Ah, youth!  The spirited and optimistic kind, not the brooding and conflicted variety, is represented in exceptional form by Local Natives in their music as well as how long they have been present in the world of Indie.  Considered one of the hottest new bands to hail from Los Angeles, they seem poised to stick around for a while, provided the hype doesn’t give them a head rush.

The themes are simple enough; desire for personal experience, wanderlust, curiosity, and self-discovery, but do not write off this young band as a group of amateurs.  They show adeptness for complex composition that rivals bands with far more miles of experience.  They strategically position 3 part harmonies, clangy drums that echo around the space of the song, strings for emphasis, and claps and chants that are eager for crowd assistance.

Initially releasing their debut album, Gorilla Manor, in Europe, this quintet started to gain attention after playing a slew of shows at the SXSW (South by South West) festival in Austin, Texas.  They have already been compared to Vampire Weekend and considered a West Coast Grizzly Bear, but I think they have more of a Pop, commercial-friendly sound that will appeal to Top 40 listeners looking for a bit more edge.

Can you hear Local Natives on Top 40 radio alongside bands like The Bravery and Paramore?  Do you think this young band will fall victim to the comparisons?

If you like: Vampire Weekend, Death Cab for Cutie, OK Go
Check out: Local Natives (start with “Sun Hands,” progress with “Wide Eyes,” graduate to “Airplanes”)
Feeling brave : Fleet Foxes, Grizzly Bear, Dirty Projectors, Wild Beasts

AI Level: Beginner