The States
Gimme Joy
Legless Records [2025]
“Blending vintage swagger with punk energy, The States deliver a debut that’s fierce, fun, and built to be played loud.”
Album Overview: Formed in the summer of 2022-23, The States are a Melbourne-based quartet emerging from the city’s thriving rock scene. Led by Scarlett Maloney (Tuffy, Delivery) on vocals and guitar, the band features Joe Imfeld (The Prize) on lead guitar, Paddy Leahy on bass, and Georgie Harkin on drums and backing vocals. Their sound channels the energy of classic rock but with a modern edge, quickly earning them a reputation as one of the most exciting new names in Australian rock. With their debut album, Gimme Joy, The States make an undeniable statement in just 20 minutes, capturing raw, unfiltered energy with tight musicianship and a fearless attitude. Recorded in only two days, the album distills their essence—electric, immediate, and brimming with potential.
Musical Style: The States tap into vintage rock and roll, blending ‘60s melodies, glam swagger, sweat-soaked punk, and garage grit. Beneath the driving rhythms and sharp guitar lines, hints of doo-wop harmonies and girl-group charm emerge—sweet but with a bite. It’s an old-school approach with a contemporary snarl—unpolished, urgent, and impossible to ignore.
Evolution of Sound: Despite being a new band, The States arrive with a fully formed identity. Gimme Joy isn’t a tentative first step—it’s bold, loud, and full of conviction. Their influences are apparent but never overbearing, weaving together different eras of rock into something distinctly their own.
Artists with Similar Fire: The States carry the torch of rock’s rebellious spirit, evoking the energy of The Runaways, Girlschool, The Shangri-Las, The Exploding Hearts, and T. Rex. Their raw, electrifying sound also aligns with modern acts like Ex Hex, Sheer Mag, early Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Amyl and The Sniffers, and The Chats. Like these artists, The States fuse timeless melodies with a raucous, anything-can-happen attitude.
Pivotal Tracks: “Carol” is an instant crowd-mover, packed with attitude and undeniable hooks. The title track, “Gimme Joy,” encapsulates the band’s essence—driving rhythms, powerhouse vocals, and a swaggering energy, topped off with an exhilarating final guitar run. Elsewhere, “Take Me Out” and “Queen of Mean” flex their range, weaving girl-group harmonies into razor-sharp guitar work. The closing track, “Back to Loving,” slows things down with a smoldering sway, radiating strength in both vocals and instrumentation without ever fully unleashing them—a perfect, tension-filled finale.
Lyrical Strength: The songwriting on Gimme Joy is as infectious as it is direct, embracing themes of excitement, longing, and the rush of living in the moment. The lyrics carry an effortless cool, channeling rock and roll’s rebellious spirit without feeling forced. Every line sounds built to be shouted back by a crowd, giving these songs a lasting, anthemic quality.
Final Groove: Gimme Joy is a thrilling debut—short, sharp, and impossible to ignore. The States prove that rock and roll can be both raw and refined, delivering an album that feels like a shot of adrenaline. It’s fun, fiery, and bursting with attitude, showing a band that knows exactly who they are from the jump. If this is just their opening statement, whatever comes next will be well worth the ride.
THE STATES VERBS LINKS
Instagram | Bandcamp | Legless Records
- The States: Gimme Joy [Album Review] - March 14, 2025
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