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| Goldmine |
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| February
12, 1999 |
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THE
GRIP WEEDS
The Sound Is In You
Buy Or Die (BOD 9817)
This New Jersey foursome is making a rapid ascent
from alternative underground cult status to mainstream acceptance.
The Sound Is In You, the Weeds' second album, will help solidify
the reputation that began with House of Vibes, their first album
released in 1995.
The band, fronted by brothers Rick and Kurt Reil
(guitar and drums respectively), also features Kristin Pinell on
guitar and Michael Nattboy on bass. All band members share in the
vocals which is one of the group's undeniable strengths. Their music
is rich in vocal textures and unusual harmonies, and is surprisingly
melodic. These are engaging qualities that seem to be in short supply
in much of contemporary rock.
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There
are virtually no throwaway tracks on this 16-track collection, and
no fewer than six of them could make a strong bid for the singles
sweepstakes ("In Waking Dreams," "A Piece Of My Own" and "Games" are
notable). The band writes and arranges its own material (all but Neil
Young's "Down To The Wire" are original here). This is quite an accomplishment
given the complexity of these performances.
Various reviewers have harkened The Grip Weeds sound to the early
Who, The Byrds, and The Smithereens. The Who connection is particularly
apparent on "Every Minute." Others have noted more than a passing
nod to psychedelia. I'd throw in salute to The Kinks on "Better World"
and, to my ears, it's hard not to include mid-period Beatles in the
derivative mix (especially on "What I Believe Is You" and "Strange
Bird"). Maybe it is easier to describe this band-- which gets its
name from Private Grip Weed, John Lennon's character in the film How
I Won The War-- as being on a mission to capture what is best about
'60s group music for a new audience in the coming millenium. It's
an honorable task and, by the evidence on their first two CDs, these
hardworking and talented musicians are up to the challenge. (174 Main
Street, Hacketstown, NJ 07840)
-- Hank Davis |
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