On their sophomore album, Grounders create a shimmering and sleek sound that is always on the brink of diving into a digital cacophony. The best moments on the album are when they give in to the noise and the fuzz. "Bringin' It In," the album's first single, is reminiscent of the Talking Heads or LCD Soundsystem. Where they would rock on a groove until it fades away, Grounders drive it into the ground, adding more and more digital noise, until what is left has mutated into a new, ferocious beast.
These moments are Grounders at their best, taking a groove and transforming it, building it up, breaking it down, and in some instances, setting it on fire (like on the chaotic ending of album opener "Mickey Can't Move").
Contrasting this is the album's softer cuts, like the beautiful jam "Scum For You" with its glittering guitars that burst into euphoric joy, or the melancholic "The Bitter End," a tune that could easily find a home in any John Hughes movie. There are a few moments on the album when things get a bit too goofy with the synth tones, and this can undercut some of the sincerer parts of the record.
(Nevado)These moments are Grounders at their best, taking a groove and transforming it, building it up, breaking it down, and in some instances, setting it on fire (like on the chaotic ending of album opener "Mickey Can't Move").
Contrasting this is the album's softer cuts, like the beautiful jam "Scum For You" with its glittering guitars that burst into euphoric joy, or the melancholic "The Bitter End," a tune that could easily find a home in any John Hughes movie. There are a few moments on the album when things get a bit too goofy with the synth tones, and this can undercut some of the sincerer parts of the record.