My Own Mess

The debut studio album from the Byron Bay trio stuffs their unpretentious garage punk into a greasy bag of goodness. Ben Reed’s voice has a tinge of desperation that lingers and gives My Own Mess its down-but-not-out personality. Songs like “Paradise,” “Stop,” and “Infinity” are the musical equivalent of downhill skateboarding—adrenaline on tilt, a little squirrelly at times, yet supremely confident. And for all the youthful vigour on display here, nuanced tracks like “Road Trip,” “Need to Do,” and “Midnight Eyes” show a thoughtful mind and melodic ear buried beneath their shaggy, sun-bleached locks.