Album Review
Idiot Grins – ‘Hounds of Mess Around’ [Album Review]
Sprawling and full of assorted sonic aspects, Idiot Grins’ Hounds of Mess Around offers listeners a delicious catalog of fusion music.
Hounds of Mess Around, the latest long player from Oakland’s fusion outfit Idiot Grins, reflects the band’s freewheeling creativity and fearlessness, traits that allow them to explore a delicious variety of flavors – R&B, soul, rock, and alt-country.
According to Idiot Grins, “This is our fifth full-length album. We all gave each other COVID during one of the first sessions but managed to recover from that to finish the album in a leisurely twelve months.”
Idiot Grins consists of Evan Eustis (bass, mandolin, backing, and lead vocals), Michael Conner (keyboards, strings, clavinet, and synths), John Hansen (lead vocals and backing vocals), Michael Melgoza (drums), and Randy Strauss (guitars).
The album embraces 11 tracks, of which, speaking subjectively, the picks of the bunch include “She Looks That Way,” a retro-laced song reminiscent of ’60s rock tinted with soul dynamics. Bright horns give the tune full-size braying textures, accompanied by easy-on-the-ear vocals and radiant harmonies.
“Peaches” conjures up suggestions of Chicago, merging lusciously smooth brass colors with flowing harmonics and vocal harmonies, both fluid and softly aglow with subtle surfaces. Whereas the contagious energy of “Island” recalls the vibrant creativity and pizzazz of the Talking Heads.
A personal favorite because of its alt-country feel, “Love Drunk” features a bouncy-lite rhythm and the indulgent blush of glimmering keyboards. The Band-like “Haiku” rolls along on a brass-infused country melody flavored by a sashaying motion that takes on tints of psych-rock on the outro.
Idiot Grins, photo courtesy of Idiot Grins
The closing track, “Our Lady of the Divine Light Fixture,” evokes memories of The Band’s “The Weight,” with allusions to Procul Harum – twangy vocals atop veneers of a luminous organ.
Sprawling and full of assorted sonic aspects, Hounds of Mess Around offers listeners a delicious catalog of fusion music.
Hounds of Mess Around Track Listing:
1. Riunite
2. PA Mining Town
3. She Looks That Way
4. Not Reggae
5. Peaches
6. Island
7. Love Drunk
8. Wahoo
9. Ded Zep
10. Haiku
11. Our Lady of the Divine Light Fixture
Run Time: 39:28
Release Date: March 9, 2024
Record Label: Independent
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