I’m experimenting with a change of scenery today as you have had the same view for over 200 reviews – I think it’s time for a change.
Formed in ’79, in primetime NWOBHM, Girl stood out like a sore thumb with their glam and lipstick, compared to everyone else who were all leather and bullet belts. I caught them supporting UFO and they were fantastic, unfortunately, all the metal lovers hated them and they only lasted for 2 great albums (and 1 not so). Fronted by Phil Lewis (who would later go one to front LA Guns) and also Phil Collen on guitar (who would join Def Leppard after Pete Willis was kicked out of the band). Anyway, this is a full on glam rock spectacular that rocks hard in all the right places.
Opening track, Hollywood Tease, is a cracking opener and riffs really hard. It is one of two tracks to reference the good old U-S-of-A, where Phil would spend the rest of his life. The Things You Say is a glam rock power pop tour de force. Lovely Lorraine is something the New York Dolls would be proud of. Strawberries is a total sleaze fest of a track – with Lewis doing his best Marc Bolan impression. Little Miss Ann carries on the sleaze, and Doctor Doctor is a killer ending to Side 1 (it has nothing to do with the UFO track of the same name).
Side 2 starts with a cover of Do You Love Me by Kiss, and it’s a straight up cover with a sleazier edge. Take Me Dancing has an awesome opening riff and is one of the stand out tracks on the album. The punked and rocked up What’s Up follows – this track speeds along and is my personal favourite on the album. Perhaps the strangest track on the album is the reggae tinged Passing Clouds. I love this track, but this is what the metal heads hated about them (other than the image). My Number was the single that was put out before the album. It got me to go out and by the album as it is all attitude and sleaze. Heartbreak America closes out the album, and like Def Leppard with Hello America, they were not hiding their influences and where their sights were set. A great production from the late Chris Tsangarides makes this a really food album.
8/10 from The Grooveman.
