A lucky escape from the Children of God religious cult at the age of 16 means that Girls’ singer Chris Owens is more au fait with the extreme side of fervent devotion that most. Now, 16 years later, Owens is still working through his experiences in the cult, but has managed to channel his eccentric background into music that is at once heartbreakingly hopeful and naive, yet honest and unflinching about his addictions and irregular childhood at the same time.

Released in September, Girls’ second album, Father, Son, Holy Ghost, is deceptively sweet and gentle, with sweet gospel choruses and Owens’ placid vocals over shoegazy guitars and delicate melodies. Despite lyrics ranging exploring the difficulties of a co-dependent, abusive relationship (early single ‘Vomit’), Owens’ still-healing relationship with his mother, and his struggle with drug addiction (‘Just A Song’), Father, Son, Holy Ghost still manages to come out sounding hopefully optimistic.

And besides, who could resist a scrawny hustler in a black velvet midriff top and a bob cut? Check out the video for ‘Honey Bunny’, with the endearingly self-aware lyrics, ‘…They don’t like my bony body, they don’t like my dirty hair, or the stuff that I say, or the stuff that I’m on‘:

Girls play @ Mascotte, ZH, Tuesday 22.11.11. Tickets here.

Father, Son, Holy Ghost is out now on True Panther Sounds.

Get a free download of ‘Vomit’ here.

Related articles

• Girls Announce New Single “Lawrence” (pitchfork.com)
• In My Room: Tour Christopher Owens of Girls’ San Fran Pad (spin.com)
• Listen: Girls: “Lawrence” (pitchfork.com)
• New Girls song about girls (chicagoreader.com)
• Girls’ Chris Owens Does Unreleased Stuff, Acoustically (stereogum.com)