Young the Giant’s finely tuned ear for pop is on grand display here, and frontman Sameer Gadhia excels at playing ringmaster, testing the edges of his vocal range while spinning yarns with brio.
Home Of The Strange adds back their debut’s indie charm, then catapults Sameer Gadhia’s sensational vocals to the front. Keeping those levels in check allows the band to effortlessly explore ambient electronics (“Amerika”), dance numbers (“Silvertongue”) and every other curiosity along the way.
Though Gadhia hasn't shed all his Chris Martin influence, he's developed an edge of paranoid menace reminiscent of Muse's Matt Bellamy. It's a sound that comes from both everywhere and nowhere.
Home of the Strange certainly won’t convert any naysayers of the band’s straight-and-narrow take on alternative rock, but it does underscore what has emboldened their fanbase for so long: a sound that shakes arenas and a penchant for writing songs about individuals lost in the same places they call home.
The best indie album of the year , nothing more , nothing less.
Maturation of the best genre band nuances in the 11 songs . They haveThe best indie album of the year , nothing more , nothing less.
Maturation of the best genre band nuances in the 11 songs . They have positioned themselves as one of the best indie bands USA . The criticism could appreciate more the whole, not everything should be extravagantly rock psychedelic or to taste…Expand
In the blooming alternative genre, Young the Giant has created a rare sound deeply compelling to the young American heart. From the familiarIn the blooming alternative genre, Young the Giant has created a rare sound deeply compelling to the young American heart. From the familiar bittersweet lyricism of "Repeat" and "Something to Believe In" to the dynamic production of "Jungle Youth" and "Titus Was Born," this album is dense with worthwhile effort. While the explicitly composed ear candy of "Mr. Know-It-All" and "Silvertongue" may come across sour, they color necessary vibrancy and groove to an album that would otherwise stir the mind and leave the body wanting more. The versatility and unity of its many moving parts sail the shadow of meaning from start to finish. This particular album may have narrowed its audience out of the gate, but as a whole it will undoubtedly invite new members to a cult following while leaving veterans satisfied well beyond expectations.…Expand
I discovered the album on spotify, just exploring some different music. I listen to a wide variety of music,and quite recently I discoveredI discovered the album on spotify, just exploring some different music. I listen to a wide variety of music,and quite recently I discovered the Indie music coming from artists like Young the Giant, Walk the Moon and some others. Home of the Strange is an album that really changes tone and style all the time, and still the chemistry stays intact. I really like this new, fresh sound.
The first song on the record, ''Amerika'', really showcases the voice of lead singer Sameer Gadhia. It's a strong track overall with a touch of pop.
The second track, my personal favorite ''Something to believe in'', really is a poprock song with a touch of indie. The instrumentals, the lead singer and the backing vocals all seem to come together in a very seducing way. Other tracks, like ''Elsewhere", ''Mr. Know-It-All'', ''Titus was Born'' and ''Silvertongue'' are less prominent on this record, yet they are hidden gems when you listen more and more.
''Jungle Youth'' and ''Nothing's over'' really breathe indie-rock all along, and the sound of those two songs remind me of the Black Keys in some way.
Overall, Home of the Strange is a very nicely mixed album with different styles, it's very polished and therefore very accessible to the grand public. Most tracks do require multiple listens before you become familiar with it, but listening more and more becomes very rewarding eventually. It's a big shame the album only lasts for 39 minutes, which is way too short in my opinion, I really have the feeling they could've done better than this.…Expand
Young The Giant is progressing as a band. This album is a great blend of their classic work as well as some exciting new styles. An element ofYoung The Giant is progressing as a band. This album is a great blend of their classic work as well as some exciting new styles. An element of funk has been used which really suits Sameer Gadhia's semi-rough vocals. "Something to Believe In", "Mr. Know-it-All" and "Silvertongue" are all great examples of the creativity of Young The Giant and will hopefully pave the way for some more great work in the future.…Expand
Home of the Strange is infinitely more interesting, original, and fun than YtG's debut album, which suffers from a lack of distinctiveness.Home of the Strange is infinitely more interesting, original, and fun than YtG's debut album, which suffers from a lack of distinctiveness. HotS is flashy and attention-grabbing as Alt-pop-rock can be, and every song is it's own beast and stands out among it's peers. I'm comfortable saying that there is not one song on HotS that' bad musically, but some are definitely better than others. "Amerika" is captivating, with amazing, profound music. "Something to Believe In" has really fun music with catchy lyrics. "Mr. Know-It-Al" has fun, funky music that really stands out. "Titus Was Born", "Silvertounge", and the last two songs all sound great in their own unique way.
Lyrically, this album is more interesting than YtG, but has some flaws. "Elsewhere", "Jungle Youth", "Repeat", and "Silvertounge" have fairly shallow love/sex centered lyrics that I dislike. "Jungle Youth" is the worst song on the album, in my opinion. I really don't care at all for it. "Amerika" succeeds in the lyrics department, and "Mr. Know-It-All" has really fun, enjoyable lyrics. "Titus" and "Art" have good, interesting lyrics.
All in all, HotS is not a perfect album, but a really darn fun, interesting one that bursting with character and personality. I guarantee that it won't bore you. HotS is interesting, original, and has strong, highly-enjoyable production.…Expand
