Diamond Youth

Shake EP

With their third EP in as many years, one could say Baltimore’s Diamond Youth have a thing for the format. In their latest short-form offering, the scene-associated, mainstream-hungry rockers lose us for a minute. “Can’t Shake The Feeling” throws back to when Queens Of The Stone Age’s Songs For The Deaf ruled radio, as frontman Justin Gilman’s too-cool singing sounds very reminiscent of Josh Homme (even some softer No. 4-era Scott Weiland on “Warm Scene”), but these six songs lack one crucial element: hooks. “Maryland Ice Cream” briefly spices things up, wilding out for 50 seconds as if they were petitioned to write it for the next Jackass movie. “Follow Through” leaves us with creepy-crawly melodies perfectly aligned over bumping bass fuzz. Shake has its moments, but Diamond Youth have had better ones.

Topshelf http://www.topshelfrecords.com

“Maryland Ice Cream”