Album Review: Cub Scouts - Told You So

Brisbane five-piece Cub Scouts claim inspiration from “friends, foes and dogs”, and judging from the eclectic mix of themes and moods they have stretched into the diverse pop sound of their debut EP Told You So, that seems fair.

The six songs are individual in their own right and the pace is effectively contrasted to highlight the shifts in context and emotion. Title track Told You So presents this steady electronic beat undercut by the beautifully smug lyrics: “I hate to say I told you so/But I told you so” or the dark bridge “I'm not sorry for you”. Meanwhile, the proceeding track Do You Hear shifts into the faster pace of almost panic, painfully telling the way words can damage someone.

Vocal harmonies are at their strongest in the pop-rich Hands, while Scream experiments with lead vocalist Tim Nelson's airy falsetto and a warm organ-like opening, fun beat and seemingly happy backing vocals to show signs of such hatred: “It makes me sick, to watch you part those wicked lips”. This tactful contradiction is something that really sets them apart from other up-and-coming indie-pop acts, a risk that has this reviewer sitting up to take notice in anticipation for the next verse.

Light Me Up is the most melodic track and the most optimistic, utilising atmospheric piano to tell a story of love – rightfully taking the EP's last spot. However, the most exciting addition to the release is the opener Evie, a joyously constructed gem, demanding a second listen immediately after the first; if you can hold back your body from moving, you are commended.