Girlyman is not the most elegant of band names but it does accurately describe the gender bending inclinations of its three core members .
On the cover photo Ty Greenstein dresses like a true Tomboy, Nate Borofsky cuts a dash in mannish flat cap, bow tie and braces but he wears full make up. Doris Muramatsu, the daughter of Japanese immigrants, looks the straightest of the three but it is an open secret that she too is gay. Nate explains that they picked the band name because "we don't quite fit-in gender-wise".
They began playing together in 2001 in Brooklyn NYC although they are now based in Atlanta, Georgia. This is their fourth studio album , and the first they have produced themselves.
Through steady touring they have gained a solid fan-base stateside. Unsurprisingly, this includes a strong queer following even though their music gives few, if any, hints of their sexual or, for that matter, political orientation.
Their songs would not offend rednecks and even staunch Catholics might embrace the sentiments of the title track which includes the line "he hit a home run and Jesus won". When the 9/11 terrorist attack coincided with the band's first rehearsal their response was : "We decided to just have fun and not take ourselves too seriously".
Being strongly influenced by mainstream acts like Simon & Garfunkel and The Mamas and the Papas they do not set out to be in any way radical or confrontational. The pure melodies of their safe and uncomplicated folk-pop songs are tailor made for a Radio 2 audience. It also comes as no suprise to learn that that Amy Ray of The Indigo Girls has put out two previous Girlyman CDs as these two acts have a lot in common.
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Without question, the most striking aspect of the Girlyman sound is the perfection of the vocal harmonies. The alto, tenor and soprano voices match so perfectly that even though the role of lead singer changes constantly this only serves to emphasise the synchronicity.
The songs themselves touch upon heartbreak and confusion but the overriding mood is that of hope and optimism. The symmetry of their voices carries through to their philosophy of life where "romance is our best chance" (Trees Still Bend). Harsher realities are not entirely absent but do not disturb the dreams of domestic bliss. On Easy Bake Ovens, the news of Nixon's resignation in 1974 establishes an uneasy backdrop to suburban contentment but does not spoil the fond memories. Hudson presents a bleak view of New York as a symbol of "our burdened land", but the strong melody negates any hint of pessimism.
The flipside of all this sweetness and light is that it is a little too relentlessly good natured and overly sentimental . A cutesy show tune like My Eyes Get Misty , for example, is definitely more of an irritant than a joy.
Nevertheless, only the most cynical of hearts would fail to find some pleasures on this warm and refreshingly unpretentious record.
Girlyman website
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