8/10

After gathering comparisons to the likes of Vampire Weekend, MGMT and Passion Pit, Aussie four-piece The Griswolds have certainly won over the appreciation of the international press. Their latest single 'Beware The Dog' earned them rave reviews from all corners of the globe and contributed a huge chunk to their ever-growing fanbase. Now on the cusp of releasing their debut album 'Be Impressive', will these lads from down-under continue that energy into a full-length release?

From the start, 'Be Impressive' is a intense slice of sheer summer pop. The opener '16 Years' comes across as a early-career Phoenix album track and sets the tone for where this album would be heading. While 'Beware The Dog' may be the stand-out single on this record, it doesn't really fit with their general sound. The majority of this album is a lot less glossy than its lead single and actually plays with the confidence and production quality of a band already well into their career. As a debut, this is simply an outstanding piece of pop-rock that sets the bar very high for the band in the years to come.

The Griswolds are certainly a band that know how they want to sound and have kept a consistent quality throughout their first record. They may still have only broken into the mainstream of their native land, but with a cult fanbase growing in the UK already, it shouldn't be long before we are all enjoying their summer sounds.