The Jungle Giants
There's been an influx, and arguably a surplus, of wavy-haired, tight-jeaned youths pumping upbeat indie-pop tunes out of Brisbane lately (think Ball Park Music, Millions, Last Dinosaurs). So what makes The Jungle Giants and their debut LP Learn To Exist any different from the rest of the chino-wearing crowd?
Opening tracks Come And Be Alone With Me and I Am What You Want Me To Be are filled with catchy hooks and irresistible choruses – but they could easily be mistaken for the work of any of the aforementioned bands. Lines like, “Come and be alone with me/We could get stoned/We could hang” don't exactly demonstrate any kind of lyrical mastery. And yet there's significant talent there. Lead singer-songwriter Sam Hales won the 2011 Billy Thorpe music scholarship for his promising musical abilities. She's A Riot, from their 2012 EP, has been included to keep their fans sated, while the twangy acoustic Devil's In The Detail and the hip hop beat of Home are definite ear-perkers. But it's the barrage of woos, ahhhs and pop rhythms that really dominate this album. The alternative songs here serve as more of a distraction than an emphasis of the band's expanded musical direction.
Anyone who listened to The Jungle Giants' first two EPs or has seen them perform live knows that they are a fun band and, for the most part, that's what Learn To Exist is. But 'fun' alone isn't going to help them stand out in the crowd.
