March roars in like a lion, but I prefer The Grip Weeds! “Spinning The Wheel” is a kick ass song from their last LP, and it makes a great video. New is the band TV Sound from New Jersey, check out the rock riffs on the middle of “No Guarantees” and “Zak” and you will be hooked. Long time fave Kai Danzberg thought it was “Time To Change,” and gets a bit heavier than usual here, but his attitude sells it. More to the point, The Morning Line is back with “90s Pickup” and liking that chorus where we “stare to the right, stare to the left.” Pickup this great freebie! Memphis band Your Academy also is back, and it’s got a “Kind of Love” that sounds like a new romantic classic to me. Finally, Willis Van Doorn from Kansas City, has a bright pair of pop singles here. Expect an album out this summer. Also, next week expects to be much busier for me, so stay glued to this site. More to come!
Tag: The Grip Weeds
Iain Hornal and The Grip Weeds
Iain Hornal “Return to the Magic Kingdom”
Iain Hornal has likely the best pedigree I’ve seen for an artist, as he’s a long-standing touring member of both 10cc and Jeff Lynne’s ELO, including touring with prog legend Yes. On his third album he swings for the fences, and it does not disappoint. There are some stylistic parallels between these songs and those of ELO and 10cc; however, it is important to highlight that they are original songs that have been meticulously crafted by Hornal.
Starting with “Little Bit More” is a blast of guitars and chugging piano with classical ascending chords and overlapping harmonies. The glam rhythms of “Positive People” are next. Loaded with those “la la la” vocal touches and handclaps, it’s like a wicked monologue from a charismatic cult leader. The catchy “Already Dead” is a perfect diagnosis for modern anxiety disorder, but the crown jewel of this album is “Love Your Enemies.” It starts out a little like an Andrew Gold piano gem, but grows into something so much more, with its layered earworm of a chorus and a solid biblical message to stop “pointing fingers at those twisted fools on the news.” Additional highlights include “If It Were You”, a co-write with 10cc’s Graham Gouldman (who also features on the track) and the very ELO-like break up song “Over and Out.” Overall one of the catchiest albums I’ve heard this year. It makes my top ten list for sure. Super Highly Recommended.
The Grip Weeds “Soul Bender”
At this point The Grip Weeds are not contented to stand still. On ’Soul Bender’ they create a kaleidoscope of sound by combining garage rock, paisley pop, and baroque psychedelia. The title track marches out like a combination of late ’60s The Moody Blues and The Who. It sets the mood nicely, and next we have “Flowers for Cynthia” and “Spinning The Wheel.” These fuzz-laden psychedelic power pop tracks juggle garage rock tenacity with Byrdsian jangle in a strong, powerful hook. The Rickenbackers are up front, and the distortion pedals are less of an issue. Kurt Reil makes sure the vocals don’t get lost either, and it makes great listening.
“Conquer and Divide” and “Wake Up Time” seem direct descendant of Moby Grape, and the band still has that Beatlesque blend with The Byrds to dazzle with “Column of Air” and the Kristen vocal led “If You Were Here.” Another pop confection is “Someone in Love,” which reminds me of The Aerovons. Overall, no filler or a trace of indulgent psychedelic bombast get in the way of each melody. A great band continues to impress with a great album. Highly Recommended.
February Singles and EPs: Midnight Callers, Super 8, Hanemoon, Seely Jurgens Band, Strange Neighbors, The Grip Weeds
David Brookings and The Grip Weeds
David Brookings “Mania at the Talent Show”
David Brookings has continued to grow musically over the years, and with his latest Mania At The Talent Show, he’s still telling stories that resonate. “Hard Times” reflects on the COVID fueled era of anxiety. On “Keep It Real” he settles in with a laid-back catchy rhythm as he touches on some of his favorite Western pop culture icons growing up (Outlaw Josey Wales, Gunsmoke), and then he slows down even more on the sleepy jangling “Driving to Ojai.” The California vibe is strong with this one, as well as other tracks. And David’s humor is sharp as ever on the bouncy “Women of L.A.” about women “going to the vending machine to pick out a new face.”
Other standouts include “One of Us Is Crazy (The Other One Is Me),” “Get Off (My Mind),” and “Kill Shot.” The longer form story-song “Mania at The Talent Show” is a lively tale of catching “rock star” mania with catchy hooks that chug along. Some tunes are more atmospheric and less compelling (“Words Come Back To Haunt You” and “Hide Your Crazy”) but this doesn’t throw the album off track. Brookings is a talent that deserves to be heard. Highly Recommended.
The Grip Weeds “DiG”
For over 26 years as one of New Jersey’s finest bands, The Grip Weeds (singer/drummer Kurt Reil, his wife Kristin Pinell Reil, brother Rick Reil, and bassist Dave DeSantis) have dazzled audiences with their unique blend of psychedelic styled garage rock and power pop. In a moment of introspection, the band decided to back at what influenced their sound and pay tribute to songs they loved. This is the inspiration for DiG, and it’s no ordinary covers album.
The late sixties has always been a benchmark for the band, and they dig deep through this 2-disc set. The challenge is to improve upon the originals, and in many ways, The Grip Weeds are up for this challenge. The one-hit wonders are usually ripe for improvement and “Shape of Things To Come” (Max Frost and The Troopers), “Journey to The Center of The Mind” (The Amboy Dukes), and “Lies” (The Knickerbockers) are instrumentally superior versions. More modern songs like The Plimsouls “Lie, Beg, Borrow, and Steal” are given a retro arrangement and there are plenty of songs you’ll not be familiar with; obscurities like “The Little Black Egg” (The Nightcrawlers). Overall a great album for those who love to dig through the classic late sixties catalog. Highly Recommended.
Happy Birthday to John Lennon!
John Lennon’s 80th Birthday would have been on October 9th, 2020. To celebrate, a number of artists have released tributes in his honor.
Various Artists “Jem Records Celebrates John Lennon”
Each band is given a pair of tunes, and this first-class tribute starts with the premiere Beatlesque band The Weeklings. They add a Bo Diddley styled rhythm to this unique arrangement of The Beatles “The Word” and flesh out the bare-bones Lennon demo “What’s The New Mary Jane?” NYC-based The Midnight Callers deliver some sweet harmonies on the acoustic “Child of Nature” and bluesy lead guitar on “Jealous Guy.”
The Grip Weeds are faithful to the spirit of “You Can’t Do That” and “Strawberry Fields Forever” and the depth of sound and crisp production are impressive. The Anderson Council’s Peter Horvath channels Lennon well on “I Found Out” with its swirling psychedelic reverb. Johnathan Pushkar and The Gold Needles also deliver the goods. Richard Barone’s speeds up the tempo in the lone mashup of “Revolution” and “Power To The People.” It all works and is Highly Recommended.
Timmy Sean puts a modern spin on several classics with his new EP – It’s a FREE download. Enjoy!
Reno Bo has done Beatles tributes before, but this one is new! It’s a FREE download. Enjoy!
John Lennon “Gimme Some Truth”
This latest ‘greatest hits’ collection is likely the best sounding mix you’ve ever heard and really does do justice to John’s compositions. Remixed by Paul Hicks (who did Imagine – The Ultimate Collection), all 36 tracks were selected by Yoko and son Sean to tell John’s post-Beatles story and illustrate his many moods. All gift-wrapped in numerous deluxe packages (the big one has a commemorative book, stickers, postcards, and extensive liner notes.)
Lennon’s searing indictment of self-serving politicians and “narrow-minded hypocritics” is even more relevant today than it was over forty years ago. The selection of songs includes his most popular work giving them new life for generations to come. Highly Recommended.