It’s safe to say I’ve fallen off the wagon with alternative rock. While reaching its breaking point in the mid-2000s, listeners disinterest in the genre plummeted to an all-time low (pun intended) by 2009. Once 2010 hit, alt-rock reached a renaissance. Bands like Imagine Dragons and the Arctic Monkeys pioneered a new sound that would later set the standard for bands to come. I always stuck to my sacred Smashing Pumpkins and Rise Against records, but I never stopped searching for something new. Modern alternative seemed safe to me. Most bands sounded the same and lacked any edge. Attending concerts exposed me to newer acts, which is how I found Young the Giant. Giant has been bubbling under the radar for quite a while. Although ‘Cough Syrup’ became their anthem, they haven’t been as overexposed as similar acts. After seeing them at a local festival a few years back, I decided to give
Home of the Strange a chance.
Home of the Strange is a strong addition to Young the Giant’s discography. It’s sleek and has a good sense of style. Young the Giant have a streamlined sound in this outing, which is something the band desperately needed. As the album cover entails,
Home of the Strange deals with immigration and the vocalists [Sameer Gadhia] Indian-American background.
Strange is produced just like other Fueled By Ramen acts. It has a similar feel to
Blurryface, however the music has more atmosphere. The transitions between acoustic and electronic music is done well. ‘Repeat’ is a good example of the two elements working in sync. Everything comes out clear and doesn’t overlap or bury another element into the song.
Home of the Strange doesn’t lull until the ending. ‘Art Exhibit’ and ‘Nothing’s Over’ drag the pace and lose energy. The title track works as a good closer and leaves on a high note.
‘Something to Believe In’ is one of the albums main talking points. The dirty bassline grooving throughout the song gives a great texture alongside the bright leads played throughout. It’s a generally fun song and has a great story. ‘Jungle Youth’ is a lot grittier than the rest of the songs on
Strange. The intro has a loud synth riff that ends up repeating throughout the song. The vocals, although melodic, are slightly more abrasive. ‘Titus Was Born’ is the folky side of the record. It’s a story driven song about an immigrant born at sea. “Rainwater stuck in his head/It filled him with words left unsaid/Of all the things he might be,” explains the American dreams one envisions upon traveling to America. The song, like the album in general, is influenced by the novel America by Kafka, which has a cynical outlook on the United States and immigration.
There are a few missteps on
Home of the Strange. ‘Silvertongue’ is a dance track that doesn’t mesh with the rest of the album. Most are indie beats with a slight hint of funk and incomes a driving dance groove. It certainly sticks out from everything else, but doesn’t entirely ruin the experience. There’s a lot going on sound wise, which isn’t as bad as previous numbers, but is still apparent. They’re drawing a lot on glam and even mention David Bowie in ‘Mr. Know-it-All.’ I don’t feel like glam is a good route for the band, especially since they’re known for being a softer indie band. Although they were rather consistent in this album, I’m hoping Young the Giant finds their footing sooner rather than later.
Home of the Strange is a firm step in the right direction. It’s a well-made energetic record that has a lot to offer. It may not be a massive step forward, but it’s a step nonetheless. I’d recommend
Home of the Strange to pop fans looking for something to rock to. Indie fans will get something out of it, albeit not much different from their previous work.
Home of the Strange is a lot better than most give credit for. Flaws and all, there’s a decent number of tracks to enjoy. It’s overlooked and one of the better albums I’ve listened to from 2016. Young the Giant show a lot of promise, especially in ‘Something to Believe In.’ They just need an extra boost to break through the glass ceiling and give *fans* something to believe in.
Standout Tracks
Something to Believe In
Jungle Youth
Repeat
