Girls Against Boys | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Girls Against Boys dual-bass attack and Scott McClouds wheezy sing-speak vocals (reminiscent of the Falls Mark E. Smith) produce an energetic, if sometimes noisy, sound that would probably annoy listeners if it werent for the D.C. bands great Fugazi-influenced songs. Girls Against Boys 1989 debut album, Tropic of Scorpio, appeared on the Adult Swim label, followed by a leap up to the popular indie Touch & Go for Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby. The albums that followed -- 1995s Cruise Yourself and 1996s House of GVSB -- charted the groups growing fortunes. Their jump to major label Geffen with 1998s Freak*on*ica resulted in higher sales but more negative reviews. After a lengthy hiatus, the band returned to the underground with a contract for Jade Tree and a 2002 full-length, You Cant Fight What You Cant See. Girls Against Boys broke up the following year, but subsequently reunited to tour Europe (with a lineup now featuring bassist John Schmersal from Enon) in February 2005. The group also scheduled a tour of the Czech Republic, Poland, and Russia for February 2009. In 2013, Girls Against Boys released their first album of all-original material in over ten years with the EP Ghost List. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 10 Title: Nineties vs. Eighties Released: 1990 Tracks: 6 Duration: 22:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Stay in the Car (03:26) 2 Jamie (03:52) 3 Kitty-Yo (04:20) 4 Move (03:40) 5 Angels (03:13) 6 Skind (04:03) |
 | Album: 2 of 10 Title: Tropic of Scorpio Released: 1992-12-02 Tracks: 10 Duration: 31:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 My Night of Pleasure (With the Mudjacking Contractors) (04:21) 2 Wow Wow Wow (02:28) 3 Matching Wits With Flaming Frank (02:45) 4 Cant Do Anything but Love You Babe (03:05) 5 Wasting Away (02:54) 6 Plush (04:16) 7 Everything I Do Seems to Cost Me $20 (04:37) 8 Taste All the Fruit (02:55) 9 Little Buccaneer (02:01) 10 Everywhere I Go I Seem to Spend $20 (01:44) |
| Tropic of Scorpio : Allmusic album Review : Coming in at a brisk 30 minutes, Girls Against Boys full debut album is a slightly off-and-on affair, but when it works it fulfills the promise of the earliest recordings and then a little bit more. Given that everyone besides Janney had spent the time beforehand trying to recuperate from Soul Side in another band before giving Girls Against Boys another shot, its probably little surprise that Tropic of Scorpio ended up the way it did. Having had a particularly smart, sharp singing voice in evidence on Nineties Vs. Eighties, here McCloud more often sounds more conventionally run-of-the-mill punk in his hoarse rasp -- more than once he sounds like really early Henry Rollins! Musically, though, the commanding grooves from the Temple/Fleisig rhythm section started really coming to the fore, finding their own take on edgy funk in a punk-inspired world. There are even hints of motorik/Krautrock chug which, combined with things like the distorted backing vocals on "Wow Wow Wow," likely helped start the well-meaning Fall comparisons that would dog the band in later years. Girls Against Boys had their own particular angular approach from the start, though -- less sloppy (if engagingly so) than said U.K. bunch, more interested in cutting, razor-sharp arrangements. Janneys production again works like a charm, slipping in plenty of subtle touches here and there -- the odd high drone on "Matching Wits With Flaming Frank," the drums-up-front/vocals-buried-deep mix of "Plush." Various D.C. friends help on the songs, which is why Nathan Larson from Shudder to Think is having fun with 50s jazz trumpet as played by a drunk lounge musician on the swank "Everything I Do Seems to Cost Me $20" -- and, of course, its reprise, "Everywhere I Go I Seem to Spend $20." | ||
 | Album: 3 of 10 Title: Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby Released: 1993-08-30 Tracks: 11 Duration: 46:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 In Like Flynn (04:25) 2 Go Be Delighted (03:56) 3 Rockets Are Red (05:01) 4 Satin Down (05:56) 5 Let Me Come Back (03:24) 6 Learned It (03:24) 7 Get Down (04:31) 8 Bullet Proof Cupid (04:50) 9 Seven Seas (02:54) 10 Billys One Stop (02:59) 11 Bug House (04:51) |
| Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby : Allmusic album Review : Who knows what did the trick -- maybe it was just jumping labels to Touch & Go -- but when Girls Against Boys released Venus Luxure, it was clear that the quartet had really turned into something spectacular. Avoiding the clichés of early-90s indie rock for its own surly, charismatic edge, Girls Against Boys here kicked out the jams like nobodys business. Ted Niceley helped out Janney with the recording, and together they got an amazing sound out of the band, its now thoroughly bass-heavy approach (Janney was now specifically credited with the instrument along with Temple) brawling like a bastard. A comparison to Flipper could be made, but instead of the generally slow, death-march tempos of that act, Girls Against Boys always keep moving, a dark death dance. McCloud, happily, was now a much more distinct singer, his voice deeper but still attractively ragged and right, whispering or spitting out sometimes cryptic lyrics about emotional confrontation and the vagaries of life. His nods to 60s lounge culture -- a thematic fascination that would grow even stronger over time -- crop up at points here, even if the whole atmosphere is more like Sinatra mean drunk and out for blood, lots of it. The band comes up with music that sometimes echoes it as well; imagine its midnight at a bar, the lights are low and red, and mean-looking guys in the corner stare menacingly -- thats the spirit informing songs like the slow, threatening "Satin Down" and "Get Down." Janneys abilities on keyboards, meanwhile -- check the abbreviated, looped drones on "Go Be Delighted" -- gave the band an even further edge, unsettled and certainly not like many other bands in its general milieu. Add in some full-on rockers like "Let Me Come Back" and the focused snap of "Bulletproof Cupid," and the result is a stone-cold classic. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 10 Title: Sexy Sam / Im From France Released: 1994-05-16 Tracks: 6 Duration: 22:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Sexy Sam (02:46) 2 Im From France (02:46) 3 Stay in the Car (03:26) 4 My Night of Pleasure (04:24) 5 Rockets Are Red (05:01) 6 Sharkmeat (03:43) |
 | Album: 5 of 10 Title: Cruise Yourself Released: 1994-10-03 Tracks: 11 Duration: 41:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Tucked–in (04:17) 2 Cruise Your New Baby Fly Self (03:11) 3 Kill the Sexplayer (03:18) 4 (I) Don’t Got a Place (03:43) 5 Psychic Know–How (03:41) 6 Explicitly Yours (04:59) 7 From Now On (04:15) 8 Raindrop (03:13) 9 The Royal Lowdown (02:41) 10 My Martini (03:41) 11 Glazed–Eye (04:02) |
| Cruise Yourself : Allmusic album Review : Having fully made their case with Venus Luxure, Girls Against Boys kept on course with the equally fine Cruise Yourself. The hints of lounge and Vegas were even more explicit here -- the cocktail artwork on the CD, the fact that one particularly bitter number is called "My Martini." Again, though, these werent the gauche clichés of characters like Combustible Edison, but signposts of a vicious, cutting quality in lyrics and music. McClouds purring rasp again serves as one of the bands chief qualities, perfectly suited to the sassy, snarling burn of songs like "Cruise Your New Baby Fly Self" and "The Royal Lowdown." Though backing vocals arent specifically credited, its Janney adding the high parts here and there, such as the effectively creepy chorus of "Explicitly Yours." Ted Niceley and Janney once again handle the production/engineering combination, and, unsurprisingly, the whole album is a tightly wound effort that sounds like its going to explode every second. In an interesting switch, and a demonstration of the bands increasing reach, Temple took over the duties with the sampler, while Janney concentrated not only on his own bass work, but organ and vibes as well. "Kill the Sexplayer" was the arguable standout, and while again many critics saw McClouds slurring sneer as being the new incarnation of Mark E. Smith, thats a lazy connection. McClouds singing oozes its own attitude, while the band isnt reinventing art/rockabilly as much as finding its own fast, bass-led charge. Certainly, though, the German motorik touches both bands share have their place on Cruise Yourself -- half the time on "Psychic Know-How," Fleisig is laying down a smart Krautrock chug and both Temple and Janney are right there with him, especially with Janneys keyboard glaze. And at one point -- "From Now On" -- McClouds distorted rasp does for once sound exactly like the Mancunian master. