Album Review: The Smith Street Band - More Scared Of You Than You Are Of Me

Taking us from poolside Aussie summers to cold New York streets, The Smith Street Band's fourth album narrates the life and death of a relationship, from exciting beginnings to a tumultuous ending to a much-needed fresh start.

Musically, the band have taken bigger risks than they have before and it's paid off. Producer Jeff Rosenstock's influence is apparent with the introduction of synths, choirs and larger string sections, and frontman Wil Wagner has become more adventurous in his vocal style.

Like previous works by The Smith Street Band, it takes a few listens to fully hear and take in all the lyrical nuances, but there is a lot to appreciate here. While tracks such as It Kills Me To Have To Be Alive and Suffer will break your heart, others will lift you up. There's a buoyancy to songs like Shine and Laughing (Or Pretending To Laugh) and it's a refreshing change in the band's usually melancholic approach.

More Scared Of You Than You Are Of Me sees huge growth from 2014's Throw Me In The River and shows that the last few years of touring have allowed the band to solidify their playing style and really trust each other to try something new.

If you're a fan of The Smith Street Band, you'll love it. If you've never tried them before, this is the album to start with.