Girls - Album (From Salisbury Journal)

Girls - Album

2:33pm Monday 5th October 2009

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Artist - Girls
Album - Album
Label - FantasyTrashcan

There is no way past the infatuated blogger word of mouth that has accompanied this album, with its cut-and-paste stories of Christopher Owens' childhood.

Girls' Album is a wholly simple pop album that does averagely what a lot of pop did in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s without really doing anything new (except swear a lot) - a journey back through bands like the Bluetones or the Candyskins (remember them? Exactly.) would put you into this space. However. There is something there.

It is a rather unashamedly enjoyable album, a Californian soundscape (or at least the California of popular fiction), with a sulky vocal and lots of songs about girls.

Owens sounds like a little like Elvis Costello in his 80s period, or even like John Cafferty (a semi-famous Bruce Springsteen wannabee from the 80s).

The question is 'is it the best of its kind'? and the answer is undoubtedly 'no'. Pick up Pete and The Pirates well before reaching for this.

Album is fine, but it is no classic - it has enough sugary hooks to make repeated listening worthwhile, but the Internet has decided to elevate it to a position it probably never asked for.

Rating 7/10
Mike Rea

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