2000 & 9 #6

#6

Girls - Album

(not all garage bands were formed in garages)

If you've heard of the band Girls, I'm sure you've heard the story of front man Christopher Owens growing up in the infamous Children Of God cult - if you haven't heard the maligned story yet, well it's important you do - you'll appreciate the incredible debut, Album that Owens and his band mate Chet White produced this year.

Christopher's older brother died in the cult as a baby due to the cults disbelief in medical attention, his father split, his Mom and him lived in various places around the world all the while his Mother was sometimes made to prostitute herself by the cult. As a teenager, Owens fled to Texas where a local millionaire took him in. Somehow he ended up in San Francisco where Girls was formed. (yeah, that's a true story)

With Album, Girls scuzzy sound is ultimately laced with Elvis Costello, The Beach Boys, and Buddy Holly. Owens often sounds a bit heartbroken, especially on Headache. Even songs where Owens sings with a playful identity, you can hear the wounded animal leftover from Owens traumatic childhood. On the bands hit single, Hellhole Ratrace, Owens laments his past, but celebrates his future:

and i dont want to cry my whole life through,
i want to do some laughing too.
so come on, come on, come on, come on, laugh with me.
and i dont want to die without shaking up a leg or two,
yeah, i want to do some dancing too.
so come on, come on, come on, come on, dance with me.

Album is a fantastic debut for Girls that will inevitably end up on tons of critics best debut lists. The members of Girls have been open and candid about their drug use during the recording of Album. Rock & Roll's past points to Girls fizzling out after a brilliant debut album - a drug abused story we've heard thousands of times over - and a story that would obviously be as disheartening as Owens poor chilhood. Here's hoping they stick around for at least the let-down sophomore album.

Standout track - #1, Lust For Life