(Translated from my original Italian text by ChatGPT and Piero Scaruffi)

Mary’s Danish were a six-piece band from Los Angeles, formed in 1987 by singers Julie Ritter and Gretchen Seager and guitarist Louis Gutierrez (formerly of Three O'Clock). The formula of There Goes The Wondertruck (Chameleon, 1989) was an eclectic sound blending hardcore, folk, country, and funk, with the raw X-style vocal harmonies of the singers front and center (as in Blue Stockings and Don’t Crash The Car Tonight). The follow-up, better-produced Circa (Morgan Creek), confirmed both the band’s versatility and their confusion, for example in Julie’s Blanket and Yellow Creep Around. Ambitious and overreaching, their “mix” nevertheless failed to produce memorable songs. Refining their vocal style and emphasizing the more abrasive and noisy aspects of their sound, Mary’s Danish changed course with the 1992 album American Standard. They achieved modest success with the soul/metal of Leave It Alone and Killjoy, retaining their original drive only in Porcupine.

Julie Ritter's solo Songs Of Love And Empire (Luxstar, 2000) is a fresh and uplifting excursion through rocking rave-ups and country ballads (Bed, And What Were Roses).