Tuesday 18 February 2014

Record Review - The Growlers

Published in the Shortlist section of the Sydney Morning Herald, Friday Feb 14.

The Growlers
Gilded Pleasures
Smack Face Records

For a band that’s only been around for six or so years, Californians The Growlers have packed a lot in. Four full-length records, a slew of EPs, singles and split EPs have tumbled from the band’s collective mind, frontman Brooks Nielsen being quoted as saying, “If we had it our way, we would be doing a full-length album every couple of months.”

Overload? Perhaps, but if most recent release, the Gilded Pleasures EP, is anything to go by, then in amongst the quantity is a good dose of quality. Beginning with the shimmering, surf-guitar inspired Dogheart II, this release (which at nine tracks qualifies for LP, as opposed to EP, status) stretches out, a fine, long summer’s afternoon drunk of an album that sways and shuffles along with little thought for anything other than a fine tune.

Change In Your Veins gets down low, a nice guitar workout towards the end; Ego Of Man is equal parts Johnny Cash and spaghetti western twang; while Nobody Owns You brings proceedings to a close with melodic aplomb.
3.5/5


Samuel J. Fell

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