Girls Against Boys - Tropic Of Scorpio

Label: Adult Swim
Year: 1992

The first full length Girls Against Boys record, which featured alumnus from a plethora (would you say I have a plethora of pinatas?) of Washington D.C. bands: Lunch Meat, Soul Side, Rain, Edsel and future members of: Bellini, New Wet Kojack, Operator, Paramount Styles, etc. (Brendan Canty of Fugazi, Rites Of Spring, Deadline, Felt Letters, Garland Of Hours, Happy Go Licky, One Last Wish, All Scars, Black Light Panthers, Lois, Brief Weeds [....is that enough?] played on the very first ep). Not to mention all the guest appearances that show up on this and their other records.
There's a good chance you know Girls Against Boys already, as they were sorta "hot shit" for awhile, and a well deserved "hot shit" I must say. But for those who were into their later danceable mix of post-punk/krautrock/sleaze rock that would define their most popular sound, this record might come as a bit of a surprise. It bears more of a likeness to the D.C. sounds that were all around at that time, and the vocals even revert back to gruff punk stylings as opposed to the swaggering monotone of later releases. The throbbing dancey elements are there, just nowhere near as upfront as they would become. You can easily tell it's the same band, but this is a rougher, less refined version of the band, and in some ways, more fun.
Is it cool or not cool to like Girls Against Boys?

DL