Living in LA I've had the pleasure of hearing for quite some time (live or UK release, which hit fall '09), Gorilla Manor by Silver Lake's Local Natives. While an outright review of the album might be redundant, a diagnostic approach to what makes these guys so good might be more par for the course.
The Local Natives recipe is as follows:
Instrumental Chops: Quite simply, these dudes can play and have a well developed ear for melody/harmony and it's mind-blowing to realize they have only been playing music together for a couple years.
Songwriting: The subject matter of the lyrics is creative and precise; personal development is the theme heard in ("Wide Eyes") and the all too clever ("World News") focuses on all that can happen in the waning moments of your commute home. In keeping with their experience beyond years theme, one must remember that these well thought out lyrics accompany the arsenal of melody and rhythm leaving little room to let your mind wander while listening. And while you might expect this from a more seasoned band, they deliver with ease on this debut album, making it seem all too natural.
See this band live: Gorilla Manor on it's own is amazing; their performance is transcendental. Percussion assaults, four part harmonies, high energy and an overwhelming respect for those that listen to them abound in their typical hour long set. And one can't help but be immersed into an immediate memorable music experience.
While there has been a bit of a wait for proper US release of their album, it couldn't come at a better time for these fine dudes. A lengthy European jaunt (where they are quite popular), leads into anchoring sets at SXSW, Coachella, Sasquatch and Bonnaroo. Blog buzz abounds as they tore through sets at SXSW '09 and CMJ '09 but the festival setting should provide them well deserved exposure and it's only a matter of time before the masses will be taking a note out of their lyrics, thinking: "I want you back..."
Gorilla Manor is available now on French Kiss Records and digitally via iTunes. A media player can be found below with live performances and streams of singles.
As always, enjoy.
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