Young the Giant

Taking hints from so many of their SoCal contemporaries may not have been the smartest move for Orange County’s Young the Giant, but it’s certainly no reason to dismiss them entirely. For their self-titled debut, produced by Joe Chiccarelli (White Stripes, My Morning Jacket), the YTG guys aim high, employing big vocal crescendos and anthemic guitar lines that call to mind a less preachy Cold War Kids or a less percussion-heavy Local Natives. When it works (“My Body,” “12 Fingers”), we get sunny and heartfelt rock ‘n’ roll that hits just hard enough to be called “danceable.” Unfortunately, when it doesn’t (“I Got,” “St. Walker”) the result is far less satisfying. (Think awkward folk meanderings and ’90s alt-rock flashbacks.) Even still, there’s promise here—and enough of interest to catch the band when they play live at Velvet Jones next Thursday, February 24. Visit clubmercy.com for info.