The Unknowns

Reviews

The Unknowns Looking From the Outside LP

For lived-in, gritty power pop with a rock’n’roll spirit, you never have to look far past Australia. From the chugging downstroke riffs to the saturated full-throated vocals, this band knows what works and weaponizes it. Hooks galore and no shortage of riffs, all while embodying a timeless sort of cool that sells the whole affair. I sincerely hope bands never stop sounding like this, because it still sounds fresh even if it’s arguably “retro.” A song like “I Know That You Know” sounds like you grew up listening to it, and that’s a major compliment. Rather than sound stale, this is a group that’s keeping something alive that will always feel vital.

The Unknowns East Coast Low LP

One of these days you’re going to read a review of an Australian release where things are panned, but that sure as hell isn’t going to be today. Bringing to mind other brilliant Australian classics like the RIPTIDES and the EASTERN DARK, this album is a case study in how a foundation of good taste can take you far. These tracks are brimming with power pop hooks, pub rock call-and-response shouts, and classic punk energy. While the UNKNOWNS include members of the CHATS, this is far from anything one might call a “side project,” as the UNKNOWNS have been cranking out hits with regularity for a decade.