The guys in Young Mammals have taken quite a few cues from the glory days of Britpop. That this Houston band have done so in a seamless way says a lot about their talents as songwriters. And that song-craft is on full display on the band's new album, Jaguar, out Friday.
Some tracks on this release -- "I'm Sleeping", "Mango Beach", for instance -- ring with the sort of winsomeness that U.K. acts brought to listeners' ears some decades ago. That said, Young Mammals make this sort of effortlessly chiming pop sound so easy to create and, yet, obviously there's been a lot of care taken in creating this material. Elsewhere, on the hooky title cut, Young Mammals crank out the sort of music that recalls Brit-inspired American acts like The Drums. There's a trace of Temples on "Crane", and the barest hint of shoegaze on "Auroras" even as the song springs forward with a lot of post-punk bounce. On the superb "Morning Vice", Young Mammals bring something to the indie pop game that's part MGMT, part Air, and part late-period Supergrass. The overall effect on the majority of tracks on this Young Mammals long-player are catchy and supple in similar ways, making Jaguar one of this week's best releases.
More details on Young Mammals via the band's official Facebook page. Jaguar is out Friday. Details below.
[Photo: Uncredited promotional image]