Here's an album that is right up our street. Surprising then, that I discovered this casually by hearing Please Come Around, particularly with the guest list here. It is like an I Don't Hear A Single promotional video. Mark Grassick has come up with a crackerjack offering.
At its heart, this is performed as a trio. Grassick is joined by Dropkick's Andrew Taylor and Whoa Melodic's Michael Wood. Grassick writes the songs and Taylor produces. As you might expect with Taylor involved, the feel is very Jangle Pop, 90s Power Pop and at times very mid period Teenage Fanclub.
The major difference to what you normally hear is two fold. Grassick may be Irish born and London based, but his vocal is laconic, sounds very American, you think of Austin Texas at times, a change from the usual mellowness on albums of this type of offering.
Then there's the guest list. Hurry's Matt Scotoline, The Connells' Mike Connell, Laughing's Josh Salter and The Leaf Library's Matt Ashton. It is a Jangle Pop album par excellence, but not afraid to break out into engrossing guitar solos and middle eights.
That Jangle reaches a crescendo on Forward Momentum, but Standing In Your Way edges into Americana and Only Love Lets You Down gets very West Coast. Alone Now sounds very Gerry Love in style and at other times TFC are embraced.
If You Play Expect To Pay is a fine example of how engaging Jangle Pop can be, especially when it stretches out. This set of songs is a wonderful listen aided by a saying what you want to say and getting off. No meandering here!
You can listen to the album and preorder the digital or CD versions here.
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