To say I have been patiently awaiting this album is an understatement. I wanted to hear this like a kid wants Christmas.
Earlier this year I caught word through the Pacific Northwest music grapevine that there was a “Must see musician” and that he would be working on an album come year’s end. With the distance of Washington State separating us, I contacted this musician Ryan Granger, also of Fox and the Law, told me that a band he is in, named The Grizzled Mighty, was recording their album. After learning of the news there is only one thing that could appease the appetite of this audiophile; an album.
The day of The Grizzled Mighty arrived; the subsequent tracks are a mixture of awe-inspiring raw acidic rock, an odd twist and an all around memorable sound. If you ever wondered what would have happened if The White Stripes didn’t “Icky Thump” themselves out of indie rock or what would have happened if The Black Keys kept their Magic Potion then allow me to direct you at The Grizzled Mighty. The weight of inspiration, deep seeded in what made classic rock rock, is carried noticeably throughout these eleven tracks. The duo contracts and expands with a tour-de-force of all that is rock track by track. Whitney Petty, formerly of Deerhunter, lays down her fair share of sultry, raw beats to accompany Granger’s throwback solos and distorted, vibrato-laden vocals.
The album construes their style with a variety of emotion. Three tracks deep we come face to face with “Fancy Wine”, a track which feels off pace and confusing. The rolling chaotic snare rhythm delivers your sense in a direction that is immediately contradicted by the vocals, which will leave you wondering what could have possibly influenced this track. Interestingly enough it is followed by “Fancy Wine (Slight Return).” This rendition cleans up the track in an almost sobering contrast with its acoustic strumming front porch feel. The other nine tracks exude a form of originality and in-and-of themselves feel like a live show, played just for you. “Bleed Me Tragic” and “We Don’t Get Along” staple themselves to even the slightest bit of addictive personality you have. You’ll be tapping your foot and chanting “You Bleed Me Tragic” in no time. “Miles of Cocaine” hand delivers an ending that if it doesn’t make you want to experience them live, check your pulse. Even considering the slow down on “Sold,” The Grizzled Mighty is a powerful force of crank-it-to eleven rock; because ten just isn’t loud enough.
An all out live, jam feeling album which clings to the simplistic, raw purity of rock creates the instrumentation of The Grizzled Mighty. The album itself takes on a life of it’s own as if it were a dormant beast who has risen out of the earth to fend off the terrible overproduction of the musical landscape.
