Usually when a band is relentlessly described as “lo-fi,” I run. But
when I say Girls are lo-fi sweetie pies, learn from my mistakes and
stick around. Up there with Women as one of the most un-Googleable
bands, Girls is well worth the search. The contrast stands out most: a
group of feminine men making music about women, singing sad songs for a
summer long gone. On “Hellhole Ratrace,” Christopher Owens sings with
the love-struck carelessness of a drunken Elvis Costello over bleeding
guitars and weeping drums. Your heart will feel dry.
This article appears in Oct 22-28, 2009.