Local Natives: “Gorilla Manor”

Gorilla Manor is an exceptionally crafted debut album from the west coast band Local Natives. That being said, there is plenty of room for improvement. This is not to say that Local Natives aren’t talented, they are, and they have the ability to produce a classic record, unfortunately, this isn’t it. The talent and heart is present, they’re just not using it to it’s full potential.

The first song “Wide Eyes” starts with a staggered drum beat that fragments the song making it feel a little awkward and loose. The track eventually explodes into brilliance when a Radiohead-like guitar bursts open and drives the melody deep into the brain. “Airplanes,” the second song and my favorite of the album, has a hint of Man Man in the opening vocal communications, full of grunts and strained voices. The track develops into a gem of a pop song with a melody that screams immediate reception. The vocals work best when the band members are harmonizing, and although the solo vocal efforts of the lead singer are angelic and smooth, they draw away from the original feel of the album being a community effort.

“Sun Hands” is also another great song that start off seemingly peaceful and uplifting. Its only until the breakdown comes and the groups shouting of the line, “and when i can’t feel with my sun hands, I promise not to lose her again,” that the song jolts into a guitar heavy rock song. The similarities to groups like Man Man and Yeasayer, with a hint of Fleet Foxes when the vocals coalesce just right, are stronger than most other outside connections like Grizzly Bear. Yes, they are both thoughtful, intelligent indie bands, and yes they did name their album after the place where they recorded, but those connections are only superficial at best.

“Camera Talk” is one of my least favorite songs, although strong willed and forceful, the melody lacks the immediate hook of the others. “Shape Shifter,” along with, “Sticky Thread,” are some of the more beautiful moments on the album, with sublimely laid vocal melodies and pulsating beats that cry for the attention they deserve. “Cards and Quarters” is driven by a welcome change in drum style, other than that, it signals the decline of interesting songs for me. Even the Talking Heads cover, “Warning Sign,” is dry and unappealing, though that might not be Local Natives fault, even though they could’ve picked a more interesting song from Byrne and Company. As stated earlier, “Sticky Thread,” fortunately saves the albums slow decline at the end, but being as the good songs outnumber the poorer songs, the album is a success and a hell of a debut.