Matthew Grimson was a beloved singer-songwriter in the Halifax music scene who sadly passed away on June 19, 2018. Once called "Canada's most unique songwriter" by friend Joel Plaskett, Grimson released one album, 2002's A Life Played for Keeps, as well as a single for Plaskett's New Scotland Records in 2010, but he never tasted success the way his friends did. Grimson did, however, leave behind an extensive catalogue of unreleased music.
Now Grimson's friends have teamed together to see that his music gets the audience it always deserved. On August 7, Plaskett's New Scotland Records and Sloan's murderecords will join forces to co-release, Prize for Writing, a 15-track compilation of lost recordings that Grimson captured on four-track cassette in the summer and fall of 1995.
The lo-fi recordings feature contributions by Sloan's Andrew Scott and Chris Murphy (who covered Grimson's "Stood Up" for their 1997 live album, Recorded Live at a Sloan Party!), as well as Matt Murphy (the Super Friendz, Flashing Lights). Along with and engineer Thomas Stajcer, Plaskett remixed the album in his Dartmouth studio, after securing the original cassettes from Grimson's family.
Inspired by his musical heroes, Warren Zevon, John Cale, Roky Erickson and Randy Newman, Grimson described his music as "psychological metal, verbose pop, queasy balladry, and odd trips."
For a taste of what's in store, you can hear the record's "Stood Up" below.
Prize for Writing will be available digitally and on vinyl (limited to 500 copies) through Taz Records locations in Dartmouth, Halifax and Bedford. It will also be available here.
Now Grimson's friends have teamed together to see that his music gets the audience it always deserved. On August 7, Plaskett's New Scotland Records and Sloan's murderecords will join forces to co-release, Prize for Writing, a 15-track compilation of lost recordings that Grimson captured on four-track cassette in the summer and fall of 1995.
The lo-fi recordings feature contributions by Sloan's Andrew Scott and Chris Murphy (who covered Grimson's "Stood Up" for their 1997 live album, Recorded Live at a Sloan Party!), as well as Matt Murphy (the Super Friendz, Flashing Lights). Along with and engineer Thomas Stajcer, Plaskett remixed the album in his Dartmouth studio, after securing the original cassettes from Grimson's family.
Inspired by his musical heroes, Warren Zevon, John Cale, Roky Erickson and Randy Newman, Grimson described his music as "psychological metal, verbose pop, queasy balladry, and odd trips."
For a taste of what's in store, you can hear the record's "Stood Up" below.
Prize for Writing will be available digitally and on vinyl (limited to 500 copies) through Taz Records locations in Dartmouth, Halifax and Bedford. It will also be available here.
