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The Grip Weeds are a band with a mission: they aspire to the artistic heights reached by the classic bands of rock's golden age while achieving originality and an urgency suited to the new millennium. In short, this is a band which refuses to give up on the dream that rock music can still be great and compelling. Headquartered in Highland Park, New Jersey, The Grip Weeds consist of: Rick Reil (songwriter, guitarist, vocalist); Kurt Reil (songwriter, drummer, vocalist); Kristin Pinell (lead guitarist, vocalist); and Mike Nattboy (bassist, vocalist). The band's sound has been described as ranging from sixties inspired pop psychedelia to modern rock, power pop, British R&B, folk rock and Beatlesque Merseybeat. As noted by reviewers, some of the more obvious influences include the classic American sound of the Byrds, but with a far more visceral delivery reminiscent of the Who. Other disparate elements can be detected in the group's sound: a touch of Led Zeppelin, a hint of the Smithereens and the modern Brit pop of Oasis. However, above all the Grip Weeds achieve what one reviewer has called the quality most desired by musicians: originality. The Grip Weeds' sound revolves around the melodic songwriting of the brothers Reil as aided by the interpretive talents of Pinell and Nattboy, the harmonic vocal blend of all four members, ripping guitar work, inventive bass playing and explosive drumming. Tight and exciting live, on recordings the Grip Weeds achieve sonic clarity and a richness of texture working in their studio House Of Vibes Productions. Designed and run by the band, it is a musical laboratory not only for the bands own productions but for many other artists who have become House Of Vibes clients.. The second album, The Sound Is In You, was released in 1998 to superlative reviews including a 3-1/2 star review in Rolling Stone (Germany), who said of this album, "Excellence in sound, stylishness in design: advantages which make a hell of a difference in any given musical context, but nowhere as much as in the world of psychedelic pop. Not that New Jersey's Grip Weeds are drawing from just one tradition. Their sound is informed by American folk rock and British mod-pop, by The Byrds and The Who. Mitch Easter's school of glorious powerpop also clearly left a lasting impression on the foursome. "Inca"; is spaced-out, "We're Not Getting Through" pays a visit to where The Moody Blues used to roam, and their fabulous cover of Neil Young's "Down To The Wire" feeds on riffs and loops. Mighty fine trip. ***1/2". Check out the artist's website: http://www.gripweeds.com Track List: 1. Intro 2. In Waking Dreams 3. Ready and Waiting 4. Morning Rain 5. Every Minute 6. A Piece of My Own 7. Tomorrow 8. Everything and All You Feel 9. What I Believe is You 10. Better World 11. Games 12. Down to the Wire 13. Strange Bird 14. What's In Your Mind 15. We're Not Getting Through 16. Inca Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
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