Parenthetical Girls was an experimental pop band formed in Everett, Washington in 2002, and disbanded in 2013.

History

Begun by lead singer Zac Pennington, the band originally known as Swastika Girls in 2003. Pennington released (((GRRRLS))), the band's vinyl-only debut album on his own Slender Means Society label in 2004. Recorded with the help of Jherek Bischoff and Jamie Stewart (the latter of Xiu Xiu), (((GRRRLS))) featured different mixes of the seven songs on each side of the record. Beginning in 2010, the band released a series of limited 12" EPs which would later be compiled into their 2013 album Privilege. The records were sold through Pennington's Slender Means Society label directly to fans, rather than distributed to record stores. At the end of the cycle, the fifth record came packaged with a box to house all the releases. The release was notable as each record was hand-numbered in the blood of the band number featured on the cover.

Breakup

On June 19, 2017, Pennington announced his new project, Comedienne, which includes Deerhoof's Greg Saunier and longtime collaborator Jherek Bischoff. The announcement came alongside news that Parenthetical Girls is officially defunct. As of 2019, Pennington is engaged in a project, entitled Popular Music, alongside Prudence Rees-Lee. They released their first album, a collection of covers from pop culture called Popular Music Plays in Darkness, on November 20, 2020. Their second album, Minor Works, was released on October 13, 2023.

Discography

Albums

Singles and EPs

Band members

Final members Former members

Timeline

Slender Means Society

Slender Means Society is an independent record label founded in 2004 by Zac Pennington, vocalist for the band Parenthetical Girls. The label's premier release was their debut, "(((GRRRLS)))", in 2004. The label has since released records by the likes of The Blow, Final Fantasy, Thanksgiving, Lucky Dragons, Love Letter Band, The Dead Science, Xiu Xiu, PWRFL POWER, Idol Fodder, and Grouper.

Discography