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| Review of The Grins: ''Coffee Grounds'' |
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 There's always something refreshing about a band that doesn't take itself too damn seriously. One of three discs to be released this year by The Grins, "Coffee Grounds" offers nine tracks of their usual free-wheeling, freaky-dancing fare and two pop gems (included) worthy of your digital playlist. Click "Read More" for the review. Click the cover image for a close-up.
CD: Coffee Grounds
Band: The Grins
Label: Mek Mok Records
Year: 2002
On "Coffee Grounds", The Grins have created what sounds like homegrown pop music for pig-roasts, barn-parties or back-forty keggers (think bare feet dancing on dirt floors). The CD begins with "Jamaica", a hip-swinging, Jimmy Buffet meets The Beach Boys number, complete with an electric cheez-whiz guitar tone and the accented off-beat snare of white calypso. It's the kind of tune you'd find yourself dancing to with a stranger, well after the party's under way, with a stiff drink in one hand and a half-burnt smoke in the other.
The Grins churn out material (3 CD's this year) with an emphasis on fun and frolic rather than musical sophistication or lyrical depth; take the track 4, "Remember When" as an example: 'Remember when we used to dance? / All I wanted was to get inside your pants'. Not exactly Dylan, but honest enough. Sometimes they get lucky with the hooks and sometimes they don't - usually they don't. But you get the feeling The Grins don't care much either way as long as they get to write songs and play them for you.
On track two, "There She Goes" you get your first taste of the peculiar and distinctive singing voice of drummer Guy Grin (back-ups on this track) who sounds like a cross between XTC's Andy Partridge and Kermit the Frog. Grin's back-ups, contrasted against the vapid delivery of bassist Stevie J. Teeple make tracks like "Don't Be Doggin' Me" (track 5) listenable.
Much of "Coffee Grounds" sounds the same after a while due to the call and response harmonies, the off-beat snare pops and the wandering guitar lines that seem to permeate every track. But don't count The Grins out yet. Like The Grateful Dead, The Grins pop out a hit or two when you're least expecting it. They've managed to produce TWO GEMS on COFFEE GROUNDS that I've put on my personal playlist.
On track 8, "Kotton Dresis", all the band's strengths fall into place for almost three minutes (wrapping up at 2:59). You get the full, idiosyncratic vocal stylings of Guy Grin (he sings lead on this one) as well as the tightest pop songwriting on this CD. Guitarist Pauly Koppe shows proper restraint and purpose in his guitar playing on this track which makes the production sound cleaner than most. Good example of The Grins pop capability.
But my favorite, and the first song to snare my attention on Coffee Grounds, doesn't show up until track 10 and isn't sung by any of The Grins' regular boys. "Tolerance" is sung by their favorite 'Beer & Crown Wench', Sharon Clark. Her airy vocals and sweeping delivery are a pleasant diversion and delighful contrast from the usual fare on this record. She has a way of wafting through the verses like Marianne Faithful and capturing the soul of this pop song until your mumbling right along. I don't have a clue what she's singing, but it sounds so good I won't question it. It's those kind of quirks that I find endearing in this band where I might just find it irritating in another.
I'd like to hear more songs from Guy Grin & Sharon Clark together because I think they may be on to something special there.
- Mitch
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Re: Review of The Grins: ''Coffee Grounds'' (Score: 1)
by misscommunicate on Sunday, September 15, 2002 @ 20:04:27 MDT
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.thegrins.com | You said, that you didn't want to know
But I could've told you so
You said that you didn't have to go
But I could've told you so
And I think you said too much
And I think you took so much
Maybe it's time we said so long
I hear the sound of days gone by
There's no reason left to cry
I hear a depressing song of you
But I guess that's nothing new
We could plant flowers in the snow
But you know they'd never grow
We could go strolling through the town
But let's not....
Thanks for the Tolerance......
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Grins Factoids (Score: 1)
by Mitch on Monday, September 16, 2002 @ 00:05:26 MDT
(User Info | Send a Message | Journal) http://www.michiganbands.com | - The building featured on the cover of "Coffee Grounds" was Guy Grins residence for five years. It's now occupied by hardcore rawkers Riot In Progress. Despite the increase in volume, the 100 yrd old building is reported to be still standing. Oh, and it's haunted by ghosts known as Lester and Lenore who once dropped a hundred pound disco ball on somebody's head. It's all in the liner notes - buy the CD and read it for yourself.
- The Grins appeared on The Mitch Albom Show on Friday, September 13th. They performed with Mitch and his guest, Jackie Chan, who sung "Oh Carol" by Neil Sedaka! The results will be posted on The Grins website in the near future. I have got to hear that.
- Sharon Clark, lead singer on "Tolerance" is Guy Grin's sister. She's also known for 'over indugence and a great help for anyone aspiring to fall down' according to the liner notes of the CD. My kinda girl.
- According to Sharon, each Grins release features different backing musicians. There's been no confirmation that Jackie Chan or Mitch Albom will appear on the next CD. But ya never know with The Grins.
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Re: Review of The Grins: ''Coffee Grounds'' (Score: 1)
by Thom on Friday, September 20, 2002 @ 19:03:18 MDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | Mitch,
You are right on with your "Gems"! "Kottin Dresis" and "Tolerance" are two of my favorites also. I do like "Rember When" and "Jamica" though! The "La La Live" song sounds like "The Grins" always had a good time at the Coffee House. I wish I was there for some of their performances. |
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Average Score: 4.90
Votes: 11
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