A Round of Sound

Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost

[True Panther Sounds; released 9/13/2011]

“Come into my heart.”

“Vomit”

What’s my combination for a great album you ask? Well, it’s simple really: engaging and innovative songwriting, meaningful lyrics, and the sense that the artist is truly passionate about his or her creation. Or to put it another way, just listen to Girls’ sophomore album Father, Son, Holy Ghost. The jump this San Francisco duo made from their rather generic surf-pop debut in 2009 to this masterpiece is pretty remarkable. I found their first release to be a fine album, but was missing something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. It still managed an honorable mention nod from me, but left me so uninterested that I decided to pass on their EP last year. Well, whatever it was that was missing from that debut, they undeniably found on their follow up LP, enough to make Father, Son, Holy Ghost my Top Album of 2011. (Giving hope to all honorable mentions everywhere!)

The opening track (“Honey Bunny”)  from Father, Son, Holy Ghost harkens back to their debut with a fantastic little Beach Boys-esque pop song (but better than any of the surf-pop they tried on their debut), and then departs from that sound into a variety of influences; from a psychedelic glam rocker (“Die”) to Guns N’ Roses tinged anthems (“My Ma”, “Vomit”). All of these departures make this disc the standard bearer for retro albums released in 2011, which for whatever reason seemed to be an ongoing theme for the year. Lead singer/songwriter Chris Owens still exudes his damaged vocals for this release, but they are a huge improvement from the debut as he seems to have made a discernible effort to come off more restrained here, and well, less annoying. Oh, but does the damage in his voice, and honesty in his lyrics, still remain.

His story is a rather tragic one having been raised in the Children of God cult and just as it did on the debut, those experiences have shaped the art he creates. As Owens sings about the girls in the aforementioned “Honey Bunny” who  “don’t like my bony body” (preach it brother) he comes across confident while at the same time somehow conveying a sense of self-pity that make this such an affecting listen. However, it’s in his anthems like album centerpiece, but unfortunately titled, “Vomit” that the album’s heart truly shines through, as Owens employs a backing gospel choir during the song’s final coda. It’s a moment that truly punches you in the gut and displays what this album does best; entertain with moments of fantastic musicianship while remaining soulful. Because despite all the influences scattered throughout, Father, Son, Holy Ghost is best described as a soul album, and it’s Owens who has allowed us a glimpse of that soul.

[“Honey Bunny” – Father, Son, Holy Ghost]

BONUS: I also recommend clicking this link for a live version of “Vomit” (and other Father, Son, Holy Ghost tracks) they did for Pitchfork.tv. It’s pretty life-changing and chills inducing.