Girls performing “Honey Bunny” from Father, Son, Holy Ghost

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#1B - Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost - True Panther Sounds - 9/13/11

I thought long and hard about this top ten list and I decided it’s only fair to list my top two records of 2011 as 1A and 1B.  I did this because both records are neck and neck for me personally and they deserve the top spot.  Let’s start with Girls’ absolutely solid and flawless sophomore release.  The eleven tracks that make up Father, Son, Holy Ghost sound familiar, yet each song is utterly fresh and memorable.  My good friend, John, put it best in a recent email to me when he explained, “This album is every song you’ve ever loved retold with a new voice.”  That voice is Christopher Owens and he has proven after each new Girls’ release that his songwriting capabilities are beyond top notch.  The production of Father, Son, Holy Ghost is immaculate as well.  I feel like this is a record that is solid all the way through, and many of the songs reveal new highlights with each listen.  This is also one of the saddest records I’ve heard this year, even though the subject matter of most of Owens’ songs are heartrending, there are hints of hope and a strong desire to find happiness and love in this crazy and fucked up world.  If you didn’t listen to Father, Son, Holy Ghost yet, please do yourself a favor and give it a spin.  You won’t be disappointed at all with this record.

#10 - Girls - Broken Dreams Club
Released: 11/22/10 on True Panther Sounds

I realize Broken Dreams Club isn’t a full album, but this EP is certainly impressive enough to make it onto my top 10 list.  Last year, the San Franciscan duo of Christopher Owens and JR White released Album, which was a reckless, unrestrained and timeless pop record that made me crave the summertime months with each listen.  Broken Dreams Club has those same elements, but this time around, Girls raised the bar with a more massive, lusher sound that further cements the fact that these guys mean business and will be around for a very long time. 

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I have been listening to Broken Dreams Club a lot for the last few weeks.  I feel like Girls have reached a completely new level with these songs.  I’m even considering adding this to my end of the year list of top albums, even though it is an EP.  It is that good, seriously.