THE GRIP WEEDS
Giant on the Beach
(Rainbow Quartz)
The Grip Weeds' fourth album is, well, pretty much like their last three, full of jangly, psychedelia-tinged guitar pop that's 60s-derived in execution but contemporary in production. Almost scary in its consistency, the band is as tight and tuneful as ever—cuts like "Midnight Sun," "Closer to Love" and "Give Me Some of Your Ways" burst with melody and hooks. Not sure what the mystical spirituality of "Infinite Soul," "Waiting For a Sign" and "Astral Man" is all about, but hell, when the messages are married to music this good, I'll overlook a lot. - Michael Toland