every single word. This song will close any show, and will send any crowd wild. People driving in their cars will want to hear this song on the radio. Clubs-goers will request this song non-stop. “Drink” shows that Semi Precious Weapons want to become global superstars. They want to explode into 2012 with a statement, and they want it to stick. It is the best song out of the four, and it will leave fans wanting more.

Semi Precious Weapons are moving onward and upward. This is no “You Love You”. That is not to detract from that album, but it was their first release on a major label. Several of the songs on that album were re-recordings of previously released tracks, and for their hard-core fans, it was re-mastered music rather than new music. Personally, I felt that that album was more of a teaser. That album, while I felt did not get the recognition it deserved, it failed to show what these new songs showcase – that they can literally work with any type of genre. There are no limitations for these guys. Just when they thought they had found their sound, they discovered that there was so much more to what they could do. Artists that make a difference in the music industry, they learn to adapt, to change and to grow with each album. Semi Precious Weapons are doing just that. They are striving to be noticed by the general public, and they have every right to stand on their own stage in front of thousands of people chanting their names.

2012 is Semi Precious Weapons’ year.

She wants Free Booze, no rules…and you.

Semi Precious Weapons have just released a song called “God Bless Suicide” on their tumblr page. The personal unreleased song (which was originally going to be a bonus track on “We Love You”) was penned after a very good friend of Justin’s sadly committed suicide three weeks before her graduation. Justin’s class was very small (40 pupils) so it affected everyone.

The message of the song is “to find the beauty and glamour in everything even when it’s dark.” Be sure to give it a listen because its very powerful and beautiful

Listen here