Somewhere between the Smithereens and Monster Magnet is where The Grip Weeds should settle in the course of great New Jersey rock bands. Working, writing, and recording from the House Of Vibes, the quartet's Highland Park headquarters, the band has released a sure gem to the scene, The Sound Is In You, a beautiful blend of power-pop rhythms, sweet melodies, and to-die-for Beatlesque harmonies.

No doubt the group's influence is cool sixties and seventies stuff, but the brothers Reil, Kurt and Rick, the Grip Weeds' originators, have used this to their advantage in writing some truly fresh tunes. Guitarist Kristin Pinell offers delicious melodies, ferocious leads, and splashes of sitar. Bassist Michael Mattboy, the newest member of the band, provides a stellar groove in the lower-range frequencies.

A follow-up to The House Of Vibes, the Weeds' 1994 debut CD, The Sound Is In You sets its snare with happy hooks, gratifying grunge, and just the right blend of under-production production -- and recorded in an analog eight-track recording studio, just like Sgt. Pepper! The CD contains 16 cuts, including a cover of Neil Young's "Down To The Wire."

Dive right into the second cut -- track one is one-minute psychedelic Intro - "In Waking Dreams" for a real mind blow. The guitars are not of this world, powerful and heady. But to get a real idea of what the Grip Weeds are all about, click to track 16, "Inca." This is how rock songs should be written.