innerspaceboy

The Gris Gris - The Gris Gris

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Neo-psych meets indie/garage… I’m looking forward to this.

2. What did you think of the opening track?
The mellow build was enjoyable. TechnicLePanther’s describing it as a slow boil was quite on point. I dig music which abandons the tired and trite ego of standard rock fare, and this record is quickly shaping up to be my cup of tea. And the opening reminded me very much of “Words” by Low, which is great in my book.

3. What did you think of the next track?
The Floydian influence is certainly evident, whether intended or not, and it’s not at all a bad thing. The indie flavor stirred into this psychedelic gumbo adds something novel to the work, (at least, for me).

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?
Ashley’s vocal performance is characteristically suitable for the genre. It’s nothing particularly remarkable, but it works well for its intended purpose. “Mary #38” was an instant favorite, and it took me a few minutes to connect the familiar melody in my memory but at last I arrived at the relation - the song bears a striking structural similarity to “Road to Peace” by Tom Waits from the Brawlers disc of the Orphans - Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards set.

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?
The instrumentation is an excellent blend of vintage psych with 90s and early 2000s indie, and the result is impressively satisfying.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
I continued to enjoy each new selection for the unique element it added to the whole. “Me Queda Um Bejou” was intriguing in its stripped-bare simplicity and its subtle instrumentation. Each instrument added something to the mix and I really found myself sinking into it.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
I was less-focused on the lyrics themselves, instead letting my attention drift naturally from soloing instruments to percussion to bass lines following the gentle, ever-shifting focus of the record. I was more interested in the overall “feel” of the music, which seems appropriate for a psych LP.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts?
Very much so. (See above)

9. What did you think of the production?
Both the performance and the production have a lackadaisical quality which function well for a psych album. I dig it.

10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?
No. First-ever listen.

11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
I have only a few psych essentials in my library, but this is certainly something I would spin again in the future.

12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
I had to get to bed straight after the first listen.

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?
I think this album functions better as a whole instead of as isolated tracks.

14. And the one you liked least?
N/A

15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated?
This appears to be their first album, and I think they did a fantastic job with it.

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
RYM suggests that their first effort was their strongest. As I don’t spin psych that often, I’d probably just stick with this LP.

17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
The opening minute of the record intrigued me, and the rest of the record didn’t let me down. Not exactly surprised, but delighted.

18. Did the album end well?
“Winter Weather” sounds like a very deliberate tribute to One Way Streets’ “We All Love Peanut Butter” from 1966. (Though I know the track best from the Ass Pony’s cover.) It never hurts to end with something familiar.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
I like it just the way it is.

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
Its cohesiveness is one of the album’s greatest strengths. Definitely enjoyable from start to finish.

9/10

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OccultHawk

Gris Gris

Neo anything is difficult but surprisingly this is perfection.

Goofle, you remain by far, the person who has turned me on to the most great music I wouldn't have discovered otherwise on this site. Thank you.

I could name drop endlessly but who wants to?

One point of absolute brilliance was making Neccesary Separation short and sweet. Every time a band hits a groove like this they ruin a great thing by thinking it's as fun to listen to forever as it is to play it. Instead they went the far more enjoyable garage approach and yes sir it pays HUGE dividends. Fantastic.

Highest rating: Five Stars

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Psy-Fi

The Gris Gris – The Gris Gris


1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Retro psych-rock.

2. What did you think of the opening track?
See above answer.

3. What did you think of the next track?
Reminded me of music from the first Pink Floyd album crossed with 60's Italian movie soundtrack psych.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?
Not bad, not great. Sounded fairly typical for the genre.

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?
Some of it was OK. Most of it just went in one ear and out the other. Nothing really stuck with me.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it?
Somewhat better

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
Same answer as #5 above.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts?
Same answer as #5 above.

9. What did you think of the production?
Sounded good for the most part.

10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?
Had heard of them but hadn't heard anything by them.

