| CD REVIEW Grand Avenue |
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Band : Grand Avenue This Danish Alternative/ Indie Rock band was formed in 2001 by four friends who met at a musical college in London during 1997. Frontman Rasmus Walter-Hansen (vocals and guitar) and Niels-Kristian Bärentzen (lead guitar) started writing songs together, and when eventually they invited bassist Marc Stebbing and drummer During 2003 GA issued their debut single “What’s On Your Mind” which became “Ugens Uundgäelige” (most played song for one week) on Danish national radio P3. This caught the attention of EMI Danmark, who signed the band for the 2003 (domestic) release of their self-titled debut album. For their 2005 album She (also a Danmark only release), the band recorded in New York with Bryce Goggin. The title track off that album (re-recorded in a different version from the album’s) made it to the soundtrack of the movie Cashback. From 2007’s The Outside (produced by Irishman Richard Hainey) two singles were culled, the album title track again making an Ugens Uundgäelige! Also, the third album was the first to be released outside Danmark, getting distribution in Holland, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (I’m guessing iit was their first for Playground Music). Again produced by Hainey, Place To Fall was already released in Denmark in September of last year. Also, the album opening track “Almost Gone” was “edited” for a domestic single. Posted (alongside the album’s track “Follow You Down” and 2 off the previous album) at myspace.com/grdavenue, the track is a perfect representative for the album and the band’s music overall. In my opinion, the Daness have listened to the likes of The Smiths, The Fall, and perhaps even The Cult, and then set about filtering those influences into their own music. The mentioned band’s progressive (Pop) touch is certainly still there, as is The Cult’s occasional more Hard Rock side, which GA give with a modern touch, adding also (very occasionally and darn-well placed) some keyboards. Vocally, Rasmus is the calmer type of singer, as is/are his backing singer(s). Yeah, definitely a band with the potential to make it to a bigger audience…ten years ago! Why that last comment? Well, quite frankly, seen the current worldwide state of the music business with illegal downloaders robbing not only record labels but in the first place the bands out of a much-earner way of living, it’s rather difficult to stay optimistic about things…especially since far bigger and established bands have begun to feel the touch of decay, to the point of getting ‘em in financial trouble!!! 89/100 Tony. |
