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As If It’s Grimus

alt-rock, alternative, Cluj-Napoca, featured artists, Grimus, new release, reviews, Romania, SpaceRay Music, Transylvania 4 Responses »

Oct 132011

artist: Grimus | album: Egretta: As If It's Real | genre: alternative | label: SpaceRay Music

Grimus - Egretta - As If It's Real

I had been anxiously awaiting the new full-fledged album from the Romanian alternative rock outfit Grimus, and so I was very excited when I was sent a preview of it a few weeks ago. Egretta: As If It's Real turns out to be a complete body of work showcasing the full range of talent from this Transylvanian six-piece. It’s worldwide release is still a few more weeks away so I’ll be sure to remind you when you can get it for yourself. You can also check out three (3) tracks off the album (“Started” review, “Face The Light” review, “Vanity” post) we have already featured on Froglix Radio. But I want to focus now on the stand-out tracks we hadn’t heard yet.

From the very first track, “Cave” delivers everything I’ve come to expect from Grimus. Pulsing guitar, driving drum beats, simple but solid melodies with perfectly subtle harmonies. It’s a perfect introduction to what this band is all about. And I was so pleased that the first track was just as solid as all their previously released singles. It’s not an album of their hits mixed with fodder. This was a sign to me that the whole album would be worth listening to. And I wasn’t disapponted.
Grimus – Cave (clip)

Grimus continues to impress me with tracks like “Nature Falls”. A poetic bent on lyrics are all too often missing from popular music and is always greatly appreciated by yours truly. The start of this song paints such a vivid picture of our universal desire to be free; and I can’t do it justice by recounting it here so you’ll have to take a listen for yourself. Then after the scene is set, the harmonies drive it in, internalizing that yearning personally for me. This is easily one of my favorite tracks on the album.
Grimus – Nature Falls (clip)

The track “Egretta” takes on a bit of a different mood from Grimus’ other singles. One thing I love about Grimus is the feeling of angst they can deliver without falling into the typical “emo” clichés. The title track brings a calmer angst making it feel all the more heartfelt. The lyrics “…all I was trying to say to you…” feel sincere. Indeed, all Grimus is trying to say to us in this album feels sincere. For me, this is one of the must-have albums of the year.
Grimus – Egretta (clip)

- DMitch

Grimus :: Vanity

alt-rock, alternative, Cluj-Napoca, featured artists, Grimus, new release, reviews, Romania, SpaceRay Music, Transylvania, videos 1 Response »

Sep 072011

artist: Grimus | genre: alternative, indie-rock | label: SpaceRay Music | iTunes:

Grimus - Vanity

We are pleased to add to rotation the latest single, “Vanity” from Grimus. The single is part of the Romanian purveyors of rock upcoming album Egretta, set to be released mid-October, so look for a full review then. We can’t wait to hear more!

- DMitch

Grimus :: Face The Light

alt-rock, alternative, Cluj-Napoca, featured artists, Grimus, indie, new release, reviews, Romania, SpaceRay Music, Transylvania No Responses »

Jun 152011

artist: Grimus | genre: alternative, indie-rock | label: SpaceRay Music

listen now: Face The Light

iTunes:

My favorite band from Romania (ok…the only band I know from there) have a new single out, and once again Grimus delivers in spades. “Face The Light” draws you in from the beginning with its steady drum intro and progressive chord changes and then builds into their signature angst driven melodies. Again, a comparison to The Killers is fair, but as I stated in my first review of Grimus, the sound is their own refined mix of rock and mood.

As I also mentioned in my first review, I have yet to hear a track from them that I don’t like. You really need to check out Grimus on iTunes and support the best alternative rock band from Romania.

- DMitch

The Perfect Day

alt-rock, alternative, Brooklyn, featured artists, indie pop, new release, New York, reviews, rock, The Canon Logic, unsigned 4 Responses »

Aug 202010

artist: The Canon Logic | genre: alternative, rock | label: unsigned

Hearing “Avenue of Criminals,” the free single download from The Canon Logic, reminds me of those perfect days in life. You wake up, get dressed for work and remember it’s Saturday, so you head back to bed for another three hours. Later, you head to the store for some grub and get the last glazed donut and the coffee’s fresh. The cashier you’ve been secretly lusting after for months finally smiles and says hello and when you rummage for the $5 you left the house with, you find a washed and tightly folded $20 in your back pocket.

How great would any one of those be? But all of them, in one day? Yes, yes, yes, and YES. If every day was like that, I’d have to start a blog and take pictures, because no one would believe me.

But believe me now when I say “Avenue of Criminals” is worth your time. It has a chorus The Killers would, uh, kill for, and it breezes along with sweet interplay between guitar and piano. I love how the guitar falls away at the 2:20 mark, leaving the piano and the drums and singer Tim Kiely’s voice. There’s an urgency and a passion in its structure and, at less than four minutes, it leaves me wanting more.

I’ve had it on repeat for an hour and I must say, I’m feeling good about the rest of my day.

Thanks, The Canon Logic, it’s just what I needed.

- Thurdeen

Introducing Romania’s Grimus

alternative, Cluj-Napoca, Eden Music, featured artists, Grimus, new release, reviews, rock, Romania, Transylvania No Responses »

Jul 122010

artist: Grimus
genre: alternative | indie rock
label: Eden Music

Grimus

listen now:
In A Glimpse
Started (will be released in Aug)

When you hear the name Transylvania, often the notion of a dark, yet somehow alluring, place comes to mind. From the stories we’ve all seen and heard, this place in the heart of Romania probably elicits a wider range of emotions than any other place I can think of. Now what if you want to find a band that can play the soundtrack for such a milieu? Look no further than the Romanian band Grimus.

Bogdan Mezofi’s vocal delivery combined with the driving bass and drums from Titus Vădan and Tamás Adorjáni, respectively, instantly invokes a comparison to Muse. But the guitar work from Vali Rauca and Cristian Csapo along with the keyboards from Lehel Kiss make you think Killers. The final recipe is a surprisingly refined sound of their own. Catchy melodies, hooks in the right places, vocal angst, driving beats, yet all slightly brooding.

“In A Glimpse”, from their 2008 release Panikon, and the yet to be released single “Started” (coming in August) probably showcase what I’m talking about best. But I haven’t heard a single track from them that disappointed.

- DMitch