GEEK THE GIRL: AN ALBUM BY LISA GERMANO

Geek The Girl by Lisa Germano

Lisa Germano's 1994 masterpiece Geek The Girl  is a concept album about a girl going through puberty.  Unlike the bookAre You There God? It's Me, Margaret, this is a work that can be enjoyed equally by both men and women.  There is such imagination and artistry here, it's amazing that an album about such a touchy subject is so listenable.   The lyrics are wonderful, but this is definitely an album which could survive on its sonics, which are varied yet accessible and mostly created by Germano herself, who plays the majority of the instruments and acts as a coproducer.  

The best example of the artist utilizing outside help is on Geek The Girl's centerpiece, the brilliant "...A Psychopath." Underneath Germano's captivating lyrics and quiet arrangement is an actual 911 call from a horrified woman who is being taunted by the presence of an intruder in her home.  You can make out some of the conversation between the woman and the dispacther—which is terrifying enough—but the most eerie element of the song is hearing her scream "why?" repeadetly, moments before the phone disconnects, leaving us with the telling, sustaining sound of a dial tone.  Absolutely chilling.  Don't be surprised if you play this song twice in a row.  

Though Germano was in her mid 30s when she recorded Geek The Girl, she is able to play the part of a preteen girl with the amazing confidence and accuracy of a trained actor.  None of the album's 12 songs mention puberty directly, but the emotions which are commonly associated with the human body's transition period are always present.  There is anger, confusion and self-hatred.  But, from time to time, there are moments of heartbreaking tenderness.  The result is a beautiful and consistent album and the universal critical acclaim it received immediately after its release is totally justified.  

I suggest you find a quiet moment to enjoy this one.

SINGLES GOING STEADY: "NIGHTCLUB JITTERS" BY THE REPLACEMENTS

The Replacements (on probably the only non-snowy day in Minnesota)

"Nightclub Jitters" is a song like no other in The Replacements normally loud-ish catalogue.  It's an underrated cut and  one of the most effective tracks bandleader Paul Westerberg ever wrote.  With its saxophones, high-hat sparklings and inclusion of hilariously inoffensive audience applause, some call it a satire on lounge music.  In the context of the groups overall sound, I suppose that interpretation has some merit.  Me? I'd like to think of it as confessional songwriting.  

Though the lyrics tell a story which lacks details and is, for the most part, ambiguous, I personally believe "Nightclub Jitters" shows a very self-conscious side to Paul Westerberg.  The song doesn't convey the life of a homebody, but it doesn't make you believe he wants to go out that much either.  As he notices the "nightlife critters," you can't help but sense that he feels alienated from the people he's watching.  He doesn't feel contempt for the "critters."  It's just that he doesn't feel a connection to any of them—"It don't matter much, if we keep in touch".   When Westerberg poses questions such as, "What's the cover?  Where should we park?" he sounds so nervous that it's as if this his whole night is about passing checkpoints with ease.  In other words, going through the motions of the routine matters more than enjoying the time he spends.  

Another possibility is that I am totally wrong....and wouldn't that be a bitch?

"Nightclub Jitters" by The Replacements

SINGLES GOING STEADY: "SHE'S PLAYING HARD TO GET" BY HI-FIVE

When it comes to new-ish R&B, I tend to respond favorably to the most dated stuff of the early 90s.  Music critics would classify this sub genre of R&B as "New Jack Swing." With its hip hop drum samples and cheap synthesizers, the majority of this music doesn't really hold up by today's standards.   Why it holds up for me, I'm not exactly sure.  I think it might have something to do with me being very young at the time of its popularity.  If that means I miss being a little kid, I don't think I'm alone.

Hi-Five was a reasonably successful R&B quintet from Waco, Texas.  Signed to Jive Records, the same record label The Backstreet Boys would become famous on several years later, the group had a few hit songs and were featured on the soundtrack to the movie Boyz N The Hood.  The standout member was a talented singer named Tony Thompson, who joined the band when he was 15.  The band broke up in 1994 but apparently still plays from time to time today. Unfortunately, Tony Thompson passed away in 2007.

I don't think I heard this song when I was a kid—or at least I'm not pretentious enough to claim I remember a song that wasn't a huge, worldwide smash when I was three years old.  Come on, who would believe that?  That said, since I don't have any warm, fuzzy memories associated with this song specifically, I think it speaks to how good it actually is.  In other words, my opinion is influenced only by the words and music.   Here's how I describe it: catchy.  

"She's Playing Hard To Get" by Hi-Five

There is something about those synthesizers that soothes me like a lullabye.  If you've already read my article on smooth jazz , you will recall that I like to sleep to this kind of thing.  I won't deny that they sound awful though.  Sounds sort of like the synthesizers they used for music on the show Barney—and I never was a fan of that particular dinosaur.  He would have ruined the movie Jurassic Park if he had made a cameo.   Let's be thankful that Spielberg had the good sense to not include Barney in that movie—or in any of his movies, for that matter.   I haven't seen Lincoln, but I guess we'll have to take a chance and assume Barney the Dinosaur doesn't play Robert E. Lee!