Album Review

Giant Jr – Wherever You Are In The World

• 5th Nov 2008

Giant Jr offer a bizarre blend of kitsch pop and electronic samples that falls into the same ‘wacky-pop’ category as the Ting Tings and Hot Chip.

Comprising of Miami born singer and producer Jyl and London native David on the samples and guitar, the band offer an inherently upbeat and fun brand of pop music that can’t help but get your head bobbing. ‘Wherever You Are In The World Here Are Your Directions Home’ is their second full-length release and it really is a varied and eclectic album with each song taking on a distinctive sound of its own. One minute the band delivers driving rhythms and pounding beats, the next they offer simple and unabashed saccharine pop.

Opening track ‘No. 1 Fan’ is a perfect introduction to the band, as its staccato intro soon gives way to Jyl’s smooth vocals and the infectiously happy (and indeed catchy) chorus soon comes swirling into view, lodging itself squarely in your head for the next few hours. The album’s first single ‘I Want To Be Evil’ sees the band sampling the legendary Earth Kitt to excellent effect as its funky beat mixes brilliantly with twangy guitars and splashes of brass, all overlaid with Ms Kitt’s sublime vocals.

The latter half of the album does highlight a slight flaw in Giant Jr’s formula as tracks like ‘What Would You Do With A Million’ and ‘If I Was A Little Drunker’, do feel slightly drawn out and undeniably grate after a while. The band are on the whole very intelligent with their use of samples and they wear their kitsch-appeal on their sleeves. After a whole album however, the novelty value begins to wane and you long for the gold that lies at the album’s start.

This is only a minor criticism however, and on the whole, ‘Wherever You Are…’ is a refreshing blast of toe-tapping beats and fun time pop. Giant Jr are certainly an acquired taste, but in terms of their genre, such as it is, the band excel, and if you are a fan of the genre, you can’t go far wrong.