On their third album, Naked Giants capture the pure essence of indie music and deliver a catchy, joyful release that (still) sounds like the creation of three best friends having fun together.

In 2018 Car Seat Headrest felt like the biggest band in indie, and Naked Giants not only opened for them on tour, but they were part of CSH’s extended live band. I showed up a bit early to a rather intimate venue and ended up meeting Naked Giants as they played around on rented electric scooters right outside the front doors. Their music gave me a hunch that they were all best friends, and our brief chat definitely confirmed it. Their set was wildly energetic and impeccably tight, yet after giving it all their all, they immediately returned to the stage to back CSH which cemented them in my mind as truly Herculean musicians. 

Naked Giants debut album was fast, noisy, bluesy, and hook heavy. Six years later and I will still get “SLUFF” and “TV” stuck in my head even if I haven’t heard the songs in months. 

A good example of this is “Bad Guys Win” where concerns for the future are masked beneath cartoonish imagery and a catchy, uptempo melody. One of the elements that initially attracted me to indie music was lyrics that magnified dilemmas in daily living. I couldn’t stand songs that were preachy, vague, or Wisdom Rock that exclaimed, “Take my hand. Let me show you the way!” Naked Giants exemplify how a band can make immersive songs with lighthearted themes and everyday issues.

The album’s first single and opening track, “Apartment 3” is an infectious and sunny love song of days past. “As I was saying, it was 1964. They put a color television on the third floor. Didn’t that change everything?” It’s a great intro to the group and displays how they’re able to make a captivating piece of music without taking themselves too seriously. 

The group seem a bit too sweethearted to be considered sleaze rock, and musically they come across much more raw than most of what I hear in the genre, but they definitely look like they should be on the cover of an indie sleaze playlist on Spotify. I’d also like to clarify that I don’t want to confuse raw with thoughtless or sloppy because the trio have pieced everything here together quite nicely.

On Shine Away, Naked Giants also experiment with some new elements in their sound. An acoustic guitar is used prominently through the album which I believe is a first for the group, and “Did I Just Die” even features a piano breakdown. I’m excited to hear how the songs with this expanded soundscape will translate live for the trio. It almost sounds like they need a fourth member who is proficient in guitar, keys, vocals, and has stage experience. (Naked Giants, if you’re reading this, it’s me. Pick me. I’m totally your guy.)

Shine Away is such a catchy, joyful record that’s perfect for car rides, lounging on the couch, or to crunch up in earbuds and tune out coworkers. It’ll brighten your day, lighten your mood, and put a smile on your face.

If you want a guitar record that isn’t oozing with testosterone, then look no further. Naked Giants have got you covered, and they knocked it out of the park. Don’t let the bad guys win. Check this band’s record out and catch them in concert if you can. (Especially if they put me on rhythm guitar.)

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