10 reasons not to listen to the new Young the Giant album
Have you ever heard of Young the Giant? It’s quite possible you’ve heard them. These guys are an alternative rock band out of Irvine, Calif. They released their debut album in 2010, which included some pretty hip singles like “Cough Syrup” and “My Body.” The band has become a common name on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, and their sophomore album “Mind Over Matter” is a legitimate contender for the No. 1 album in the U.S. this week. People are really digging Young the Giant.
I myself have only recently discovered this band. I didn’t know who they were or how popular they were. I felt like I was behind the curve until I actually listened to them. I hadn’t been missing much.
In case anyone out there wants to hear the new Young the Giant album “Mind Over Matter,” it is streaming online for free. It’s also available for purchase if you’re willing to shell out some dough. I took advantage of the first option. From this experience, I’ve created a list of 10 reasons why you shouldn’t listen to it yourself.
10. Because Richard Sherman is the best defensive back in the NFL.
I could watch that video of Sherman ranting after the NFC Championship game for 50 straight minutes. In fact, I’d rather watch that video for 50 minutes than listen to this album for 50 minutes.
9. Because you’ll probably only listen to it once anyway.
It’s hard to make a commercially memorable alternative rock album these days. Bands from the last decade that were popular in the genre now have their CDs in $1 bargain bins. “Mind Over Matter” doesn’t offer anything you’ve never heard before or anything you’ll never hear again. I think it will be the top-selling album in the US this week, but it’s born to be lost in the dying history of alternative rock.
8. Because some songs on here might make you vomit.
These are some lyrics from the chorus of the album’s second single, “Crystallized”: “When the beat of my drum meets the beat of your heart, you know I couldn’t love any other.” Oh gag. Oddly enough, this track is catchy enough that it can get stuck in your head, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s ridiculously corny. For a second there, I thought I was listening to a Plain White T’s song.
7. Because these guys try too hard to sound like they’re weird.
Looking at the album cover, one might think this album is going to be some psychological adventure. I admit, there are some complex melodies scattered here and there, but they’re never enjoyable. The lyrics aren’t all that generic, but they’re about generic topics. The wild guitar fills on the lead single “It’s About Time” are talented, but they sound very watered-down. The stuff is pretty normal.
6. Because the guitar effects broke my heart … in a bad way.
There are some moments with this band where their guitars have this bright, echoing, surfer-rock sound to them. It resonates throughout the song “Firelight.” However, most of the time, these guitar parts are being swallowed up by some other instrumentation; sometimes the most uninteresting parts of a song. It ruins the whole thing for me.
5. Because you could just listen to “Analog.”
“Analog” wasn’t a bad track. Sure, it’s under-produced and has too many layers, but it’s played in 7/8 time. Songs in 7/8 time are automatically cool. Don’t listen to the whole album when you can just dip your toe into this.
4. Because it’s too catchy to be “weird” and too weird to be “catchy.”
No further comment.
3. Because it’s not as good as their first album.
I wasn’t a big fan of Young the Giant’s first album, but those cool guitar effects I mentioned earlier play a bigger part in that album. On “Mind Over Matter,” the experimentation is just annoying.
2. Because the album has no flow.
Most bands have a sense of where songs should be placed on an album, but the last song on here could have been placed anywhere in the album. Also, it’s hard to imagine a song as plain as “Crystallized” being on the same album as something as diverse as “Waves.” It’s like they don’t want people to like every song.
1. Because you should be listening to the new album by Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra.
This album is so tight. The band consists of members from indie shoe-gaze heroes Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and they do not disappoint. It’s apocalyptic, gloomy, epic and gut-wrenching. It’s probably my favorite release in the last two or three months. Everybody needs to hear that brilliant album.
Meanwhile, Young the Giant’s “Mind Over Matter” just isn’t that great.
My Rating: 1.5/10
– Scott Hall is a newcomer to the world of journalism. He is studying public relations and stage management at USU. His spare time is dedicated to music. For more, email scottehall3@gmail.com.