The States - Gimme Joy

 

After all the promise of last year's single Carol. Melbourne quartet, The States breeze in with 7 song debut album and it is a corker. Guitar driven with a pace that is hard to keep up with, Gimme Joy straddles genres without ever losing its energy.

Riff laden and at times a little Garage Rock, there is a real hint of UK Glam Rock and New Wave. The album feels as though it is built for the stage. It certainly makes you stand up and listen whilst you pump your fist uncontrollably.

It is those riffs and the pace that grab you most and Scarlett Maloney's vocal is effective, but deliberately in the distance to allow the accompanying instrumentals to completely connect with you. Whereas Carol has a hint of Rock and Roll, the accompanying songs generally have a much harder edge.

View From The Top is probably the standout, but Queen Of Mean, which sounds like something on the RAK label in 1973, runs it close. There's also a surprise slowdown on the closer as Back To Loving is almost a ballad with the vocal more upfront and totally charming.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl and as a download.

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