There’s quite literally no escaping the abundance of bands that are looking back to the 90’s to find influence for their art these days. However for the most part, a lot of bands are focusing on the grunge, indie, and shoegaze elements from that era, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but when a band like Diamond Youth have clearly been fishing a different creative pool, it makes their sound even more refreshing.
It would have been easy for Diamond Youth to follow the pack and record a dream-pop album or something, but ‘Nothing Matters’ has more in common with college rock bands Weezer and Nada Surf than anything else. Recorded at Hurley studios in California, the west coast sunshine clearly soaked its way into the recording of their debut-full length, as it is packed full of shimmering melodies and uplifting hooks that have summer listening written all over them.
The title-track kicks the album off with two-minutes of bratty pop rock, carried by Justin Gilman’s infectious vocal lines and high-energy guitar riffs. What sets Diamond Youth apart from many bands that could try their hand at this brand of alternative rock is their playing ability. When they utilise a more standard verse / chorus / verse composition on ‘Thought I had It Right’, it still sounds more accomplished than just going for three power chords.
While the aforementioned Weezer made no secret for their love of The Beach Boys, it seems like Brian Wilson and co. have rubbed off on Diamond Youth as well. The subtle backing vocal on ‘In The Clouds’ is reminiscent of the Californian surf scene, complete with a jangly tremolo guitar sound. Even the slower ‘Riptide’ sounds like an updated outtake from The Beach Boys classic ‘Pet Sounds’ album with it’s simple yet effective structure.
Of course Diamond Youth still know how to write a straight up rock song as well, with the classic quiet / loud formula of ‘No Control’ which fuzzes in all the right places. One of the key weapons in the bands arsenal is Justin Gilman’s vocal range. While some vocalists struggle with pitch, and sometimes end up sounding shrill when they reach the higher register, Gilman is note-perfect. He effortlessly goes up and down through the Pixies-eqsue ‘Deep Love’, and maintains fantastic diction through closing track ‘The Difference’ as he holds notes for extended periods of time.
What Diamond Youth are doing is nothing that hasn’t been done in the past, and they probably won’t win prizes for originality. However the honesty in which ‘Nothing Matters’ is delivered makes it incredibly enjoyable. When some pop-rock albums make you sigh, and feel empty because you have just heard it all before, ‘Nothing Matters’ gives off a certain endearing charisma that just makes you love it more and more.
Devotees of the band will remember that Diamond Youth once put out an excellent EP called ‘Don’t Lose Your Cool’ about four years ago. Well, not only have they come on leaps and bounds by growing as songwriters since then, but they certainly haven’t lost their cool, because ‘Nothing Matters’ exudes cool from start to finish.
GLEN BUSHELL