Consider for a moment, if you will, the fact that what Girls Against Boys do on "Freak*On*Ica" (pronounced "Freakonica", possibly) is neither particularly innovative, nor does it tread new ground. Not if you've heard snippets of Kraftwerk, The Fall, the late, great Brainiac, Nine Inch Nails, Killing Joke or even early Human League, before they decided to be pop stars. Be aware of the fact that Girls Against Boys pick frequently from a lucky dip of references and you can't fail to fall in love with this record.
What gives it a stamp of originality - and therefore separates it from its bloodline - is McCloud's infamous breathless, gutsy way with words; a voice which cracks open a bottle of amyl and doubles the GVSB sensation.
"Park Avenue" kicks it off with an urban "disco-tortion" bowel-shaking beat and from then on in things are relentless - each song lubricating the listener for 40 minutes of spine-tingling rock'n'roll. "Black Hole" falls into the abyss between dark disco, alterno-rock and nu-wave punk rock and "Speedway" burns brighter than both "Superfire" and "Kill The Sexplayer" (their two previous finest moments to date) managing to combine the raw-spirited energy of Iggy's Stooges with a dark rock rumble perfect for the angst-loving Lollapalooza generation.
Another exemplary example of grinding, libidinous, all-in sex rock then. Buy this record.
Ben Myers
Four out of five stars.