The full-length self-titled debut from the São Paulo sextet CSS transcends any one defining musical genre. The electronic opener "CSS Suxxx" is a polar opposite to the pop-rock sing-a-long "Patins" that follows; a pattern that continues throughout the album. Yet, there is an ineffable essence present in each song that can only be described as a sense of 'fashion.' The self-admitted "glorification" of pop culture in songs like "Meeting Paris Hilton" is enough to give off this vibe - but more so, the album artwork, vocal delivery, and overall poise of the group suggests that music is a secondary outlet for CSS. According to the group, this is certainly the case: singer "Lovefoxxx," or Luísa Hanaê Matsushita, is an illustrator and designer, guitarist Ana Rezende is involved with film, bassist Ira Trevisan is a fashion designer, guitarist/drummer Carolina Parra is a graphic designer, and multi-instrumentalist Luiza Sá is an art student. This doesn't seem to bother Lovefoxxx, as she shrugged, "Unlike preserving [ourselves] until getting 'to the point,' [we are] bravely showing off, turning everything into style."
To be fair, the group doesn't need much bravery to perform music of this caliber. Not only are the songs extremely memorable, but the lyrical content is surprisingly original for songs that deal mostly with relationships. Although from Brazil, Lovefoxxx writes in English because the fanbase of CSS is "not [in] São Paulo, but [on] the internet." Other than a few Portuguese phrases mixed into the tracks, English listeners will probably have an easier time understanding Lovefoxxx than Björk. However, it is a shame that she chooses not sing in her primary language more often, as the band sounds at its most comfortable when shouting streams of Portuguese rhymes, like the second half of the infuriatingly catchy "Music is My Hot Hot Sex." In fact, even though there is only a handful of Portuguese lines, they often make for the catchiest part of the hook, such as in the disco-infused "Alala," where Lovefoxxx asks, "Alguém me avisa, quando é bom parar de fazer a íntima." Of course, the not-so-ironically bass-and-drum-heavy "Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above" is sure to garner plenty of interest from American indie rock audiences for the reference alone. Yet, the group certainly has much more to offer than campy lyrical content. Multi-instrumentalist Adriano Cintra, who also produced the album, is probably most responsible for giving CSS its dirty, off-the-cuff sound - though, almost certainly done through countless studio hours in a very non-off-the-cuff manner. Overall, Cansei de Ser Sexy is a guilty pleasure that listeners won't have to feel guilty about - but what remains to be seen is whether the group will be able to progress both musically and artistically.
