4/5 stars
Wollongong-based outfit Jacob have come out swinging with their new EP, Keep Growing Old. Spread out across eight tracks, the release only just scrapes the 20-minute mark. Luckily they’ve packed it full of jams that leave you reaching for the repeat button.
Jacob combine elements of pop-punk with the sounds of the current emo revival. Each song has something a little different going on, from grunge-esque riffs to Midwestern noodly lead sections and full distorted chords ringing through. There’s a great play on dynamics throughout, as well as the subtle and playful synth on some tracks. It sits in that middle ground between an EP and an album, but feels like the latter.
The vocals are infectious, making use of clean singing and yelled lines to keep things interesting. Highlights include the opener ‘I’, a loud catchy start that features some clever overlapping vocals. Towards the end, ‘Shoes’ brings things down in a slower, more intimate fashion.
Keep Growing Old is a handful of really catchy songs, each with their own feel and goal. The short duration lends itself to multiple plays, and the lyrics reward them.
Jacob’s Keep Growing Old is out independently now through Bandcamp.
