Dumb Things - Self Help LP

By their third album, most bands are supposed to have figured it out, but ‘Self Help’ is more about knowing you probably never will. On their aptly titled third album, the Magandjin/Brisbane-based Dumb Things have read the books, done the self-reflection, and stared long and hard into the mirror that is a bus window at 1am, emerging with a charmingly ramshackle collection of guitar pop songs that we can’t wait to finally hear on wax.

The playful call and response of interweaving guitars and vocal harmonies define the sound of the album, recalling bands like The Go-Betweens, Dick Diver, Magick Heads, The Pastels and Beat Happening. Their conversational melodies and unexpected lyrics are evidence of the fun and friendship that went into the making of this record, and working again with longstanding collaborator Cam Smith at Incremental Records further refines the sound Dumb Things have fostered on their previous two albums. Thematically, kitchen linoleum hiding dusty layers of history receives a surprisingly high-energy ode in ‘Windows and Doors’; while the closure of beloved Magandjin music venues are lamented through observations of their obscure decor choices in the upbeat ‘Cherry Blossoms’. Themes of heartbreak, growing up, and loneliness sneak their way in, but the camaraderie between the band makes it feel like a pal is never far away. 
–Little Lunch