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 10 Title: House of GVSB Released: 1996-03-05 Tracks: 11 Duration: 40:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Super-Fire (03:18) 2 Click Click (03:21) 3 Crash 17 (X-Rated Car) (03:23) 4 Disco Six Six Six (02:46) 5 Life in Pink (04:12) 6 TheKindaMzkYouLike (03:57) 7 Vera Cruz (04:28) 8 AnotherDroneInMyHead (03:40) 9 Cash Machine (03:33) 10 Wilmington (03:21) 11 Zodiac Love Team (04:05) |
| House of GVSB : Allmusic album Review : House of GVSB saw the band continuing its winning streak, and while arguably it contained no real surprises after the powerful one-two punch of Venus Luxure and Cruise Yourself, it still showed the quartet at the top of its considerable game. The Ted Niceley/Eli Janney partnership once again took charge with no worries, and every last drum hit or aggro bass roar makes its considerable mark. As with the previous albums, some tracks were the unquestioned high points, in this case the opening roar of "Super-Fire," with some of Scott McClouds best guitar work ever, a controlled blast of riffs, and "TheKindaMzkYouLike," which gives everyone the chance to break out the funky fresh beats in their own style -- feedback and all. The overdubbed chorus of "Im sinking fast!" followed by another McCloud feedback drone makes for one heck of a conclusion. There are also the sly rhythms of "Disco Six Six Six," which not only benefits from Alexis Fleisigs playing but Janneys strong work on keyboard and McClouds delivery, which -- instead of mostly being attractively belligerent -- actually shows a tender side. On the seemingly lighter side, the credit for "drum assistance and 808 supplied by Ken Tondre" becomes clear with the skittering opening beats on "Vera Cruz," Janneys squelching keyboard line amusingly offset by McClouds regular low sighing groan and the full band adding in mostly on the choruses. Janney again has extra fun with falsetto backing vocals at various points, often to gently comedic effect -- the wordless "ah-ah-ah" part on the brutal swing of "Cash Machine" adds a wonderfully strange contrast to McClouds regular piss-and-vinegar approach. The last track, "Zodiac Love Team," throws in a final curve ball with its echoing, clattering drum loop, almost a throwback to the industrial-tinged origins of the group, but here set in the middle of the bands own film noir feedback style. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 10 Title: 8 Rounds: GVSB vs. GBV Released: 1997-07-01 Tracks: 8 Duration: 24:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Learned It (03:42) 2 Vera Cruz (04:31) 3 Disco 666 (02:43) 4 Kill the Sexplayer (03:55) 5 Unleashed! The Large Hearted Boy (01:58) 6 Motor Away (02:22) 7 My Valuable Hunting Knife (02:08) 8 Shocker in Gloomtown / Some Drilling Implied (02:59) |
| 8 Rounds: GVSB vs. GBV : Allmusic album Review : As if their acronyms didnt get mixed up enough already, this tongue-in-cheek split EP features both Girls Against Boys and Guided By Voices going at it live in a radio stations studio under one banner. For an intentionally slapdash charity event, this ones actually not bad. Girls Against Boys get in the first four tracks, and between the gruff sonic muscle of "Vera Cruz" and the commendably messy "Kill the Sexplayer," the capture of the bands live brawn is worth the price of admission alone. Not that Guided By Voices slack off in the second half. Robert Pollards vocals have that raspy strain well-known in college rock circles, yet thankfully -- as in "Shocker in Gloom Town" -- the lunkheaded AC/DC rock blasts of the band save the day. Easy as that. The judges may still be bickering about which band deserves the technical knock out, but a modest, pretension-free charity record like this deserves almost all of the points. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 10 Title: Freak*on*ica Released: 1998-05-19 Tracks: 12 Duration: 47:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Park Avenue (03:50) 2 Pleasurized (03:39) 3 Psycho Future (03:32) 4 Black Hole (04:16) 5 Roxy (04:19) 6 One Firecracker (03:47) 1 Speedway (03:43) 2 Exorcisto (03:56) 3 Vogue Thing (03:53) 4 Push the Fader (04:01) 5 Exile (04:20) 6 Cowboys Orbit (04:04) |
