Album Review: The Living Eyes - The Living Eyes

Firstly, I might as well address the elephant in the room. Surely the band name The Living Eyes is just a little too close to The Living End for comfort? I know it's based on a Bee Gees album and I understand once you get a good idea it's difficult to change, but in this case I think it may have been warranted. Fortunately, though, that's where any criticism of this Geelong four-piece ends for their debut release is one little gem of an album that deserves serious airplay. Produced by Eddy Current Suppression Ring's Mikey Young, The Living Eyes belt out their brand of surfy, garage rock with real confidence on their self-titled debut and it's clear from the start these guys have some serious chops as songwriters. Apparently all 11 tracks were recorded in just two days, but you really can't tell as so much work has gone into the songwriting that these songs burst with melody and sound ridiculously effortless.

Opener Sittin' Back kicks things off nicely, getting into a laid-back groove and showing off the band's '60s surf influences. Wrong Doings follows this up with an early Kinks-ish vibe before the band really show off their talent as vocalist and lead guitarist Billy Gardner unleashes his creative guitar solos on Heard It All Before. Slave Labour shows off another fantastic solo while Ways To Make A Living boasts some super cool hooks. And, it all leads up to closer and album highlight Cry In Shame that goes for all-out rock in the best possible way. There's hardly a dud track to be found here in a neat little package that gets better with each listen.