3/5 stars
It always warms my heart to see a band break up, only for the members to go on and start several other bands like some kind of musical Hydra. This is the case with Brisbane indie-pop band Hungry Kids Of Hungary, whom we have to thank for Born Joy Dead and their debut EP Stones In My Shoe.
Frontman Ben Dalton was not the singer in Hungry Kids, which makes it all the more satisfying to watch him carry the torch. This band is a little more rock-based, a little less silly, and features a lot of strong vocal work and catchy melodies throughout. ‘Stones In My Shoe’ and ‘Upside Down, Inside Out’ are the standout tracks here, with the former being a catchy dream-pop effort, and the latter a Black Keys song from an alternative indie universe.
This release can be described as more of a sampler than an EP – each of the four tracks have their own feel, like the band is showing off all the avenues it could walk down in the future. The EP’s constant changing of directions is fine thanks to its concise length, but Born Joy Dead will need a more consistent sound to survive the full-length treatment.
A friendly debut from a nice indie-pop band. Triple j’s summer soundtrack comes five months early.
Born Joy Dead’sStones In My Shoeis out now through Mucho Bravado.
