SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GRASS – FRESH GRASS

Grass
Fresh Grass
Independent

Fresh Grass is the first EP from Brooklyn stoner rock band GRASS. Faithful to genre standards, the group delivers melodic vocals and dire lyrics against midtempo heavy rock.

While solid instrumentation is evident on all five tracks, the intermittently slow-motion feeling of “Black Clouds” is especially effective in light of the plodding lyrical contemplation of good and (mostly) evil. “Fire” revs things up even as the song carries forward themes of tragedy. The band’s congruence is perhaps clearest on “Runaway”; singer Phil Anton’s lumbering voice is complemented well by a rough stuttering rhythm.

Just after its four-minute mark, “Easy Rider” fakes its end and then offers a slow, staggered reintroduction of all elements. It’s a good move that closes the song as well as the collection on a reflective mood.

There’s nothing especially risky or inventive here to suggest GRASS breaking away from the pack, but Fresh Grass establishes them as skillful practitioners of stoner rock.

Artist Links