Hot on the heels of the genius Duff Muffin come this octet set on causing merry hell in the ska-punk world, and the fact that they’ve roped in Mr UK Punk Iain Wetherell as producer only shows their intent in positioning themselves as the foremost ska band in this fair isle. So do they succeed? The answer is yes, partially.
As you’d expect from any recording emerging from Premier Studios the sound quality is lush, as the deep bass and rich guitar textures are offset by the prolific horn section to create a quite ornate sound that is admirable to anyone who knows just how bastard hard it is to record ska well. Opener ‘One Up’ benefits hugely from this production as it veers from schizophrenic off-beat to a huge chorus that shows the band at their best – all interwoven horn lines, energetic singing and a chunky guitar sound that Fletcher Dragge would be proud of. No ‘punk with horns’ this, as right from the outset it’s obvious that GAH are that most impressive of things, a coherent ska punk band that relies not on a good guitar riff with some harmonised brass or vice versa, but a fully integrated sound that pays dividends with its complexities and allows the more technically structured songs to flourish. ‘Don’t Be A Menace To King Kong While Drinking Banana Juice In The Congo’ is the most obvious beneficiary, as the deep sound lets the song move away from a repetitive verse/chorus/verse format towards a more Sublime direction.
‘Captain Stabbin’ is the most impressive track as it is at turns a punk rock anthem, fevered sing-a-long and broody ska-inflected dancefloor filler. With understated but catchy horn lines and a tangible sense of energy that seeps out of the speakers it’s impossible not to want to a) dance, b) get another pint or c) steps (a) and (b) and that’s perhaps the biggest compliment to pay to a ska-punk band. Especially with the polished ‘Sense of Humour’ from their previous EP there’s a definite sound that is both recognisable and quintessentially Grown At Home, and that’s their best asset. The trouble is, PG-13 is where all the band’s limitations manifest themselves. It’s a fairly enjoyable ska-punk by numbers track but the point is that they lose all sense of self and identity as they disappear into well-trodden territory that, when placed next to the other four songs, only appears pedestrian in comparison. What bothers me is that I’m not sure how much of a problem this may be for the band as a whole – with only these five tracks to judge them on is it a problem that one is a dud? You decide.
But as I’m sure is obvious, Grown At Home are a quality young band that are brimming in confidence, and deservedly so. ‘The Sandwich EP’ is by no means perfect but it’s promising, and that’s surely enough. Maybe in a year or so they’ll be sitting on top of the heap and on this evidence it won’t be a surprise because this shows a band able to come up with strong, complex songs in a genre handicapped by its own reliance on familiar images and motifs, and I wish them as much luck as they want. Basically, if you want to hear a band in the ascendance, buy this.
Ben
www.grownathome.com
grownathomemyass@hotmail.com