11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
When I'm in the mood for this type of psych, I almost always listen to 60's psych. Very few of these retro psych-rock bands do anything for me musically and/or lyrically.

12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
Listened 4 times. It did grow on me a bit but not enough to make me want to add the album to my music collection.

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?
Me Queda Um Bejou (beginning at about the 2 minute mark.)

14. And the one you liked least?
Raygun.

15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated?
Didn't make any difference to me.

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
They didn't do anything much for me... I thought the songs were forgettable rather quickly. Probably won't bother looking into anything more by this band.

17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
No. Had heard of them before this but hadn't heard anything by them and didn't look into them before listening.

18. Did the album end well?
The last track was OK but I thought it sounded rather sloppy and weak compared to the other tracks on the album. Sounded like a rejected demo from the Violent Femmes.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
No. Nothing I can think of at the moment.

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
It didn't seem particularly cohesive but it hung together about as well as the average psych-rock album can.

5/10

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Aloysius

The Gris Gris – The Gris Gris


I really wanted to like this album more than I did. I really admire the sense of freedom and some of the unexpected choices they made in the sounds and arrangements. Unfortunately the songs themselves I often found uninspired, especially toward the second half of the album. The vocals worked well at times, on the opener Raygun there was just the right kind of reverb to give a really spaced out psychedelic vibe. At other times I found his wobbly pitch too much - I do appreciate a vocal that hasn't had all it's humanness pitch-corrected to oblivion, but for an album with a great deal of vocals I don't feel he has the chops to pull it off.

If this were an EP of the first 4 tracks I'd give it a much higher score, but for now 6/10.

Trollheart

The Gris Gris s/t

Considering we tend to usually listen to very different music, I'm quite surprised at how much my experiences of some of these albums are dovetailing with those of Psy-Fi, and here again I'm in agreement with him. Unlike everyone else, who seem to love this album, I'm not really that impressed. I've spun it about 6-8 times now, and I think it's enough to form my opinion of it.

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
It was nice, kind of nearly shoegaze-y, very laidback and acoustic.

2. What did you think of the opening track?
I liked how it started, but it went through too many changes and in the end it kind of pissed me off. It's also too long in my opinion.

3. What did you think of the next track?
Didn't like that much at all.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions? (see note 1)
Most of the time I didn't like him. I found him very whiny, especially on "Winter weather"

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not? (see note 2)
Generally, mostly yes, but I didn't like the screechy, abrasive bits

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
Worse mostly

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
I didn't take too much notice really

8. Did you like the instrumental parts? (see note 3)
Some of them, yes, others no.

9. What did you think of the production?
You know me and production...

10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?
It's odd; I have heard of this before and I think it may have been recced to me, perhaps in “Love or Hate?” but when I looked at the track listing nothing seemed familiar, and when I listened to it, again, nothing rang a bell. Definitely heard Goofle speaking about them though.

11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
Generally no

12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
I actually got to dislike it more each time I listened.


13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?
“Raygun”, “Me queda um bejou” (apart from the ****ing screechy feedback!), “Mary #38” (though that began to grate after the fourth listen or so – whiny, y'see?)

14. And the one you liked least?
“Plain Vanilla”, “Necessary separation”, “Best regards” (way too long for what it is). “Winter weather”


15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated? (see note 4)
As a debut I guess it was good; just didn't impress me

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
No.

17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
Being one of Goofle's I think I might have expected better, but you never really know with him.

18. Did the album end well?

Not for me; I hate "Winter weather"

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
There's probably nothing I could say that would improve it. It just isn't for me.

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
I found it very hit-and-miss; some of it was very good, some of it was terrible. Mostly it veered from annoying to boring and back. I don't hate it but my Meh is very much down the lower end of the scale. 3/10

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Goofle

Damn son. It's a 10/10 according to the majority of musicologists.

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Psy-Fi

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She's a Brick House

Exo

Hey TH. I'm good to participate in this again.

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Trollheart

I'm not a musicologist. I form my own opinions, thank you.
Cool. You want to suggest an album?

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