Grim Fandango serve up another helping of their own version of alt-pop-core (is that even a genre?) with their new 7 inch EP - In The Rough. With two songs on the EP plus a free download code for those and 3 more and coming in under $10 the record is good value for money.
The A-side “Modern Aliens” is a great example of how Grim push the envelope with catchy pop sounds laced with Tom’s trademark vocals. There is, as always, some intricate guitar work and some nice sing along parts for good measure. Sounding different from their 2011 full length Birthmark Blues their effortless maturity and progression is evident but not forced.
On the B-side Grim have given a song much more resemblant of the Birthmark Blues record with that full sound and layers of vocals and majestic guitar work that makes you feel like you’re in the room with them. “Clear Lines” is also incredible live and will quickly become a crowd favourite at the bands intense live shows.
The other three songs- “Switch”, “I’d be Corin” and “In The Rough” – round out the EP nicely with more progression in the song structure and writing as further evidence of the bands ability to expand their boundaries to keep things fresh and exciting without alienating old fans and all the while recruiting more to the cause.
“Switch” is dominated by Tom’s prodigious vocals over subtle guitar work at the start of the song before it speeds up and is filled out. The song certainly “burns like a candle” in the dark of most music being released these days.
Burgs pops up again on “I’d Be Corin” and his unique sound (if you can actually call it that) is a fresh change from most vocals going around. It brings the song together well and makes for a fun intermezzo from Tom’s more intense vocal sound.
“In The Rough” is a little more epic and almost branches at times into an alt-country sound only to be railed back in so as to not scare any of the older fans too much.
Grim Fandango are glowing as a band both on record and live, this record is just another example of that. The band is constantly maturing their sound and moving more and more into a group that can’t be pigeon holed into one genre or another. For fans of Archers of Loaf and Sebadoh; In The Rough is available in black, beer or bone coloured vinyl through the Poison City Records webstore.
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