Boys Like Girls
Boys Like Girls
Red Ink / Columbia
By Eavvon O'Neal
Boys like girls, for the most part. Once the awkwardness has faded and the fear of cootie pandemics has dissipated, the two sexes can co-exist. Boys and girls seem to enjoy Boys Like Girls, whose self- titled release has sold 40,072 albums since it was released. The question is, why? Boys Like Girls has no overarching musical dictum, nor any extremely cerebral lyricism. Many would claim that they are just another emo band that will get lost in the multitudes of dime-a-dozen pop-punk bands. I disagree.
Boys Like Girls is no stellar formation. After having an epiphany for making a record, Martin Johnson recruited Bryan Donahue, John Keefe and Paul Di Giovanni to produce the demo “The Great Escape”, a track included on this album. “The Great Escape” harps on ignoring the impending future that shall separate the young lovers. Novel idea? Not quite. The album continues in this fashion, with an attenuated increase in intensity. Once it hits the chewy center, Boys Like Girls explodes with all the fervor of a senior on prom night. “Up Against the Wall”, “Dance Hall Drug” & “ Heels Over Head” all rev the album up in its final moments. Each track conveys the apprehensions of adolescences that we all pretend to disassociate ourselves from, but smears it over a gruff, snare intense backdrop.
That's what qualifies these boys who like girls who like Boys Like Girls. They have concocted a mixture of musical credibility and danceable rhythms, which has a thick meringue layer of simple fun. There is no contemplative subtext, or deep social commentary, nor complicated musical arrangement. Timbaland doesn't make any guest production appearances, and Boys Like Girls aren't David Bowie's favorite band, not yet at least. They do have all the key elements of pop success, and they are cute. Which, I suppose, will help in the whole liking girls department (or at least with the “like” being reciprocated).
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