Simon Dawes - Carnivore

The buzz around Simon Dawes quietly continues to grow. The Californa quartet has already toured with artists like Maroon 5, The Walkmen, Band of Horses and Eisley and the critical reaction to Carnivore, their first full-length, has only added to the excitement enveloping the group. So often, the work of a young band simply isn’t strong enough to justify their own press but thankfully, with Simon Dawes, this is not the case. Carnivore is a first-rate album characterized by tuneful melodies, alternately raucous and plaintive guitars, and an abundance of spirit. The band plays a brand of rock and roll inspired both by British invasion bands and late 1960’s American garage rock. To draw a modern comparison, their sound falls somewhere between that of The Strokes (though with catchier melodies and less hipster cool attitude) and Jet (though with catchier melodies and without all the obvious imitation of their influences). Frontman Taylor Goldsmith’s vocals, at times rebellious and at others melancholic, are complemented well by the instrumental performances of Blake Mills (guitar), Wylie Gelber (bass), and Stuart Johnson (drums). The band’s instrumental work is tight without sounding overly polished. While there are several excellent tracks (like “The Awful Things,” “Salute the Institution” and “All Her Crooked Ways”) sprinkled throughout the first half of the album, its concluding counterpart is where Carnivore really becomes something special. Carnivore’s second half includes the sweetly solemn “Every Single Time” which highlights the group’s versatility and ability to layer vocal harmonies to stunning effect. “Behind the Bleachers” features retro-flavored guitars and a boisterous energy while album closer “Execution Song” evolves slowly and beautifully over the course of its seven minutes. The members of Simon Dawes display a sonic maturity surprising for a band of their stature. Their work on Carnivore not only gives credence to the buzz they have received but also serves as an excellent foundation for a bright future. [www.simondawes.com]