Send "Girls Names " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Pitchfork |
 "Lawrence", the first track on this record by Girls Names, starts with a woozy, tape-warped guitar strum and a spate of whirring white noise. Given that the album is called Dead to Me, you'd be forgiven for thinking that you were entering into a bleak record of dissonant, droney punk dirges. But after a few seconds, the noise dissipates to make way for a slippery riff that leads into an effortlessly catchy, sun-kissed pop tune.This musical approach-- sprightly, dewy-eyed, well-played surf-rock-- nods in the direction of escapism, being as though Girls Names hail from the relatively cooler and boardwalk-deprived city of Belfast. The guitar lines are bright, the drumming is usually up-tempo, and frontman Cathal Cully has a particularly romantic croon, deep and robust and subtly emotive. Though the gray of the Belfast sky peek through with the band's ghostly use of reverb, sentimental lyrics like "shut up and kiss me" ring the loudest. Their sound is vaguely reminiscent of labelmates Crystal Stilts, minus the psychedelic overtones and the Factory Records gloom that make that band so interesting. Songs like "I Could Die" and "Bury Me", in spite of their macabre goth titles, are two of the most upbeat songs on the album; in fact, you could rename them "I Love My Beach Ball" and "Every Day is a Party" and nobody would be the wiser. With further listens, the feeling of heartbreak in the lyrics starts to set in. The aforementioned song titles and ones like "Cut Up" and "Séance on a Wet Afternoon" provide a hidden thread to the album, one more haunted than you would originally expect. The occasional specter appears during the song's lyrics, but the images sit side-by-side with scenes from the past and relationships in utter disrepair. With many of Cully's lyrics being tinted with regret, it becomes clear that the ghosts that float throughout Dead to Me represent old lovers cast in the breeze, that the album is actually a break-up record disguised as a concept album about ghosts disguised as the go-to album for indie-loving surfers. Which makes the record a lot more intriguing than it initially lets on....full text |
| Nme |
| Ever since The Smiths brought a swagger to the business of morbidity, many, many bands have tried to replicate the perverse pop that Morrissey, Marr and co mastered. Belfast trio Girls Names have a go here, and fare far better than most. Forget their poor punctuation: this debut LP is awash with bittersweet romance and deadpan derision, the latter neatly encapsulated by the title. ‘Lawrence’ and ‘Séance On A Wet Afternoon’ deliver a woozy take on ’60s garage rock similar to that of Crystal Stilts, but with an oddly gothic surf twist, while Cathal Cully’s vocal on ‘Nothing More To Say’ just oozes sardonic charm. As Mozzer once put it: viva hate....full text |
| Bowlegsmusic |
| Belfast trio Girls Names only formed in 2009, yet have already shared bills with the likes of Times New Viking and the Dum Dum Girls. They have also released various EPs and singles on Captured Tracks, Tough Love and Slumberland. So while band members Cathal Cully, Neil Brogan and Claire Miskimmin are still new school, they have managed to bustle their way into the right crowds – and listening to ‘Dead to Me’, you can hear why. It has all the right trademarks for initiation – the jangly, rough and ready guitars, loose and live recordings and some smooth melodies atop a bumpy set of songs. Another secret weapon here is front-man Cathal Cully and his deep, brooding, ethereal intonation – it seems unperturbed by the spiky six strings and nervous beats – crooning, and occasionally moaning. And when he hits upon a good hook, or tune, the realisation of the band’s talent comes to the fore. The two opening tracks will vouch for that. ‘Lawrence’ rambles with fidgety electric guitars and drawn out words, yet the singular chorus line wraps it up and we start over. Even better is the 60s garage pop banging around ‘I Could Die’. Admittedly the simple and fairly raw set-up the band possesses occasionally struggles to create any variety – areas of the album start to meander aimlessly among the excitable music....full text |
Girls Names lyrics
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