All right… so the sad thing about not being at Coachella is that you have to read about all the great bands who ARE gong to be at Coachella. And then you have to read about all the great performances that WERE AT Coachella.
In keeping with the former, as I have not yet read reviews, let me introduce you to Girls.
The band is in the vein of Spiritualized… yesterday’s band and Coachella performer this year… and Ariel Pink (do not know this one yet), but this one was even more of an instant love… So when I say I love Girls, you may take that literally and bandaphorically.
No wonder it was love at first listen, as “The New York Times compared the band’s sound to Elvis Costello,The Beach Boys and Buddy Holly.” Sigh…
They are an indie rock band from San Francisco and are made up of two dudes… lead singer Christopher Owens and bass player and producer Chet “JR” White.
Fascinating story… “Owens was born into the fundamentalist cult Children of God, but absconded at 16 from their community in Slovenia to Amarillo, Texas. It took him years of exploring common technology, hardcore punk and nihilism, among other things, to cope in mainstream society.”
“Upon arriving in San Francisco, Owens met White, a Bay Area native who was raised in Santa Cruz, California. White began recording bands in his parents’ garage. Upon meeting, the two developed a strong bond and interest in similar music, as well as a shared background in Punk/Hardcore music. Shortly thereafter Owens and White started recording what was to later be their debut album, titled Album.”
Owens is a former member of the band Holy Shit with Ariel Pink and Matt Fishbeck and says “he was not allowed to listen to music from outside the group, but was allowed to watch movies from which he absorbed music like Queen and Guns N’ Roses.”
Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost
Yes, the nice Jewish boy LOVES the Father, Son Holy Ghost!!!
This one came out on September 13, 2011. Their debut is called Album and came out in 2009.
Tough call as to which album to pick as I really, really dig them both!!!
“Their 2009 debut album Album received a rating of 9.1/10 and was rated the 10th best album of 2009 by Pitchfork.” This one received a Pitchfork rating of 9.3 and has been ranked number five on their Top 50 Albums of 2011 list.”
From the opening track “Honey Bunny” you know you are in for some fantastic retro love… Take The Beach Boys, Dick Dale and Buddy Holly and put them in a blender and you get one hell of a drink!
I love this record… I love this record… I love this record!!!!!
“Die”, according to AllMusic, “sounds like a stoner rock version of Deep Purple’s “Highway Star” before it gives way into a Pink Floyd outro.” I get a little Hendrix, too. Mmmm!!!
They prefer the debut and call this one over the top… with “dazzling instrumentation…” Okay… So???
“Alex” and “Saying I Love You” are my two favorite songs. Delish!!!
I am also ALMOST in love with the new HBO show Girls… Judd Apatow has an eye for talent and Lena Dunham is a major talent… I am not yet on the bandwagon of “groundbreaking” television, but after one episode I am digging it.
So the theme of today is Girls… the driving force behind so much of Rock n’ Roll!!!
As Marshall Crenshaw so brilliantly sings in “Girls”
“Girls girls girls
When I’m walking downtown on a summer’s day, yeah
Girls girls girls
All my troubles seem 10 thousand miles away
I fall in love from my head to my feet
When I’m watchin’ all those girls walkin’ down the street
The feelin’ goes to my head like red wine
You know I feel fine ’cause all I ever have in mind is
Girls girls girls…”
