Seattle Subsonic

Grand Archives Unplugged

September 16th, 2009

Did you hear the Capitol Hill Sonic Boom is moving? You probably did. Not off the Hill, just out of short walking range from my home (total bummer). Oh well, they say their new home on Melrose between Pike and Pine will be bigger than the Ballard location. Anyway, last night was this location’s final in-store session, delivered by country-tinged hush rockers Grand Archives. Their new LP, Keep in Mind Frankenstein, hit shelves yesterday. You might recall from a few months back a show of theirs (it was a Noise For The Needy benefit) where I might have been less than enthusiastic about the band’s performance.

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At the time, I just kinda thought the band was selling themselves short. Ruptured by the departure of Ron Lewis, I conjectured, the band didn’t have that ‘oomph’ or ‘pizazz’ I was hoping for with new material (note: I’m aware of the irony in using the word ‘pizazz’ in reference to a band like Grand Archives). I was optimistic, though, and eagerly awaited the new record. To wit, the acoustic version of the album the band played in its entirety last night now makes complete sense. In its sparest form—Mat Brooke and Thomas Wright on guitar, Jeff Montano on stand up bass and lap xylophone, and Curtis Hall on bongos/shaker/tambourine (might’ve been a kick drum buried up there, too)—this new batch of songs found a quiet, solitary home in my head.

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You’ll recall that Brooke, who wrote 90 percent of Frankenstein, got his start with Carissa’s Wierd, the lush and tranquil violin/guitar/piano “sad-core” band with the cult following. Out of all the records that outfit has spawned (two from Grand Archives, two from Band of Horses, two from Sera Cahoone, Jenn Ghetto as S), I’d reckon this one resembles CW’s output the most. And that, in my mind, is a good thing. There are essential differences, of course, but Brooke remains the constant, and his songwriting—now pervading its third band—is unmistakable. Listening to the skeletal renditions in Sonic Boom’s tiny space last night, this was a welcome illumination. Huh, maybe there was an ulterior motive to their set-ending cover of Electric Light Orchestra’s “Telephone Line” (listen to the original here). Illumination, Light? No? Whatev.

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I’ve only given Frankenstein a few spins so far, but I like it; especially given the aforementioned “revelation”. There’s no “Crime Window” or “Torn Blue Foam Couch”, but there is “Silver Amongst the Gold” and “Witchy Park/Tomorrow Will (Take Care of Itself)”. The former is the album’s uptempo feel good track (reminds you of autumn, no?), and the latter a circuitous, two-faced pastoral rocker with a rompin’ saloon piano and the band’s trademark harmonies. Another standout track is the eerie haunt of “Siren Echo Valley (Part 1)”, which is basically a chilling vocal threesome with Brooke, Jenn Ghetto and Ms. Cahoone. The sun quickly rises, though, with “Left For All the Strays”, a perfectly warm harmonica-heavy beaut.

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They’ll be at the Croc September 24th.