Grouplove - Never Trust A Happy Song (19/09/2011)
Grouplove are another of the recent international bands to gain prominence in Australia thanks to frequent airplay on Triple J. If you listen to the station at least semi-regularly, you're bound to have heard their single Itchin On A Photograph multiple times. The track kicks off their debut album Never Trust A Happy Song in fine form: jangly guitar riffs and lead singer Christian Zucconi's distinct, nasally vocals building to a climatic, crashing close.
Second track Tongue Tied keeps to a similar sound, with some disco synth thrown in for good measure. It also features a semi-spoken interlude from keyboardist Hannah Hooper, which I hated on my first couple of listens of the album; however, after awhile it became a little more fun and a little less grating.
An early highlight of the album is Colours; a rolling anthemic track. The lyrics are almost nursery rhyme in nature, rhyming words like 'had', 'sad' and 'bad', in contrast with the soaring melody. On the other hand, the following track Slow, lead by Hooper on vocals, holds little of the same charm. The title sums up the general sound of the track, and it puts a dampener on the rollicking mood created by Colours.
Initially, I almost dismissed Never Trust A Happy Song as just a run-of-the-mill summery, indie-pop record: enjoyable, but with little to offer. While subsequent listens didn't entirely prove this wrong, I did find the album growing on me. The second half of the record kicks off with Spun; guitarist Andrew Wessen taking over vocal duties. Wessen has a rougher edge to his voice and the track is more rock 'n roll than the rest of the album. While this change in vocals and musical direction is a positive one, at other times it doesn't work so well. Vocalist switch frequently throughout the album and some songs sound as though they have come from an entirely different band, making for a very un-cohesive record. For example, Chloe could be The Fratellis, if it weren't for the lack of Glaswegian vocals.
It's easy to hear why Australian's have caught on so strongly to Grouplove. With Never Trust A Happy Song, they have managed to continue capturing the vibe that made their singles so appealing. While the album is not ground-breaking, it's definitely fun and for many, it's likely to be a perfect soundtrack to the upcoming summer.
Chelsea McIntyre
Second track Tongue Tied keeps to a similar sound, with some disco synth thrown in for good measure. It also features a semi-spoken interlude from keyboardist Hannah Hooper, which I hated on my first couple of listens of the album; however, after awhile it became a little more fun and a little less grating.
An early highlight of the album is Colours; a rolling anthemic track. The lyrics are almost nursery rhyme in nature, rhyming words like 'had', 'sad' and 'bad', in contrast with the soaring melody. On the other hand, the following track Slow, lead by Hooper on vocals, holds little of the same charm. The title sums up the general sound of the track, and it puts a dampener on the rollicking mood created by Colours.
Initially, I almost dismissed Never Trust A Happy Song as just a run-of-the-mill summery, indie-pop record: enjoyable, but with little to offer. While subsequent listens didn't entirely prove this wrong, I did find the album growing on me. The second half of the record kicks off with Spun; guitarist Andrew Wessen taking over vocal duties. Wessen has a rougher edge to his voice and the track is more rock 'n roll than the rest of the album. While this change in vocals and musical direction is a positive one, at other times it doesn't work so well. Vocalist switch frequently throughout the album and some songs sound as though they have come from an entirely different band, making for a very un-cohesive record. For example, Chloe could be The Fratellis, if it weren't for the lack of Glaswegian vocals.
It's easy to hear why Australian's have caught on so strongly to Grouplove. With Never Trust A Happy Song, they have managed to continue capturing the vibe that made their singles so appealing. While the album is not ground-breaking, it's definitely fun and for many, it's likely to be a perfect soundtrack to the upcoming summer.
Chelsea McIntyre