IN REVIEW: Young The Giant - "Mind Over Matter"

If I may qualify this review with a slight disclaimer: I realize that, as a man in his late thirties, Young the Giant aren't trying to appeal to my tastes. Crafting the kind of hooky indie rock that seems aimed with laser-guided precision at modern alternative radio, their 2010 debut was borderline offensive in the safety of its execution. Like the "extreme" young fellow in the Mountain Dew commercial their biggest hit My Body soundtracks, their music likes to hang out in high places (albeit strapped with a helmet, knee pads and a triple-checked safety harness) and has the tendency of diving headlong into sugary sweetness.

This isn't meant as a slight of their abilities; they're very good at the approach, and it's served them well with their target demographic. However, it doesn't make Mind Over Matter any less frustrating to listen to. Lead single It's About Time, with its added crunch and off-time beat, signaled the possibility of an album (and a band) poised to explore new and more daring places. Sadly, outside of that tasty piece of bait, there isn't much of anything on Mind Over Matter that excites in the same way.

That's not to say it's a terrible album; indeed, there are a fistful of songs here destined for top down road trip playlists and radio wave dominance as we approach summer. When one of the album's tracks lodges itself into your head to the point of lobotomy consideration, Daydreamer comes to mind as the most likely culprit. And the title track packs the kind of heartfelt swoon that could only coax its full effect as accompaniment to the big break-up scene on a teen drama. And side A closer Firelight is genuinely pleasing in its sullen hopefulness.

The problem with Mind Over Matter is the same one that cursed their debut; with so many huge choruses fighting to live out their single potential, the whole thing kind of collapses together into a molten heap of sunshine and syrup. And that's frustrating because, after hearing It's About Time, I know they're capable of taking more chances (and doing so with positive results) than they're willing to take.

Only two albums in, there's obviously still plenty of time for Young the Giant to take their music to the risky places it seems as though they might like to take it someday. In the meantime we have an album that feels more generic and hit-chasing than the last even though its songs aren't as obviously generic and hit-chasing. It's a calculated risk with little chance of collateral damage: a Harley with training wheels, lemon gin mixed with Mountain Dew, a view of the rollercoaster from the safety of the merry-go-round. And that's okay, but here's hoping they grow into something more.

January 21, 2014 • Fueled By Ramen

Highlights It's About Time • Daydreamer • Firelight

Year in Rock 2025

Alright, I've got some explaining to do. By now anyone who's visited this blog is well aware of how infrequently I've used this space in recent years; aside from the occasional fertile year of content, I really haven't posted all that often over the last five years or so. There are many reasons for this, which have already been outlined in previous apology posts; but, essentially, it boils down to my own laziness and the cold reality that blogs are, like Refused (again), fucking dead. So, I wouldn't hold my breath for a triumphant return to reviews, or even semi-regular posts, but: a) I feel like Year in Rock posts have always belonged here and, even though I've experimented with different methods of presentation recently and been satisfied, the "blink and you missed it" unveiling via Facebook stories this year was perhaps ultimately a disservice to the records I lauded. After all, cramming the list into short videos isn't too far off from ju...

Year in Rock 2013 Nominee: Arctic Monkeys

ARCTIC MONKEYS Do I Wanna Know? From: AM Released: September 10 That Year in Rock 2012's Single of the Year R U Mine? ended up on this album is pleasing, and it fits the motif well enough. But R U Mine? isn't what makes Arctic Monkeys' fifth album an Album of the Year contender. Sweaty, sultry and pulsing with sexual energy, AM is the kind of record that's just as effective whether you're chilling out after a long day, staring into a mirror prepping yourself for a late night clubbing session or setting the mood for some escapades in the boudoir.

Year in Rock 2023: Album of the Year #10-1

Now we're getting somewhere; the top ten, where there are no duds or mids, only bangers. Also, no more teasing it out; let's wrap this up! What I've learned this year from my ten faves this year is that it is indeed still possible for a dude approaching his fifties to more or less stay up to date on the new school. Of course, there are some listed here that got a boost from playing tribute to the old school, but there is an undercurrent happening in rock that points to the future. But, I'm getting ahead of myself; here come the champs. 10 MILITARIE GUN Life Under the Gun June 23, 2023 • Loma Vista Highlights Very High Will Logic Never Fucked Up Once Rising from the ranks of the still-potent L.A. hardcore scene, the debut record from Militarie Gun (following a trio of EPs) bears a dash of polish that's expected with backing from a larger label; the tension and energy remain, though, resulting in one of the catchiest hardcore albums I can think of in recent years. 9 ...

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