Playing like a longer, more streamlined version of the
D.U.M.E. EP,
Gimmie Trouble continues to explore
Adult.'s punk leanings. Though nothing here is quite as unhinged as
D.U.M.E., the band -- now a trio, thanks to the addition of guitarist and
Tamion 12 Inch member Sam Consiglio -- still finds a lot to explore in that EP's taunting, pitch-black sound, particularly on "Scare Up the Birds" and "In My Nerves." Tracks like the tribal-sounding chant "Disappoint the Youth" and the freezer-burn fury of "Still Waiting" show that
Nicola Kuperus remains as gleefully mean-spirited, witty, and paranoid as ever, although her shrieks at the end of "Turn Into Fever" are genuinely fierce. The creepy little backing vocals on "Helen Bach" and the goofy rhythm on "Lovely Love" play up the theatrical and very, very dark sense of humor underlying a lot of
Adult.'s later work without sounding too silly or parodic. Somewhat oddly, considering that Consiglio is now a full member of
Adult. on this album, his guitars are less prominent here than they were on the EP, and are relegated to textures on most of
Gimmie Trouble; indeed, tracks like "Thought I Choked" and "Seal Me In" are some of the band's sparest work in a while. Even though there are no radical changes here,
Gimmie Trouble sounds more like
Adult. sharpening its edges than running in place.