The Greenhornes are perhaps the single best 60's garage rock band from today. If that doesn't make any sense to you, it will soon. The Greenhornes, though they only recently put out this album, sound just like a band you would hear from the 60's. Jangly guitars, cheesy organ, wild drums and the like. That sound is the epitome of good music for me, so of course this review will be a tiny bit biased. Straight outta Cincinnati, Ohio, here come The Greenhornes, and the review for their first EP...
The Greenhornes---East Grand Blues
Strong Points Of This Album
1) The number one strong point of this album is the song Pattern Skies. It flies head and shoulders above the rest of the songs, as do a couple songs on every Greenhornes album. It, like all of the Greenhornes best songs, is very riff-based and has a memorable melody to it.
2) The overall songwriting of this album is excellent, and is reminiscent of The Beatles in many places. Every song has a simple little guitar and bass riff holding it up. The Beatles sound stands out most in Shine Like The Sun, a psychedelic little song with flute parts added to the normal, garage rock Greenhornes sound.
3) The tone of the instruments on this album is excellent. The guitars cut through the top end, though everything else can still be heard. The drummer gets in a couple cool fills here and there, and the bass player holds together the songs well.
Weak Points Of The Album
1) The only weak point I can think of is that some of the songs drag on too long and become repetitive after just a few listens, never a good thing to be said about an album, let alone an EP. With just five songs, the repetitious nature of them can make the EP get boring somewhat quickly.
2) There is a strange, almost creepy organ sound in the song At Night, and it really doesn't fit in. It almost sound like whistling. I don't like it.
Overall This Album Is...
Well worth your 7 or 8 dollars. Though it is only an EP, it holds up well against the full albums that The Greenhornes have out. Though 4 out of the 5 of the songs are slower and a in a more minor key than most Greenhornes songs are, East Grand Blues is still a fun album to listen to because it will make you want to bob your head along with the songs on it. I recommend this for fans of classic and garage rock, along with fans of The Beatles. This is recommended for those people because that is just what this album sounds like. There is not a single original idea on here, except maybe that creepy whistling. And now for the individual track ratings...
I'm Going Away---3.5/5
Shelter Of Your Arms---3.5/5
At Night---3/5
Pattern Skies---4.5/5
Shine Like The Sun---3/5
Overall,
East Grand Blues gets a
3/5
