The debut EP from Sydney’s The Griswolds will certainly get you dancing, if only for a little while. A small collection of four tracks marks the debut effort from the indie pop five-piece and runs a little over ten minutes.
Self-proclaimed “chameleons of pop”, The Griswolds don’t offer much in terms of a unique sound – but that’s something they don’t seem too fussed about. The fresh-faced band notes their biggest influences as Kanye West, Devendra Banhart and the Beach Boys.
A more accurate comparison could be made to American indie-rockers Vampire Weekend, particularly noticeable in the vocal sounds of ‘The Courtship of Summer Preasley’ and ‘Red Tuxedo’.
Title track and second single ‘Heart of a Lion’ is by far the catchiest number on the EP and features fun and energetic pop beats. Bouncing rhythms and fast-paced vocals make for a highly enjoyable experience that should have you humming along by track’s end.
The record begins to slow down with the following track, first single Mississippi. Admittedly quite the sing-a-long, one does wonder why a group from Sydney would be singing about Mississippi to begin with.
Heart Of A Lion offers up hand-clapping, enthusiastic tunes, although at times it’s hard to shake the feeling that it’s the kind of indie pop you’ve heard before. Nevertheless, these guys don’t take themselves too seriously – and neither should you.
