Among the many underappreciated bands making better than just respectable records, count Britain’s The Forest Giants, whose last two offerings have been recognizable but hardly recognized – get it? What exactly is underappreciated? Try no significant listing on www.allmusic.com, a site that is just what it calls itself; little in the way of music rag press; most of what there is to know about them is out there on a their self-produced myspace page.
When 2005’s UFO Stories emerged as one of the best EP/singles that year, who noticed? The answer is relatively no one – that’s just a shame.
Since the release of UFO Stories another, full album from Cherryade Records entitled Welcome To The Midwest only fulfilled the previous work’s promise. Again, understated, well-crafted with enough spit and polish, the Forest Giants were quietly making a resume for themselves based on spotless fuzz pop guitar craftsmanship, dour, smart mouthed lyrics and a welcome “other-worldly” charm. One listen to the former’s “Late Night In The Park” or the latter’s “So You Think That You’re Unhappy?” and the call-back to Galaxie 5000 or other of the 80’s and 90’s vintage British rock was clear.
Now comes 2007’s double-disc, Things To Do When We’re Bored (Lo-fi International) the latest, offering a glimpse at what these guys do in their free time – write great rock songs. Front man and guitarist Tim Rippington has a underlying fun quality to him – something that is sorely missing out there in serious land, and it’s on display just as much here as on previous releases. There are fine, less raucous tunes here, many culled from the especially fruitful Midwest recording sessions. Songs like, “At The Dog Track” and, “Goodbye/One For the Road” – or even the dark, “Car Crash” could fit anywhere on the catalog, and speak of Rippington’s almost overwhelming depth as a songwriter. While fuzz guitars and the like are the Giant’s strong suit, Things We Do proves it’s not their only trick. And if those are more to your liking, the second disc is filled with outtakes. As is almost always the case, these demo tracks are rougher, more organic, and just as revelatory when assessing the size of this band’s potential.
The crusade is clear, although somewhat flagging in its undertaking. The Forest Giants are an outfit that, without a doubt, needs to be recognized and perhaps relished. In a world of media saturation, it is a shame when the real good work fails to get wet. Keep on.
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