 | Album: 9 of 10 Title: You Cant Fight What You Cant See Released: 2002-05-14 Tracks: 11 Duration: 40:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Basstation (03:44) 2 All the Rage (04:02) 3 300 Looks for the Summer (03:01) 4 Tweaker (03:46) 5 Miami Skyline (03:30) 6 Resonance (04:24) 7 BFF (03:46) 8 Kicking the Lights (03:39) 9 One Perfect Thing (02:55) 10 The Come Down (04:02) 11 Let It Breathe (03:48) |
| You Can't Fight What You Can't See : Allmusic album Review : After breaking free from their major-label contract, Girls Against Boys jumped headfirst into the underground, signing with Jade Tree and enthusiastically working on their next release. You Cant Fight What You Cant See is the result of four years fighting with corporate types and watching the alternative music scene shift from punk-pop and electronica to rap-rock and overdramatic post-grunge. To say that they have something to prove would be an understatement, and this album delivers their impending reaction to their environment. Everything is still in place, from the funky drumming of Alexis Fleisig to the cool vocals of Scott McCloud. And when the band is feeling it, tracks like "Tweaker" throb with an intensity that only this lineup of musicians can possibly muster. But a little of the major-label sheen still lingers on this recording; take "Miami Skyline" as an example. The song sounds similar to a John Spencer track when it first starts, but the chorus is a shockingly catchy bit of William Reid worship that brings to mind the hook-laden Freak*on*ica. Although fans may complain about still maintaining that poppy aspect of their sound, they arent always successful at replicating the repetitive grind of their earlier albums. "300 Looks for the Summer" is a song that recalls their Tropic of Scorpio period, but is pretty boring overall. On the track, McCloud continually admits his disdain for Hollywood, yet his ugly moan lacks the passion it once delivered and the band seems to be going through the motions. They sound much more at home blending the techno pop of their last album with their earlier sound, which results in some satisfying songs but not a consistent album. "All the Rage" is probably the best track here, as it does the best job of reconciling the two approaches. But since their music is based on tension, this new approach deflates much of the usual pressure built by the band, making the eventual payoff nowhere near as exciting as it could be. They can really deliver some interesting songs when they travel even farther from both sounds, which is even more bizarre. "BFF" and "Kicking the Lights" are catchy rockers that recall Sonic Youths song structuring with the hooks of the Jesus & Mary Chain. The latter comparison is probably the most appropriate to Girls Against Boys, as they seem to be at the Honeys Dead period in their career. Their last album was a technologically advanced and poppy effort that turned off many fans (much like Automatic), so they feel as though they should maintain some of their earlier sound despite their desire to move forward. And much like that album, this is a good effort from the band that has a few missteps but will probably smooth over many of the bumps caused by their last release. One cant help but feel that this is still a transitional album in general, but at least theyve overcome their Garbage fascination and seem to be delivering music more in tune with their attitude and style. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 10 Title: The Ghost List Released: 2013-09-24 Tracks: 5 Duration: 17:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 It’s a Diamond Life (03:43) 2 Fade Out (02:24) 3 60 Is Greater Than 15 (03:22) 4 Let’s Get Killed (03:53) 5 Kick (04:20) |