The Paper Scissors are a rocking Sydney band that have created an album that is probably the most musically interesting album released this year thus far.

In Loving Memory is an album full of The Paper Scissors’ usual garage-rock, as well as some more experimental electronic tunes. The rock tracks are generally The Paper Scissors’ at their best - raw guitars, fantastic drum beats and catchy hooks, with lead singer Jai Pyne’s voice cutting through the several layers of sound perfectly. However, the synth and heavy electro distortion used on some of the songs really do not work - they defy The Paper Scissors’ essence and not in a good way.

Examples of these weaker songs include “Taller Than You Then” which samples over-distorted guitars and ends much too abruptly, and “Wrong” which, as the name suggests, is just wrong - the vocals are over distorted and quickly become annoying, and is reminiscent of a Killers’ b-side. On the other hand, the stronger songs are fantastic - “Lung Sum”, the leading single from the album, is an excellent raw rock song that would be great live, and “Turn it to Gold” is a little slower, very catchy and brings early Death Cab for Cutie to mind.

The best song on the album, in my opinion, is “Soft Pig” - a heartfelt ballad. It’s emotive and is in a triple meter. It’s common knowledge that more low key songs show a band’s talent, especially for the louder bands - and this song shows that The Paper Scissors are definitely a bunch of very talented musicians. This song is simply beautifully written and put together.

You certainly cannot say that In Loving Memory is a boring, or unoriginal album. There are some fantastically strong tracks, and even the weaker tracks are well thought out and well written. This is a solid album that is bound to make the Australian rock scene proud.

Review score: 7/10