Young the Giant "Mind Over Matter" Album Review

Let me begin by saying that I am a HUGE fan of Young the Giant. Their 2010 self-titled debut is one of my favorite albums of this decade. It’s just one of those cd’s that has it all. Rock anthems, acoustic jams, radio hits, slow songs… all highlighted by front man Sameer Gadhia’s gorgeous voice. It was so good in fact (4.5 stars out of 5 for my rating) that it made finding a ticket to their Tampa show in spring 2012 nearly impossible. But even though the cost was high, the guys from Irvine, California delivered. I ranked their concert at the Ritz that spring as THE BEST live performance of 2012. So it’s tough for me to say anything negative about the band.

All that being said though, their new album, Mind Over Matter, released on Tuesday, is NOT part 2 to their outstanding debut. Please do not get the wrong idea, it is not a BAD album, it is just very different. Gone are the powerful vocals, well placed hooks and mid song jams. They’re replaced by a much more electronic sound, heavy on synth.

The album opens up with “Slow Dive,” a 48 second synth crescendo that flows right into “Anagram.” This opening sets the tone for the album, sort of enticing the listener into this musical domain that Young the Giant have created. You then have “It’s About Time,” a rock heavy single that is reminiscent of 2011 hit “My Body,” but not quite on the same level as an arena rock hit.

The rest of the 1^st half of the album is single heavy and more comparable with their debut. “Crystalized” is very memorable and should receive some solid radio play, “Mind Over Matter” has a similar easy listening pace, and “Daydreamer” has a catchy drumbeat. I believe this is the strongest portion of the album.

The second half of the album makes a 180. I think the best way to summarize it, is that it’s an interesting listen. At times the rhythm section is great. Many songs seem synth, key and string driven, which works in places. I think “Camera” is a standout and “In My Home” will be great live. The synth seems to take over though in “Teachers” and comes off as distracting in “Eros,” almost as if the songs were overproduced. Even the final song on the album, “Paralysis,” doesn’t seem to do much except extend the album. It’s nothing like the feel good “Guns Out,” which closes the first album.

I think Mind Over Matter can be interpreted different ways. It might show that the band is becoming more mature. This could be a major creative leap, displaying that these indie rockers are more than just a few radio hits, but I think it’s missing one simple thing – Sameer’s voice. There were some electric sounds on the first album, but they were masked by Sameer’s powerful vocals. Now his voice seems hidden behind the sound. For me, it is truly missed.

In conclusion, I believe most fans will be caught off guard with this new album. It will break some hearts, but fans should recognize that the band is treading new ground and “growing.” It is different, but decent. I predict it will not have the commercial success of their debut, (The peak numbers for their new singles compared to “My Body” and “Cough Syrup” are an early indication) but I would not characterize this in the dreadful “sophomore slump” category.

So even though this was not the greatest review, I still encourage everyone in the Tampa Bay area to see Young the Giant live. Many of these songs have the framework to sound better in person than sitting through on an album. Plus, setlist reviews of their first shows since the Mind Over Matter release display that the guys are still playing tunes off their debut album. Throw in the fact that you get to hear Sameer’s voice live, and a $33 ticket is well worth it. They roll into Tampa Bay with a show at Jannus Live on Tuesday, February 18^th.  

ALBUM RATING – 3 Stars

Ticket Link: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0D004B68CEBB9C55?c=LNSM_CT_National_YoungTheGiant_bit_rsvpevent_111813&REFERRAL_ID=tmfeedbuyat97249&wt.mc_id=aff_BUYAT_97249&camefrom=CFC_BUYAT_97249