Nancy Boy (album)
{{Infobox album
| name = Nancy Boy
| type = studio
| artist = Nancy Boy
| cover = Nancy Boy (album).jpg
| alt =
| released = 1996
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Pop
| length =
| label = Sire{{cite news |last1=Conner |first1=Thomas |author-link1=:de:Thomas Conner |title=Nancy Boy – Nancy Boy |work=Tulsa World |date=May 3, 1996 |department=Entertainment |page=12}}
| producer = Shel Talmy
| prev_title = Promosexual
| prev_year = 1995
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
Nancy Boy is the second album by the American band Nancy Boy, released in 1996.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/nancy-boy-mn0000308599/biography|title=Nancy Boy Biography, Songs, & Albums|website=AllMusic}}{{cite magazine |last1=Walters |first1=Barry |title=Reviews |magazine=The Advocate |date=Apr 30, 1996 |issue=706 |pages=54–55}} The original title was Automaker.{{cite news |last1=Takiff |first1=Jonathan |title=New Hootie Album Coming on April 23 |work=Lexington Herald-Leader |agency=Knight Ridder |date=April 5, 1996 |department=Weekender |page=15}} It was a commercial failure.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3rK7CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA392|title=New York Rock: From the Rise of The Velvet Underground to the Fall of CBGB|first=Steven|last=Blush|date=October 4, 2016|publisher=St. Martin's Publishing Group|isbn=978-1-250-08362-3 }}
A video was produced for "Johnny Chrome & Silver", which was also a radio hit in several countries.{{cite magazine |last1=Dolgoff |first1=Stephanie |title=Confessions of a video chick |magazine=Seventeen |date=Apr 1995 |volume=54 |issue=4 |page=128}}{{cite news |last1=Brophy |first1=Steven M. |title=You've Never Heard of Nancy Boy? How About Leitch and Nesmith? |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=24 Jan 1997 |page=E14}} "Deep Sleep Motel" was released as a single; Roman Coppola directed the video. The band supported the album with a North American tour.{{Cite news|url=http://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/288024/nancy-boy/|title=Nancy Boy|first=Tina|last=Plottel|date=May 10, 1996|work=Washington City Paper}}
Production
The album was produced by Shel Talmy; the band wanted to create an album that did not resemble grunge music.{{cite magazine |last1=Sprague |first1=David |title=Nancy Boy is very model of glam pop |magazine=Billboard |date=Mar 16, 1996 |volume=108 |issue=11 |page=21}}{{cite news |title=Nancy Boy Debut: British-Rock Fancy |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1996/05/10/nancy-boy-debut-british-rock-fancy/2560cf01-e636-4947-add3-5dfccc29164b/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=7 July 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Snyder |first1=Julene |title=Sons Up |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=June 16, 1996 |department=Sunday Datebook |page=42}} "W.R.I.P." is an homage to the radio station WRIF. Guitar player Jason Nesmith sings lead on "Colors".{{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=Jane |title=Legacies Win Over Crowd at Grog Shop |work=The Plain Dealer |date=May 14, 1996 |page=5B}}
Critical reception
{{album ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/nancy-boy-mw0000182282|title=Nancy Boy|website=AllMusic}}
|rev2 = The Evening Post
|rev2score = {{rating|2|4}}{{cite news |last1=Cotmore |first1=Greg |title=Nancy Boy: Nancy Boy |work=The Evening Post |date=25 July 1996 |department=Features |page=22}}
|rev3 = The Guardian
|rev3score = {{rating|1|5}}{{cite news |last1=Sullivan |first1=Caroline |title=Music: This week's pop cd releases |work=The Guardian |date=10 May 1996 |page=T18}}
|rev4 = MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide
|rev4score = {{rating|.5|5}}{{cite book |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |date=1999 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |page=799}}
|rev5 = Waikato Times
|rev5score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite news |last1=Herrick |first1=Stefan |title=Nancy Boy Nancy Boy |work=Waikato Times |date=9 July 1996 |department=Features |page=13}}
}}
The Guardian wrote that "the music, swollen with synthesisers and tinny guitar, renders the lyrics even more spoiled-brattish than they already are." The Indianapolis Star praised the "vivacious hooks and pop melodies modeled after '70s glam-rockers David Bowie, T-Rex and the Sweet."{{cite news |last1=Allan |first1=Marc D. |title=Nancy Boy draws on varied pop heritage |work=The Indianapolis Star |date=11 May 1996 |page=C3}} The Waikato Times concluded that the band has "got impeccable breeding, a great concept, but not enough new ideas to really do the damage."
The Record determined that the band "takes its cue from Blur's retro-friendly smash of a couple years ago, Parklife, with lots of Bowie-isms and stylistic flourishes."{{cite news |last1=Weiler |first1=Derek |title=Nancy Boy Nancy Boy |work=The Record |date=13 June 1996 |page=D4}} The Los Angeles Times admired Nesmith, and wrote that the album is "an affectionate homage, delivered with heart and spirit, and enough sense of perspective to avoid both pretension and camp."{{cite news |last1=Hochman |first1=Steve |title=Nancy Boy Tips Its Hat to Bowie's Glitter Days |work=Los Angeles Times |date=27 June 1996 |page=F4}} City Pages stated that Nancy Boy "bridges and celebrates those times when men wanted to look like women, and everyone seemed to want to be robots (hence synthpop, breakdancing, and bad man-made fabrics)."{{cite news |last1=Hermes |first1=Will |title=Record Roundup |work=City Pages |date=May 15, 1996 |department=CD Review}}
AllMusic wrote that "Nancy Boy melds a glamorous, witty image to some fun, concise pop songs."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| title1 = Deep Sleep Motel
| length1 =
| title2 = Can You Dig It?
| length2 =
| title3 = Johnny Chrome & Silver
| length3 =
| title4 = Sometimes
| length4 =
| title5 = Colors
| length5 =
| title6 = Foxtrot
| length6 =
| title7 = Rocking Chair
| length7 =
| title8 = Dearest Girl
| length8 =
| title9 = I Don't Mind
| length9 =
| title10 = Mother's Ruin
| length10 =
| title11 = W.R.I.P.
| length11 =
| title12 = Ultrasex
| length12 =
| title13 = You Deserve a Place
| length13 =
}}