new: Girls "Life in San Francisco"

"La La La La La"
(photo by sandy kim)
Girls Album just arrived on my door step, along with the new "Lust for Life" b/w "Life in San Francisco" 7-inch and, of course, a Girls poster. This is how records are supposed to be packaged. (Big ups True Panther.) At first spin, the record sounds absolutely gorgeous. Really dense and warm, which is no surprise considering Album was "committed to an analogue recording tape via a mess of cables run into a single channel r.n.p. preamplifier into a distresser generally set up at 6:1 ratio with 6db of gain reduction followed by a soundworkshops spring reverb." A note inside the record goes on to read "We have no chairs in the studio and usually the tracking and mixing process is done sitting cross legged on the floor or lying on our stomachs. On most occassions the progressive metal band which practices at un-godly volumes next door also makes it's way into the following recordings. Sleeps is generally a luxury..."

After spinning the B-side of the "Lust for Life," "Life in San Francisco," a non-album track that finds the band indulging in a playful ode to their hometown, I was baffled to find the tune on LaLa. Peep it below, then have fun trying to get it out of your head for the next two weeks.

Life In San Francisco - Girls

video: Girls "Summertime"

"Soak Up The Sunshine With You"

With both Labor Day and ATP officially in the rear view mirror, it's safe to say that summer is over. While NYC temperature's might have you in disbelief, believe me, it's over. Unfortunately for us, one of the season's most encapsulating albums, Girls Album, wasn't released in time to soundtrack many an excursion to Rockaway Beach. However, this Fader video of "Summertime," my favorite song on Album, is similar to Beach House's "Used to Be," in that it forces one to reminisce on good times spent with good people. "Grow out my hair, go anywhere, sleep in all day, afternoon, Summertime, soak up the sunshine with you." Summer, you will be missed.

video: Girls "Hellhole Ratrace"

"Wanna Do Some Dancing Too"

If you've ever been to this site before than this clip should need no introduction. Girls will release a 7" for "Hellhole Ratrace" b/w "Solitude" sometime in the near future on True Panther Sounds. They've also completed work on their debut full length, which, hopefully, will come out by the end of the year on True Panther (?). In addition, Girls will be in NYC next week for a shows at the Mercury Lounge, Cake Shop, and a slot on one of the best bills of the year; Monster Island Basement with Real Estate, Beach Fossils, and Kurt Vile & The Violators. Hell fucking yeah.

Check out my Polaroids of Girls from Primavera, as well as a live review of their stellar set from the festival.

live: Girls at Primavera Sound

"I Don't Wanna Die"
(photos: craig loschmann)
Barcelona's Primavera Sound sort of played like a list of bands who have literally been in Brooklyn in the past month. For many acts, including Wavves, Vivian Girls, Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Vaselines, Bat For Lashes, and Crystal Stilts, this couldn't have been truer, and as fellow Brooklynite and Vice photographer said to me, "we're really spoiled." Sure, it's NYC and all, but there are still acts that we don't get to see very often, and one band, Girls, made it well worth the trip across the pond. San Francisco's Girls played one of the earliest sets on the P4K stage, coming on right after Women, coincidence...I think not. Humble, visibly anxious, and noting that "This is just the beginning", the psych-revival/drug pop band blasted through a set of new material from their now complete, yes complete, debut full length, which will see the light of day by the end of the year via True Panther. While their biggest show ever, by far, was plagued with some technical difficulties (bad cables), they managed to set aside early problems and showcase mostly unheard new songs in front of the dense Mediterranean crowd. The highlight of their set was the first Girls song I ever heard, "Hellhole Ratrace", which will soon be released on seven inch b/w of "Solitude", a new song the band has yet to play live. With all this Girls output set for the rest of 2009, I think its safe to say that the rest of 2009 is going to be, ahum, "totally rad."

upcoming: Girls 7" & Album

"I Wish I Had A Pizza & A Bottle of Wine"

With only one official release under their belt, we're getting sort of antsy for some more Girls. Certainly the Morning Light/Lust For Life 7" is a doozey, but its been over half a year since the band released it (and sold it out) on True Panther. Luckily good news is on the way. Last week the band posted this message on its MySpace:

The album is oh so close guys and girls... We just got back to San Francisco from our own studio in my parents house in Santa Cruz... The future is very exciting this album is a great album its honest, loose, ethereal, obnoxious and perfect. We cant wait for you to hear it.

Not long after, I received an email from Dean at True Panther, noting that "The next Girls release will be a 7" of Hellhole Ratrace along with a brand new song. The LP should be coming near the end of April or the beginning of May." Super good news for all you pop savvy, navel gazing boys and girls with major crushes and some handshake drugs. If you find yourself in the Bay Area, you can catch Girls tomorrow with Hospitals at The Eagle, which is apparently a Gay Biker bar home to the "nouveau leather boy crew." Sounds like the perfect place to see Girls.

Girls- Morning Light (vinyl rip)

Girls- Carolina from Midi Festival

CMJ filler: Girls

"It Won't Last Forever"

I thought Girls were playing CMJ. Turns out they are, just not San Fran's Girls, but NYC's Girls. Bummer. Anyway, SF's Girls, on True Panther Sounds, is easily one of my favorite new bands of 2K8. The Morning Light/Lust For Life 7" is epic and they've got great videos taboot. For instance, "God Damned"(above), which takes on a a very-Full House opening credits type feel, even down to the blonde baby girl getting ice cream. And if you haven't seen it yet, the stellar "Morning Light" video is below.

"Morning Light"