OK, so I have been trying to write this review for a good week or two and I just couldn't find words to sum up Grain's sound at first. Then I was talking to Glynn about it and I said 'Grain really kick ass. I am just not sure what sort of ass they kick, and then I thought about that, and realised. Grain kick a big fat hairy ass. Its like the bully at school's ass. You know the guy, everyones scared of this big, fat, hairy bully who looks about 6 years older than he is and is hooked on coke by year 8. Then this cheeky, little weirdo kid comes along, and kicks his ass. Now this little kid is half his size, probably got a few screws loose and has definitely eaten too many sweets. That kid is Grain, the little idiot who climbed the tallest tree and got stuck, the crazy bastard who jumped off the roof to impress the girls. The guy who by year 11 is the fucking dude who everyone liked. That is Grain as a sound, and so to the songs: Track one is Horse it starts with a slick little bass line nicely packed with a side order of funk. Before what sounds like Beavis and Butthead's crazy little brother screaming some random noises and the drums and nice little guitar riffs break in. It reminds me of early Chilli Peppers or Primus, but when lead singer drives his giant pink range-rover of vocal madness into the song you hear what gives Grain their own feel.
I think Bens voice might be that crazy little kid jumping off the roof. At times it has a really nice smooth blues feel not to different to Mr. E of Eels, but then its like he has taken an instant Prozac injection and he suddenly becomes a rampaging madman. His voice changes again and becomes more of a growl and jumps pitch like a frog jumping logs. It almost seems comical but it's not. In fact its brilliant. It suits the funky backing music so well and his use of vocals is really impressive. On my first few listens I thought this was Grains biggest strength.
Then I listened to more closely to the music behind (which you almost forget with Ben's erratic vocals over it) The music is also excellent, it sticks to the same riff most the way though, yet changes in just the right places and it has some really nice funky bass runs, guitar scales and drum fills. All in all, a great start to this demo. I also loved the harmonica that kicks in at the end. It really shows a nice originality to Grains music.
Big Green Dirty Hands or Track 2, kicks in along the same lines once again its a funky little guitar riff with some nice slap bass and the frontmans growling, screeching voice jumping around, adding plenty of energy and emotion to the song. The second guitar is more noticeable in this song with some nice interlinking sections between the two guitars and the bass, as Ben whispers in a soft scream, We don't get out much, before kicking back in with his bluesy grunting. This song doesn't rely on the vocals as much as Horse and really shows the musical talent of the group more.
Track 3 'Pass The Grain' is full on bossa nova with a jumping bassline, and Ben bending his vocal chords like, erm David Beckham? With a repeating lyric hook, this song is a nice little novelty but is not as interesting as the first two tracks, however, once again shows Grains musical talent and unleashes more of that vocal madness. 'Easy' starts with a really nice Spanish guitar riff and booming drums, something I hadn't noticed before but the drummer really kicks out the jams! He makes no mistakes and his fills and beats are all so tight to the bass.
Final track 'You Don't Instigate Asking', once again shows all the funk and interlinking of the tracks that have come before. The vocals again show a ocean of variety and I think this song has the most interesting lyrics. Starting off with a banging bass riff and then joined by guitars, drums and finally Ben growls 'You don't instigate asking, You always seem the last in, youre all in this together, but all on different days'. As the song continues the lyrical revelations are really nice, and with a great bassline and nice guitar tweaks and screeches. It is, (along with Horse) my favorite song. This whole recording sounds so good, and I think a lot of this is due to the tightness of the drum and bass section. With the vocals and two guitars adding all the thrills, especially in track 4 where the two guitars cross in and out like a mad chicken crossing the M1 on Good Friday
If you like Primus and the Chilli Peppers, youre bound to like Grain. But they do have their own sound, its something in-between the two fore-mentioned bands. Not as random or comical as Primus, but not as commercial or heavy as Chill Peppers.>Grain are one of the tightest bands I have ever heard, they flow so well and all the instruments including the vocals seem to be perfectly placed in all the songs. I would say some of the songs are a bit similar, and it would be nice to hear a bit more imagination, maybe using the harmonica to give them a really different angle, but thats just me being picky. Grain are a real class act, with well-written songs that are played to perfection and with a vocalist who really does have an original and personal voice.
If Grain have the energy on stage to funk up these tunes, can maybe experiment a little more on some of the songs and get themselves out there as much as possible, then they will surely get signed cause everyone loved the cheeky kid who kicked the fat hairy bullies ass.
Overall (3 / 5)
Review by Gaz
