In an age where music is as accessible as an ""I'm feeling lucky"" Google search and a quick click of the ""download"" button, it's easy to get bogged down by the swarms of artists who claim to be worthy of your ears. Sometimes, though, a band comes along that simply cannot be ignored. Such is the case for Local Natives, whose debut album, Gorilla Manor is as balanced as it is catchy.
From the opening guitar refrain of ""Wide Eyes"" to the rolling drums on ""Sun Hands,"" Local Natives demand attention and evoke the kind of grooves that gave Vampire Weekend their reputation. Just as notable as the upbeat elements present in Gorilla Manor, however, are the soft refrains and harmonies that offset them.
Oftentimes, growing bands suffer from trying to do too many things in a single song; but on Gorilla Manor, the contrast between the pulsing ascents and harmonious breakdowns sounds natural. On ""Sun Hands,"" Local Natives seem to speak of their own dynamic ability to move forward, reflecting on this ability as they sing, ""I climbed to the top of a hill / But I had just missed the sun / And although the descending arc was gone / Left behind were the traces that always follow along.""
The album itself moves progressively away from the raucous and dynamic territory of the opening songs to the pleasant and serene mood of the closing ones. On ""Stranger Things,"" the lingering piano chords and birdlike guitar trills expose Local Natives' lighter side.
One of the most intriguing songs on Gorilla Manor is ""Warning Sign,"" a barely recognizable cover of the Talking Heads' song. This track—in which three-part harmonies replace the original primal screams—speaks to Local Natives' ability to take a simple idea and create something composed, layered and organic out of it.
Local Natives don't break down any musical boundaries on their debut album—nearly all the songs are pretty straightforward, four- to five-minute rock pieces—but as the California-based band explores African-style drumming and English-accented vocals, it's clear they do not limit themselves, as their name may suggest.
After a year in which Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors and even Lady Gaga dominated the airwaves, it may seem that music has gone the way of the extremely inventive and experimental. But on Gorilla Manor, Local Natives don't reinvent the wheel, they just send it on an awesome ride.
