Band? Solo Venture? Melodic Jigsaw Puzzle? Is Girls Say Yes an actual band? Sort of. Is it a free-floating, high caliber artistic collective? Sure. Is it the bold brainchild of drummer/songwriter/singer/engineer Jim Huie... more »? Definitely.It's closest relative would be Anton Fier?s Golden Palominos?a revolving door of superlative guest artists each applying a special coat of colorful paint to an impressive musical structure being built from the ground up. Speaking of guest stars, Huie?s band of gunslingers include the likes of Mitch Easter (Let?s Active, REM producer), Russ Tolman and Richard McGrath (True West), Bobby Sutliff (The Windbreakers), Steve Almaas (Comsat Angels, Beat Rodeo), Adam Marsland (Cockeyed Ghost), Jeff Hatcher (Blue Shadows) and Ben Drucker (Swirlees).As for the man himself, Jim Huie has made his bones with Russ Tolman?s band, touring Europe as well as playing on Tolman?s albums City Lights and New Quadraphonic Highway. Huie has also drummed with The Windbreakers. The album itself is a testament to Huie?s perseverance and exacting artistic nature. Recorded over the span of several years at many different studios (four in Portland, Oregon alone, not to mention New York, San Francisco, Vancouver B.C. and Kernersville, South Carolina) the album was mastered in Portland by Tony Lash (Eric Matthews, Elliott Smith, Sunset Valley) and was largely mixed by American Music Club veteran Tom Mallon with some assistance from Mitch Easter in North Carolina. Enough résumé material! What about the darned music? Have no fear, intrepid seeker of hooks, melodies and insanely catchy choruses; it?s all here. Turning back a few pages to the glory days of what was once known as "college" radio, Huie effortlessly fuses graceful guitar jangles, supple organ tickles, sassy female harmonies and dead-on love/loss lyrics into a rock solid whole that belies the fragmented nature of the overall project.« less
Band? Solo Venture? Melodic Jigsaw Puzzle? Is Girls Say Yes an actual band? Sort of. Is it a free-floating, high caliber artistic collective? Sure. Is it the bold brainchild of drummer/songwriter/singer/engineer Jim Huie? Definitely.It's closest relative would be Anton Fier?s Golden Palominos?a revolving door of superlative guest artists each applying a special coat of colorful paint to an impressive musical structure being built from the ground up. Speaking of guest stars, Huie?s band of gunslingers include the likes of Mitch Easter (Let?s Active, REM producer), Russ Tolman and Richard McGrath (True West), Bobby Sutliff (The Windbreakers), Steve Almaas (Comsat Angels, Beat Rodeo), Adam Marsland (Cockeyed Ghost), Jeff Hatcher (Blue Shadows) and Ben Drucker (Swirlees).As for the man himself, Jim Huie has made his bones with Russ Tolman?s band, touring Europe as well as playing on Tolman?s albums City Lights and New Quadraphonic Highway. Huie has also drummed with The Windbreakers. The album itself is a testament to Huie?s perseverance and exacting artistic nature. Recorded over the span of several years at many different studios (four in Portland, Oregon alone, not to mention New York, San Francisco, Vancouver B.C. and Kernersville, South Carolina) the album was mastered in Portland by Tony Lash (Eric Matthews, Elliott Smith, Sunset Valley) and was largely mixed by American Music Club veteran Tom Mallon with some assistance from Mitch Easter in North Carolina. Enough résumé material! What about the darned music? Have no fear, intrepid seeker of hooks, melodies and insanely catchy choruses; it?s all here. Turning back a few pages to the glory days of what was once known as "college" radio, Huie effortlessly fuses graceful guitar jangles, supple organ tickles, sassy female harmonies and dead-on love/loss lyrics into a rock solid whole that belies the fragmented nature of the overall project.
CD Reviews
Impressive indie pop with its own voice
06/14/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"The main artist, Jim Huie is usually associated with various projects which have fallen in the categories of garage or even "paisley pop." However with this release he flexes his own vision and "voice" with some intriguing and ironic songs. There's a lot of "production" going on here, but it's of the do it yourself type, not formulaic "what everybody else is doing" kind of production. So this should age well. Cool contributions from some hip special guests. hooray for indie artists like this."
An Outstanding Solo Debut from a Paisley Pop Veteran
John L. Micek | Harrisburg, PA USA | 05/24/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With a backing cast that includes such indie godfathers as Steve Almaas, Bobby Sutliff and Mitch Easter, singer-songwriter Jim Huie has put together a strong collection of that evokes the memory and spirit of 1980s college radio while still managing to sound refreshingly modern. "To Boys Who Say No," contain songs that fit the true meaning of the word: well-sculpted gems that grab you on the first listen and keep you coming back."
Yes, it's fantastic
John L. Micek | 04/25/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I found this CD by accident, here on Amazon.com, and it was quite a surprise."To boys who say no" is a fantastic album. I rarely find a CD where I like every song, but this one's done it! I've gotten lost in the soulfoul heartfelt songs with their melodic rhthyms--especially "Beckon and Love is Not Linear." "She Married a Loser" still has me laughing as I contemplate my own past.Anyone who likes old REM (or even the Beatles) should try this!"
It's All About Musical Chemistry
John L. Micek | 05/08/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If early REM had gotten together with The Ronnettes to record The Who's "Sell Out"...a pastiche of 60's and 70's AM radio filtered thru 80's college radio...featuring a bevy of indie-pop heroes from the Paisley Underground and Southern Pop scenes including Steve Almaas (Beat Rodeo),Bobby Sutliff (The Windbreakers), Mitch Easter (Let's Active), Adam Marsland (Cockeyed Ghost), Jeff Hatcher (Blue Shadows), Russ Tolman and Richard McGrath (True West). As Shona Winfrey said in her review in fufkin.com, it's "on the plane to first-rate, top-notch indie heaven.""
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1