Recommended tracks: “Mind Over Matter,” “Bitter Fruit,” “Apartment”
Artists you may like: Death Cab for Cutie, The Lumineers, Silversun Pickups
Just when you think that Young The Giant can’t get more angelic, they open the sky and a new compilation of ethereal songs descends from the heavens. Young The Giant released the first compilation of their stripped-back songs, In The Open Volume One, on September 2, featuring six reimagined, laid-back versions of previously released tunes.
Beginning in 2010 with their single “I Got,” the alternative rock band dropped their first standalone In The Open track, opening the door to more alternate versions they picked up in 2014. I never lost hope that Young The Giant would rework their magic on more of their discography.
My world was flipped upside down when I saw them perform live on their dual-headline tour with Milky Chance in 2023, a show that would solidify their spot on my all-time-favorite-bands-to-see list. I was immediately entranced by the way frontman Sameer Gadhia dominates the stage and displays such elegant control over his voice. Young The Giant takes it to the next level with this new EP, elevating their studio-recorded songs with a live-performance flair.
Whether you’re a new listener or seasoned fan, Young The Giant has you covered. I was delighted to see that each of the six tracks on the new EP is originally from different albums throughout their musical career.
In The Open Volume One revamps fan-favorite songs in chronological order, starting with an acoustic version of their standout hit, “Apartment” from their debut album, Young The Giant (2010). If asked to name just one Young The Giant song, I would most likely name this one first and foremost. With its cool guitar and unplugged feel, this track transports you into the apartment itself.
The band follows suit with live renditions of “Mind Over Matter” from their 2014 album of the same name, “Amerika” from Home of the Strange (2016), “Heat of the Summer” from Mirror Master (2018), and “Otherside” from their most recent LP, American Bollywood (2022).
Placed at the heart of this EP, “Mind Over Matter” is quite simply one of the most gorgeous songs I have ever had the pleasure of listening to, whether it’s through speakers pushed to their maximum volume, on a rooftop venue in New York City, or ringing throughout the 40,000-seat stadium at Citi Field. If I could inject this song into my bloodstream, I would. Young The Giant recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of Mind Over Matter, the identically named second studio album. Just when you think the title track got all the flowers it deserves, the band blesses fans with an even more impressive rendition of the track.
“Heat of the Summer” has been, and will always be, my favorite song of every summer. Sure, there are popular songs every season, and more artists release heat-wave tunes year after year, but “Heat of the Summer” is forever. While the original track reminds me of driving with the windows down, this In The Open version is meant for the destination. This song would pair beautifully with sitting on a beach towel or roasting marshmallows over a fire pit. Young The Giant is there for all your summer music needs, day or night.
The chronological exception is their refreshing opening track “Bitter Fruit,” a powerful song that sets the tone for the remainder of the project. It’s the only song that doesn’t belong to a previous album, exclusively released for In The Open Volume One, making it all the more special.
You can feel the energy surrounding Gadhia when you listen to this compilation of songs. His voice gives you the power to levitate, makes the bustling streets of a city feel like an echoed cliffside, and makes you almost forget the trials and tribulations of life. His voice is quite simply otherworldly, and when paired beautifully with graceful instruments and flawless transitions from studio to stage, it makes for music that I can only describe as magical. I hope this is the first of many In The Open volumes.
The only way this could get better? We hope that Young The Giant will expand their In The Open headline tour with even more dates in the future.
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