Gigantaur

(World Domination)
by Sheril Stanford

The thing that sets Gigantaur apart from its many twee cousins out there is its compelling combination of sweet pop innocence coupled with a certain oddly disturbing edginess. This Australian band manufactures tunes which are relentlessly, unapologetically poppy, delivered complete with ringing guitar riffs and sweet (there’s just no other word for it) vocal harmonies. But there’s something dark lurking underneath. Imagine these words, delivered in a voice of unbelievable sweetness (sorry, there’s that word again) to a tune as catchy as something you sang in the back seat of your parents car on a long trip (“I followed you last night/I got your number and I been tracing all your calls/You said you’d never take me back/But it’s all wrong/I won’t get lost so easily/Ooh, now I got a gun”). Stalking and domestic violence never sounded so pretty. And “Favorite Song” is another tune as catchy yet haunting as a commercial jingle for poisoned peanut butter.

Don’t be tempted to lump this one in with all the other pop offerings out there. Listen again.