The Grates - Gravity Won't Get You High

It's unfortunate that almost every emergent female lead singer in a punk/pop band seems to try to emulate Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Patience Hodgson from Aussie group The Grates is no exception. She has a raw energy and diverse vocal palette, but it's all been done before. That said, the album as a whole is a collection of brash, bouncy and upbeat songs. Tracks such as 19 20 20 and Inside Outside will have your foot tapping involuntarily. Quirky lyrics like "I'm going to go like this to you… la la la la la" on Lies and "Use your bed as a trampoline" on Trampoline illustrate that this is a couple of girls and a guy who don't take themselves too seriously. Their music is simple, catchy and above all else, fun. [Suzanne Mitchell]