{{Infobox musical artist | name = Vicious Vicious | origin = Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | genre = Indie pop, soul, R&B, electro-rock | years_active = 2002–present | label = Twentyseven, The Redemption Recording Company, Plexippus | spinoffs = The Hopefuls, Tapes 'n Tapes | website = [https://www.viciousvicious.com viciousvicious.com] }}
'''Vicious Vicious''' is an American indie pop and electro-rock musical band based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, led by musician and producer Erik Appelwick.<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |title=Vicious Vicious Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/vicious-vicious-mn0001864428#biography |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=May 22, 2024}}</ref><ref name="CityPages2012-1">{{cite news |last=Van Alstyne |first=Rob |title=Vicious Vicious bringing sincere sexy back |work=City Pages |date=February 8, 2012 |url=https://infoweb-newsbank-com.hclib.org/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/15396F566DCDD480&f=basic |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The band is known for a sound that blends synth-pop, soul, and R&B influences with falsetto vocals.<ref name="MNDaily2002">{{cite news |last=Thomas |first=Lyndsey |title=Skating rink soul from Erik Appelwick |url=https://mndaily.com/arts-entertainment/music/skating-rink-soul-erik-appelwick/09/12/2002/ |work=The Minnesota Daily |date=September 12, 2002}}</ref><ref name="CityPages2007">{{cite news |last=Askari |first=Sarah |title=Vicious Vicious: Parade |work=City Pages |date=September 26, 2007 |url=https://infoweb-newsbank-com.hclib.org/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/15393F9344F8A0F8&f=basic |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Since its inception in 2002, Vicious Vicious has released seven full-length studio albums.<ref name="Discogs">{{cite web |title=Vicious Vicious Discography |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/1406019-Vicious-Vicious |publisher=Discogs |access-date=May 22, 2024}}</ref><ref name="KTSW2025">{{cite web |title=Vicious Vicious is Actually Pretty Chill |url=https://ktswblog.net/2025/03/17/vicious-vicious-is-actually-pretty-chill/ |work=KTSW 89.9 |date=March 17, 2025}}</ref>
== Formation and early years (2002–2004) == Erik Appelwick founded Vicious Vicious as a solo project in 2002 after moving to Minneapolis from South Dakota.<ref name="CityPages2002">{{cite news |last=Hill |first=Marcie |title=Tears of a Clown: Pop jester Vicious Vicious shows his sensitive side |work=City Pages |date=August 21, 2002 |url=https://infoweb-newsbank-com.hclib.org/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/153938DE62B70DF0&f=basic |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Prior to this, Appelwick had performed as a guitarist and bassist in local acts including Kid Dakota, Camaro, and Alva Star.<ref name="CityPages2002" /> The project's debut album, ''Blood and Clover'', was recorded largely on a four-track recorder and released independently in 2002 before being picked up by Twentyseven Records in 2003.<ref name="CityPages2002" /><ref name="AllMusic" /> The debut earned a nomination for Best Rock Album at the Minnesota Music Awards.<ref name="FirstAve">{{cite web |title=Performer: Vicious Vicious |url=https://first-avenue.com/performer/vicious-vicious/ |publisher=First Avenue |access-date=May 22, 2024}}</ref> During early live performances, the project featured a rotating lineup that included drummer Martin Dosh, keyboardist Alex Oana, and musician Darren Jackson.<ref name="CityPages2002" /><ref name="AllMusic" />
== Awards and Tapes 'n Tapes (2005–2011) == In 2005, Vicious Vicious released the album ''Don't Look So Surprised'' via The Redemption Recording Company and Plexippus Records.<ref name="StarTribune2005-1">{{cite news |last=Riemenschneider |first=Chris |title=Down for the upbeat: Two years ago, things looked blech for Erik Appelwick |work=Minnesota Star Tribune |date=June 17, 2005 |url=https://infoweb-newsbank-com.hclib.org/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=0FEAA90C14DCEF00&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F10ADAB880377BAA3 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Appelwick wrote and recorded the material while living in a rehearsal space, focusing on a more upbeat sound compared to his previous work.<ref name="StarTribune2005-1" /> The album won the Minnesota Music Award for "Locally Released Recording" in September 2005.<ref name="StarTribune2005-2">{{cite news |last=Riemenschneider |first=Chris |title=Minnesota Music Awards high on Low |work=Minnesota Star Tribune |date=September 22, 2005 |url=https://infoweb-newsbank-com.hclib.org/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=0FEAA90C14DCEF00&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F10CCC59BC4AEDE28 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> One of the tracks, "Here Come Tha Police," was later highlighted by ''The Atlantic'' as a "Track of the Day" in 2015.<ref name="Atlantic2015">{{cite web |title=Track of the Day: 'Here Come Tha Police' |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2015/09/track-of-the-day-here-come-tha-police/626837/ |work=The Atlantic |date=September 16, 2015}}</ref>
