It's no overstatement to call The Grip Weeds legends in the indie pop universe. They've been releasing music for more than three-and-a-half decades, and they are responsible for some of the finest psychedelic pop rock 'n' roll recordings of modern times. They've successfully brought the classic sounds of the '60s and '70s into the 21st century, and they've been a cornerstone of the JEM Records roster since it was relaunched as a proper record label a decade ago. This is one of those bands that is just pure excellence defined: any Grip Weeds recording is like a master class in guitar pop music. If you love melody, harmonies, and superbly crafted & produced pop songs and aren't familiar with The Grip Weeds, you've got decades of great music to catch up on! Early Clues, the band's new EP, is basically a teaser for its forthcoming long player Soul Bender. I love the idea of giving fans a taste of what to expect from the full album. As the title suggests, the band is dropping hints here. What blows me away is that any of these three songs could be the best song on a great album. And you know they didn't just cherry-pick the best three tracks from the album because then no one would need to buy the album. So if this is just the taster of what's to come, all I can say is wow!
"Conquer And Divide" is a garage rocker with some real pep in its step. Here the band works under many of the same influences that fueled its garage/psych covers album DiG. It rocks like there's no tomorrow, and it ought to have you jumping up and down in no time flat. That guitar solo is a stone cold ripper! "Column of Air," the band's ode to the joy of creativity, basks in gorgeous melodies and warm '70s vibes. If you're seeking majestic production and dazzling guitar work from The Grip Weeds, well, this song delivers! To close it out, the love song "Flowers For Cynthia" hits that later '60s sweet spot where baroque and psychedelic pop converge. The song, co-written by David Wojciechowski of the Insomniacs, balances its despairing lyrics with a gorgeous melody and heavenly harmonies. I can't help but sense a wink and a nod to The Zombies' "A Rose for Emily." No complaints there!
I was surprised to discover that Early Clues represents the first new original songs from The Grip Weeds since 2019. If you've been waiting with great anticipation for these tracks, I can assure you that you will not be disappointed. And you don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to conclude that Soul Bender is going to be a varied affair and one of the year's best albums!
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