The Gideons

Oxford Street (Independent)

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Holy shit, The Gideons! The Halifax quintet's spirited, joyful double album Oxford Street is perhaps the most ambitious local endeavour of the year---and the most successful. They have tethered their fun messiness without sacrificing any exuberance. It's almost stressful finding a favourite song because you'll have so many. "I Will Take You To The Ivory Coast" could make Anton Newcombe cream his jeans. "Peterson Cumz Alyve" has guitars talking dirty to each other, and it would be hilarious if it wasn't so fucking good. And there's the instantly hummable "Coke and Whiskey"---pitch-black lyrics over a happy country bounce, and a bittersweet bridge that will damn near break your heart. Oxford Street is an impressive achievement from a great young band that's parting ways far too soon.