Gris Gris

Fronted by transplanted Texan Greg Ashley on guitar and vocals, this Oakland, California-based trio has made one of the most authentically retro-sounding psychedelic albums of this year. Obviously indebted to fellow Texan Roky Erikson and his 13th Floor Elevators in both spirit and sound, the Gris Gris sound spookily like a stew with White Light White Heat-era Velvet Underground and mid-‘80s Sonic Youth. Having the ability to easily shift direction and tempo mid-song, the trio is unafraid to go from a lilting, creepy slither into full-out, freak-out mode and back. Heavy on the reverberation, this album may be a little too out there for those not willing (or wanting) to experiment with modern mind-fuck psychedelia, but this should be manna from heaven for anyone that is into bands like Comets On Fire, Bardo Pond and Major Stars.