Naive Thieves break out into the world with their official debut album, Vamanos. The four piece outfit hails from the East Coast, of Riverside California, and consists of front man and rhythm guitarist Cameron Thorne, lead guitarist Levi Audette, Kyle Garcia on bass and backing vocals, and Ian Maloney, drummer and backing vocalist.  And while this may be their debut album, the band has self released several other works, including EPs Le Sheik Rat (2011) and the self titled Naive Thieves (2010).

The Vamanos album starts off with the doo wop influenced “Woe Is Me/Hawaii (I Don’t Want to Go),” a song filled with laid back guitar melodies and a pop-y chorus that hooks listeners with smooth vocal harmonies and guitar chords entwining around each other. Jumping to the very pop alt rock song of “Tragic and Magic,” it keeps the doo wop feel that encompasses the album but gives it a modern kick most teens like myself are fond of. And this song in particular, you feel a really similar vibe to early days of The Strokes, circa Is This It and Room on Fire. Cameron Thorne’s voice is strikingly similar to the sweet and smooth lows of Julian Casablancas, and the guitar riffs in the song have the same feeling of a few songs off the Is This It album. “Holy Smoke” provides the typical “surf’s up” rock that California usually produces, but does so in a way that it isn’t overdone or boring with the inclusion of a marimba sounding percussion instrument. “Dead Bones” is perhaps one of the more witty songs, providing a break-up kind of feel, and lyrics such as “Even though I brushed your hair behind your ears, I can tell you were wishing I would disappear” and an unusual harpsichord intro that provides a very indie feel to it. And the final piece, “I Fell” ties the album together in a smooth jazz bow, wrapping up a truly unique album. Thorne’s low notes pump mellow and loving vibes into your head, while the piano and saxophone put you in the mood to slow dance with your lover, the harmonies guiding your way across the hall, swaying back and forth to the gentle rhythm.

Thorne stated in an interview that Vamanos was supposed to be “… something like a ‘call to action’ for ourselves, or a mile marker for our progress” and after listening to their earlier EPs, it can be surely said that is band has found the sound they were looking for, and will carry them on for the years to come. Expect to hear them on your radio very soon.

9/10

By: Isaiah Howell