By: Joseph VanBuren
Rating: 7.5/11

It’s hard to predict what to expect from a band called The Giraffes. That’s a good thing, because their music would probably destroy any possible preconceived expectation. There is definitely a retro core of hard rock in The Giraffes’ songs, influence from the decades in which many bands were named after animals, but there is a modern glaze of post-punk over these audio treats as well. Stand out track “The Border” is a ferocious attack of funk metal and experimental punk. In deep contrast is the near-comatose “Louis Guthrie Wants to Kill Me,” an eerie ballad in which vocalist Tuvoc Lazar squeals “You’re dying to kill me.” From imaginative lyrics like those to moody guitar riffs and sudden tempo changes, there is a lot of creativity behind The Giraffes’ songwriting. A good choice for rock fans looking for a band that isn’t cut from a cookie cutter.