The MG Album Club- #47: Father, Son, Holy Ghost

[Zeeba Neighba]

Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost (2011)

A bit late finally getting my album out there I know

My two favorite albums of the year are Beirut's The Rip Tide (which Axo chose when 2011 came up before) and The Black Keys El Camino (which I love but there's definitely divided opinion about it), so when with an album that impressed me in 2011 and made my top 10 of the year (when I was doing that) and then drifted out of my consciousness. It's a fun album that draws from a ton of influences especially 70s power pop (Rasberries, Big Star, etc.), the Beach Boys, but even a little prog. Many critics loved it back then, but those that didn't felt they were trying to fit too much in there lacking cohesiveness. You decide. I really enjoy it (though admit it' seems a bit lengthy at 52 minutes). Wonderfully layered guitars, organ, Mellotron and some catchy pop melodies makes for an indie album I can get into.

 

[Nickyboy]

Never heard of it, but the description sounds intriguing. Looking forward to hearing this.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Here ya go:

I'm playing it now.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

Sigh. Power pop just doesn't pop for me. I'm sorry.

As that genre goes, I think this is pretty decent. For the most part, it was bright and happy melodies and instrumentation. The one slow song was really slow. Probably not their best skill. But the rest seemed to represent itself pretty well.

Even if I don't care for an album the first time I generally listen to it again to pick up nuances. I'm so busy at work and real life right now, I just didn't have the patience to take a clinical second listen to this one. No fault of the album. Life is in the way.

If it's any consolation I love Beirut. My daughter does too and so we had planned a visit based on when Beirut was going to play in her city. Sadly, it fell through. It's on our agenda for his next tour.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Yeah, I didn't care for this. The negative impression started when the first track was twee and edgy at the same time. I can recognize the musicianship, but I can tell the instincts of the song/music writer(s) of this album are misaligned with my own personal taste.

It's also kind of dated. Indie doesn't really sound like this anymore.

 

[Nickyboy]

These guys (despite being 'Girls') are all over the place. I would swear that this isn't an album by one band, but a compilation of two or more bands. It goes back and forth from quiet music with "indie", breathy vocals to "let's RAWK on this one" tracks. The track "Dies" is the same band as the rest of the album? Really? And "Magic" is clearly a demo from XTC. These guys are schizophrenic musically. Not that that is a bad thing. An album doesn't have to sound homogeneous over the course of the album. But these guys are pushing that. And the lead singer's vocals, with their breathy, squeaky at times vocals, are a put on. Sorry.
It's not that this album is actually bad. It's just not...good. I would play it as background music at a party, but am sure that half-way through someone would ask "and what band is this now?"
Same one, Binky. Same one.
Again, it's not bad. It's just......there.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Ah well, swing a miss by me...I'm afraid. Sorry guys. Wish I had serve up a more enjoyable album for all of ya (I still like it but can understand why it might not appeal to some) . But hey! We all get to try different stuff with this wonderful series

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Ah well, swing a miss by me...I'm afraid. Sorry guys. Wish I had serve up a more enjoyable album for all of ya (I still like it but can understand why it might not appeal to some) . But hey! We all get to try different stuff with this wonderful series

Don't feel bad. Your job is to share something you like. Job accomplished.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

Don't feel bad. Your job is to share something you like. Job accomplished.

Exactly what I was going to say. The goal isn’t to entertain us. It’s just to widen our experience. Mission accomplished. Thank you for sharing!

 

[axolotl]

Why did ya all hafta go and break teh interwebs?

Now I need to listen to this, post-haste.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Ah well, swing a miss by me...I'm afraid. Sorry guys. Wish I had serve up a more enjoyable album for all of ya (I still like it but can understand why it might not appeal to some) . But hey! We all get to try different stuff with this wonderful series

Au contraire, mon frere. I like this one a lot. There's so much going on here stylistically that it took me a couple of spins to start sorting it out. Unfortunately, the rather bland mixes hide the rich instrumental textures. Maybe that's part of the Power Pop ethos, but it doesn't serve this material very well.

I would never have stumbled across this one otherwise. Keep 'em comin', Zeeb!

on the Sam-O-Meter.