In early 2006, Appelwick joined the band Tapes 'n Tapes as their bassist, shortly before that group achieved international success and signed with XL Recordings.<ref name="StarTribune2007">{{cite news |last=Riemenschneider |first=Chris |title=A Vicious Vicious circle |work=Minnesota Star Tribune |date=September 6, 2007 |url=https://infoweb-newsbank-com.hclib.org/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=0FEAA90C14DCEF00&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F11B9BCD2776605A8 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Despite a heavy touring schedule with Tapes 'n Tapes, Appelwick released the third Vicious Vicious album, ''Parade'', in 2007.<ref name="StarTribune2007" /> ''Parade'' was listed among the "Top CDs of 2007" by the Minnesota Public Radio station The Current and featured collaborations with drummer Adrian Suarez and bassist Heath Henjum.<ref name="NPR2007">{{cite web |title=Top CDs of 2007 From The Current |url=https://www.npr.org/2007/12/03/16782932/top-cds-of-2007-from-the-current |publisher=NPR |date=December 3, 2007}}</ref><ref name="CityPages2007" />
== Hiatus and later releases (2012–present) == After a five-year gap between recordings, a self-titled fourth album was released in 2012.<ref name="Current2012">{{cite web |last=Swensson |first=Andrea |title=Erik Appelwick opens up on new Vicious Vicious album |url=https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2012/02/06/erik-appelwick-opens-up-on-new-vicious-vicious-album |work=The Current |date=February 6, 2012}}</ref> This album featured a more serious and "earnest" tone, moving away from the "tongue-in-cheek" style of earlier records.<ref name="CityPages2012-1" /> The recording sessions included drummer Martin Dosh and bassist James Buckley.<ref name="CityPages2012-2">{{cite news |last=Van Alstyne |first=Rob |title=Vicious Vicious |work=City Pages |date=April 4, 2012 |url=https://infoweb-newsbank-com.hclib.org/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=0FEAA90C14DCEF00&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F15396F5C524B70F0 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
Following a period of relative inactivity, the project returned with the album ''Gravity'' in 2020, followed by ''Paradise'' in 2022.<ref name="Discogs" /> In February 2025, Vicious Vicious released its seventh studio album, titled ''I Think We've Got a Situation''.<ref name="KTSW2025" /> Appelwick described the newer material as being influenced by contemporary psychedelic pop artists like Tame Impala while maintaining the project's signature focus on danceable rhythms and soul-inflected bass lines.<ref name="KTSW2025" />
== Musical style == The music of Vicious Vicious has been described by critics as "skating rink soul" and "feel-good music" that incorporates elements of funk, psychedelia, and lo-fi electronic production.<ref name="MNDaily2002" /><ref name="IRC2008">{{cite web |last=Sosa |first=Rick |title=Artist of the Week: Vicious Vicious |url=https://indierockcafe.com/2008/02/artist-of-the-week-vicious-vicious-well-not-really-but-dang-good-music/ |work=Indie Rock Cafe |date=February 25, 2008}}</ref> Appelwick frequently utilizes falsetto vocals and hip-hop-influenced beats, a style he initially conceived as mixing contemporary rhythms with "roller-skating music."<ref name="CityPages2002" /><ref name="CityPages2007" /> Reviewers have noted a tension in the music between "primal pop urges" and "shadowy atmospherics."<ref name="CityPages2012-2" />
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Award !! Category !! Nominated work !! Result !! Ref. |- | 2003 || Minnesota Music Awards || Best Rock Album || ''Blood and Clover'' || {{Nominated}} || <ref name="FirstAve" /> |- | 2005 || Minnesota Music Awards || Locally Released Recording || ''Don't Look So Surprised'' || {{Won}} || <ref name="StarTribune2005-2" /> |}
== Discography == * ''Blood and Clover'' (2002) * ''Don't Look So Surprised'' (2005) * ''Parade'' (2007) * ''Vicious Vicious'' (2012) * ''Gravity'' (2020) * ''Paradise'' (2022) * ''I Think We've Got a Situation'' (2025)
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Musical groups from Minneapolis Category:Indie pop groups from Minnesota Category:Musical groups established in 2002