"Mind Over Matter" by Young the Giant

Young the Giant: Guitarist/Keyboardist Eric Cannata, Drummer Francois Comtois, Guitarist Jacob Tilley, Bassist Payam Doostzadeh 

Hey guys, Lia here with your Thursday Alternative review.

And it’s a band from right here in Orange County, Young the Giant. The band members actually used to go to the high school I graduated from and the lead singer’s sister graduated the year before I did. I remember I went to that graduation and she sang a song with her brother on guitar during the ceremony, which was really cool. Plus, his sister has a really good voice!

But anyway. The members of Young the Giant formed a band called The Jakes in 2004 in Irvine, California. Throughout the years, the band lineup changed and finally settled to Young the Giant in 2009. By that time, the band had already played shows in South by Southwest and had songs like “Cough Syrup” being played a significant amount on KROQ(!). As they were recording their first (eponymous) album, Young the Giant toured with bands like New Politics, Marina and the Diamonds, and The Futureheads.

When they released their first album Young the Giant, “My Body” hit commercial success, topping at number 5 on the Billboard Alternative chart. Once “Cough Syrup” came out, Young the Giant was headlining the Billboard showcase at South by Southwest and getting the thumbs up from established artists like Morrisey (singer from The Smiths, if you didn’t know).

“Mind Over Matter” is from Young the Giant’s second album of the same name, which was released January of this year by Fueled By Ramen (which is my favorite record label!). I really like this song primarily because the sound is alternative and indie rock, but it has just an interesting pinch of Asian influence to it. Gadhia sings a bit of the lyrics in the musical scale most associated with Southeast Asian music, the pentatonic scale (a C pentatonic scale if you were curious). I'm talking about the part where he sings “New York City—it rains.”

It also somehow has the illusion of sounding full and loud and bold, while also affording some space for Gadhia to really sell the song with his singing. I feel like Gadhia does well when he can vocally let loose and fill out the melody with his singing. Take “My Body.” His voice is so sweet and smooth, but when you give him some space, it gets a touch rough like it does in the chorus of “Mind Over Matter.”

I also really love the lyrics, especially the chorus lyric “I’m a young man after all.” Because it’s true, in youth we are all young and “built to fall” The song discusses how he’s always thinking about this girl even when he’s seeing the world and riding in “big jet planes.” He’s asking the girl if he can love her and trust her to stand by him even when “seasons change.”

Overall, an enjoyable listen!  

Gave you guys this beautiful version :)

Photo: ocregister.com

Information: Wikipedia, rock.genius.com