Young the Giant (Special Edition)

Young the Giant (Special Edition)

On the surface, Young the Giant’s eponymous debut juggles a few curious contradictions. The album art looks a West Coast jazz LP circa 1966 and they’re signed to Roadrunner Records, a label specializing mostly in heavy metal. Yet from the first song “Apartment,” it’s evident that the Irvine, California quintet plays the kind of handsome and finessed indie rock that fans of Fleet Foxes and Kings Of Leon are sure to enjoy. The following standout “My Body” unleashes some harder-rocking guitars that compete with singer Sameer Gadhia for catchiest melody. Even the anthemic, fist-pumping chorus is loaded with barbed song hooks. The breezy “Cough Syrup” contrasts moody cellos with some shimmering keyboard work by My Morning Jacket’s Bo Koster, but it’s the winding guitars here that jump out. The similarly arresting “Your Side” features another notable guest on keyboard – Roger Manning Jr. of Jellyfish fame. Gadhia croons like Coldplay’s Chris Martin throughout save for “St. Walker” where his register stretches up into his own tone.

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