The Rise
Your new favorite band can pop up overnight. Introducing Grand Archives.
It takes a modest band to make modest music. Modesty, along with the ability to write an uplifting infectious pop song, resides deep within Seattle based Grand Archives – a four piece whose lead singer, Mat Brookes, formally partook in the melancholy sounds of Band Of Horses. But a Band of Horses rip off they are not – as Brooke’s message is just as different as the melodies Grand Archives produce. The nostalgic influence that Band of Horses often calls to is very present in Grand Archives – but the comparisons can’t go much past that. While Band of Horses trots toward dark and dreary; Grand Archives researches the happy and hopeful.
The hopefulness in their words is also expressed in their music. They recorded their debut self titled album (due out February 19th on Sub Pop) in three different locations, with the instrumentation being as random as where they were shacking up for the day. At one point, Brookes decided to run a ukulele through an effects peddle just to see what he could come up with. This sense of curiosity is the backbone to the record, and will make you wonder what is coming next. You’ll probably have no idea, but I bet you’ll like it.
The band’s first gig consisted of being the bottom bill for a show on a random weekday. That was short lived, however, as their second show had them take the stage with Modest Mouse. Pretty tall step for a band that just wants to make music for people that will enjoy it.
“Torn Blue Foam Couch” features the reoccurring line of, “Hey darling, don’t you look fun?” It’s the line that sticks out the most on this particular song – and is almost a prelude to the entire album. You’ll listen to “Torn Blue Foam Couch” and ask yourself, “Is the rest of this album really this fun?”
STREAM: Grand Archives – Torn Blue Foam CouchPosted by Wes Soltis on Feb 06, 2008 @ 12:00 am
