Semi Precious Weapons
Rock · US · Active since 2006

Semi Precious Weapons

Gritty garage rock meets high-fashion theatricality. It is the sound of a 3am New York club where the glitter is cheap but the attitude is expensive.

Browse Catalog
Intro

Semi Precious Weapons deliver a sound they famously dubbed 'Filthy Glamour.' It is a high-octane collision of 1970s glam rock swagger and 2000s New York indie grit. The music feels like a champagne bottle broken over a distortion pedal: expensive, sharp, and slightly dangerous. Justin Tranter’s vocals provide a focal point of androgynous charisma, sneering and soaring over muscular, blues-inflected guitar riffs.

What sets them apart is the sheer commitment to the bit. While their contemporaries were leaning into lo-fi modesty, SPW embraced maximalist showmanship and 'Dirty Showbiz.' Their production, often handled by legends like Tony Visconti, balances the raw energy of a live band with a polished, punchy sheen that demands attention. It is music that refuses to be background noise, defined by its sharp edges and unapologetic vanity.

Start with their self-titled 2010 album or 'You Love You' to catch them at their commercial and creative peak. Tracks like 'Magnetic Baby' and 'Semi Precious Weapons' perfectly encapsulate their blend of danceable rhythms and hard rock bite. It is the ideal soundtrack for anyone who believes that rock and roll should always involve a little bit of theater and a lot of leather.

Semi Precious Weapons was an American rock band from New York City, New York, United States, consisting of Justin Tranter on vocals, Stevy Pyne on guitar, Cole Whittle on bass and Dan Crean on drums. Pyne replaced former guitarist, Aaron Lee Tasjan, in November 2008.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA →
Our Catalog3 Albums · 2008 · 2014
Known ForWeighted across the artist's discography. Tap a trait for examples.
Adjacent Artists
Soul Sister Dance Revolution
Soul Sister Dance Revolution

Shares studio polished, analog warmth, compressed loud (production style); playful, energetic, confident (moods)

F
Flip

Shares studio polished, analog warmth, compressed loud (production style); defiant, energetic, confident (moods)

PL
Penny Lane

Shares defiant, playful, energetic (moods); studio polished, analog warmth, compressed loud (production style)

PR
People R Ugly

Shares defiant, playful, energetic (moods); alternative rock, garage rock (subgenres)

BJ
Baby Jane

Shares studio polished, analog warmth, compressed loud (production style); defiant, playful, energetic (moods)

SA
Spirit Animal

Shares defiant, playful, energetic (moods); alternative rock, dance-pop (subgenres)

X
XXX

Shares studio polished, analog warmth, compressed loud (production style); defiant, playful, energetic (moods)

H
HIMALAYAS

Shares studio polished, analog warmth, compressed loud (production style); dive bar, festival, urban night (atmosphere)

Harry
Harry

Shares defiant, playful, energetic (moods); studio polished, compressed loud (production style)

TM
The Minutes

Shares studio polished, analog warmth, compressed loud (production style); defiant, energetic, confident (moods)

Starbenders
Starbenders

Shares glam rock, androgynous, garage rock, defiant (signature)

Suzi Quatro
Suzi Quatro

Shares glam rock, garage rock, defiant, rebellious (signature)

Cassette uses generative AI to enrich its catalog. How we use AI →