cover art photography by the stellar Perry Ogden.
review reprinted from 181.4 Degrees from the Norm! by lisa trudeau
Grind - Best Of - J-Bird Records
Grind band member Julian Shore sent me their “Best Of” CD about two months ago and it’s since found a happy home in my rotation of music. I find myself wondering how something like this ever came out of Manitowoc, Wisc., but wherever it came from, this CD is definitely worth checking out.
Compiled from seven CDs recorded since 1991, the 23-song “Best Of” collection is a near-masterpiece. They’ve got catchy melodies galore, more hooks than a Wisconsin bait shop, and enough inspired lyrics to make any poet mad with jealousy, and manage to keep it listenable to the point of being addictive.
You can hear strong influences from The Replacements (rumor has it they’ve even written with Paul Westerberg), Elvis Costello and just about every other musical mastermind in semi-recent rock history. As much as they may have been influenced by such greats, though, their music is definitely their own.
This is not your typical two-guys-with-guitars band; they’ve found new ways to mix old standards with fun, odd little noises like static, sirens and spacey background voices. It sounds like they made one of those keyboards with all kinds of strange noise options like “drip” and “popcorn” that kids seem to love playing with. They have made it useful, though, in a more mature music style. They do this without sounding too far-out experimental. Grind makes music like rock-star Beethovens.
On a 23-song CD you’d expect to find a few pieces that aren’t exactly gems, even on a “Best Of” CD, but not here. From beginning to end, through seven years and seven releases, the songs are all tight and catchy. There are a few tracks that stick out, though.
“Favorite Cigarette,” from their ‘91 release “Fit for Kings,” has a bit of the best characteristics of seventies guitar-rock love songs, but without all of the cheesiness. It has stretchy riffs and heavy drums with semi-sweet lyrics.
The passionate “It Only Takes a Little,” from ‘93’s “Grind, Grind, Grind!!!” delves into the thoughts of a heart-wrenched lover who can’t understand, but empathizes, with his partner. The music is appropriate -- drum-driven clinchers and intense guitar lines.
“Diamondhead,” off of their ‘94 release “Magnetic Gold Vibrations,” is one of their most popular tunes. They use chimes (I think) to create a spacey feel that almost feels like a good ol’ eighties tune by the Kinks.
On track nine, ‘97’s “Genuine Article,” from “Juggernaut” cries for a “genuine article now.” Not only is this an amazing song, but it is its own answer. A jangley intro leads to an upbeat melody reminiscent of Nirvana’s “Turnaround.” It has a delicate but vibrant feel that makes you think of a six-year-old boy running through his sprinkler on a hot summer day. Maybe it’s the song’s hope for a tangible “genuine article,” maybe it’s the carnival-like melodies, but this song will move you and make you feel—much like a six-year-old boy on a hot summer day.
Grind is sure to go down in music history as being one of the best underground bands ever. Maybe Top 40 radio stations won’t pick up these guys, but in my mind that’s a good thing. Hell, I don’t think Grind is looking for a top spot on Rick Dees’ annoying radio show anyway. They’ve got more to offer than that.
181.4 Degrees from the Norm! the Net’s freshest music magazine....
©1999 181.4 DftN!
Named one of the Top 5 Albums of the 90’s by 181.4 Degrees from the Norm!
©&℗1999 Grind
