Grand Prix- The Speed Of Sound
4/10

“This album harks back to the seventies with a rush of adrenaline and endorphin.” That’s how Andrew McKenzie, vocalist/guitarist for Grand Prix describes his new album. They’ve always been trying to channel something, on their first album it was country/bluegrass; their second album was rockabilly/surf and their third saw them attempt sixties Motown. Widely it can be classified as classic rock and this, their fourth album sees them bursting out big rock and roll guitar riffs with an energetic presence that finally fits with their band name. The problem with Grand Prix is in their admission that they don’t really take things too seriously, they like to take a dig at intellectual people, people who make an effort to put feeling and meaning into their lyrics but they forget that people like to hear a well thought out piece of music. You’d think that by album number four, Grand Prix would be taking themselves a bit more seriously. The first couple of albums were quirky, and their particular themes did have a charming quality, but there becomes a time when it’s too much. They describe their songs on The Speed Of Sound as each being vastly different, but to the listener the difference is hard to pick up. The first song on the record that piques any interest is the Spanish titled ‘El baile de la calaco’, which represents the first time the band switches from their seventies, adrenalin fuelled rock and roll to a surf style country song. The album does improve from this point, slowing down and bringing other elements into the mix, rather than just going back to the speedy guitar sound of the first seven tracks. ‘Blue’ is a country song, bent more in the alt-indie direction but with nice harmonies. Closing track ‘A Greater Emptiness’ ends the album on a dark note, with Nick Cave-style vocals and a spellbinding organ line. There’s a hint of psychedelia in the track but unfortunately it’s a saviour that arrives far too late.
Nick

 

Posted by Nick Fulton under Album, Reviews
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