Now that you think you’re happy enough… time to explore sex and realize that it’s a horrible surprise how people take advantage of you and how you let them.
Released in October 1994 by 4AD, Geek the Girl is widely considered Lisa Germano’s creative breakthrough and emotional masterpiece. A concept album of sorts, it captures a character—”the geek”—navigating the landscape of trauma, desire, vulnerability, and identity. It’s an unsettling yet beautiful descent into the interior of the female experience, delivered with haunting intimacy and uncompromising honesty.
Germano’s use of fractured melodies, off-kilter arrangements, and whispery vocals creates a soundscape that feels like a private confession—one that listeners are almost intruding upon.
“I was between labels, and I started writing without even thinking of making a record. When you don’t think anyone will hear your stuff, you really get down to some deeper stuff.”
Lisa Germano
Q Magazine (January 1995)
“…A Psychopath” is one of the album’s often-mentioned tracks, as it features a real 911 phone call of a woman named Karen desperately trying to call for help while being attacked. Germano, who has been a victim of stalking herself, debated whether to include the call on the album. The effect is chilling.
Overall, the album is not an easy listen, but it demonstrates Germano’s ability to tap into spaces that contemporaries would have difficulty navigating so honestly.
Released: 1994
Label: 4AD
Catalogue No: 9 45758-2
Format: CD, Cassette
Country: USA
Availability: Moderate
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | My Secret Reason | 4:31 |
| 2 | Trouble | 2:20 |
| 3 | Geek the Girl | 3:40 |
| 4 | Just Geek | 2:43 |
| 5 | Cry Wolf | 4:59 |
| 6 | …A Psychopath | 4:36 |
| 7 | Sexy Little Girl Princess | 3:38 |
| 8 | Phantom Love | 3:21 |
| 9 | Cancer of Everything | 4:00 |
| 10 | A Guy Like You | 3:18 |
| 11 | …Of Love and Colors | 3:54 |
| 12 | Stars | 2:34 |
Packaging & Design
Additional Versions
Geek the Girl (Album Promo)
Released: 1994
Label: 4AD
Catalogue No: PRO-CD-7186-A
Format: CD
Country: US
Availability: Rare
Prior to its official release, advance copies of Geek the Girl were sent out to journalists for press coverage. Some of these earlier promotional releases featured a cover that contained Lisa’s handwritten note on the album’s theme with the street date listed.
The tracklisting for this version is identical to the commercial release. The disc and back cover were in 4AD’s standard template for promotional releases at the time.
Other promotional copies of the album used the official artwork, but featured a gold-foiled stamped onto the cover to indicate that these copies weren’t for commercial sale.
Geek the Girl: 30th Anniversary Special Edition
In April 2025, 4AD Records released a special anniversary double-LP edition of Geek the Girl exclusively for Record Store Day.
Limited to 1,000 copies, this version was entirely remastered and featured new packaging and artwork.
Personnel
“Geek the Girl”
Drums: Kenny Aronoff
“Just Geek”
Drums and guitar: Malcolm Burn
“Sexy Little Girl Princess”
Drums, dulcimer, piano: Malcolm Burn
“Cancer of Everything”
Drums: Kenny Aronoff
Guitar: Malcolm Burn
“Stars”
Drums: Kenny Aronoff
Everything else not listed by Lisa Germano
All songs written by Lisa Germano except “Just Geek” and “Sexy Little Girl Princess” which was written by Lisa Germano and Malcolm Burn and “Cry Wolf” which was written by Lisa Germano and Jay Joyce.
Produced by Malcolm Burn
Tracks 3, 5, 9, and 12 recorded by Kenny Aronoff and engineered by Mark Hood, Pat Keating, and Rob Black. Mixed and recorded at Echo Park Studios in Bloomington, Indiana.
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Masterdisk
Art direction & design by Paul McMenamin at V23
Photography by Dominic Davies
Published by Songs of Polygram Music, Door No. 1, Emotional Wench Music (BMI) except the Italian folk tune called “Frascilita.”
Ps. Fuck off and die to all rapists and stalkers
Reception
Lisa Germano: Hometown Girl
Lisa Germano: Music Therapy
The Geek Strikes Back
Reception
