Search - Grails :: Burden of Hope

Wowie

the great wilson | america | 04/06/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Grails is a post-rock band out of Portland, Oregon. this album is just beautiful. what sets this album apart from most post-rock albums is the tight song structure, and complete lack of pomp, which is all too prevalent in this genre. youre not going to hear 30 minutes of feedback disguised as "art" here. no sir, these guys are very deliberate and substantial in song structure. one of the shortest post-rock albums ive ever heard, this one clocks in at a little over 38 minutes. if youre into post-rock, or anything experimental and/or dark, check this out, its brilliant."

What are words, anyway?

Danielle Kuehnel | Oregon, USA | 05/26/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Some say that a picture is worth a thousand words. What about music? The way I see it, there are two types of music-listeners: people who find meaning in lyrics, and people who find meaning in the music of these songs. I have swung both ways, and have enjoyed it at either end.
Grails, without a doubt, will make it big one day. They have surpassed meaning in poetic lyrics, and loom over poetry in music. Not to say that this music is meant for a Sunday afternoon drive in the country with your parents. No, Grails engages audiences that already have a true affinity for rock music. They rely solely on rhythms, riffs, and melodic harmonies to convey the same messages as their "wordy" rock counterparts.
Often soft, with surprising loud interludes, the songs will please even those skeptical about instrumental music.
The only thing, I believe, that is holding these guys back from truly making it big, is acting the part of the rock star. But then again, maybe that's part of the appeal.
So, when listening to this music, can a thousand words be invoked? Grails does for me. As for you - you'll just have to find out!"

Absolutely unpredictable and refreshing.

JRGuitargeek | Vista, Ca United States | 01/01/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have always been a fan of post rock, but even so, sometimes post rock bands are just too wrapped up in the post rock format that they forget that they can play with the formula. They get so set on the goal of building toward epic climaxes that they forget that there are other ways to get there. Many times they arrive too late, crossing the barrier of provocation after the melody has worn stale. The genre seemed to be a bit stagnant as of late. But I always knew there had to be a post rock band out there somewhere who wasn't trying to be post rock... they just happened to be. That band is Grails.



Grails don't neccesarily fit the mold of the genre. First off, they do not follow the simple mold of start soft, end big. One of the first things you will notice is the unpredictablility of grails. You will not know where they are going... ever. Grails will have to hold your hand all the way through the album, otherwise you would stumble and lose your way. It almost feels like you are at their mercy. They will often tease you will a few indications of a new melody, some rythmic work leading in a different direction, or some building dynamics which prepare you for some fireworks, but most of the time, you never end up where you expected. This formula really makes for some refreshing music. It also adds a lot of replayability.



The melodies themselves are very beautiful and also very original. One particularly great moment is a few minutes into "White Flag." The song is cold, and feels quite hopeless. The two guitars try to comfort eachother unsuccessfully. And the name white flag seems so fitting. Yet a little spark of hope appears as one guitar creeps up a step to a beautiful major chord, as the second guitar softly swells in, just before the song quickly returns to sadness. You just get a quick glimpse of hope.



This happens to be one of my favorite moments in Burden Of Hope. However, sometimes Grails attempt similar tasks and it seems like they are cutting themselves a bit short. There are certain melodies which are fantastic, but Grails refuse to completely give them to you. They tease you with little bits, and never develop them fully. One example is on the track "In the Beginning." Somewhere in the middle, one of the most beautiful piano lines creeps in. It's majestic to listen to, but seconds later it dissapears, never to be heard again, as Grails trade it out for a more crippled piano line that has no where near the melodic value of the prior. Sometimes it feels as if they have lead you down this long path, and just when you were expecting to arrive at some majestic location, they abandoned you. But with Grails, this is more forgivable than with the average post rock band, because Grails will entertain you along the whole journey anyhow. And, as I spoke of before, the standard post rock formula has been beat to death. Perhaps it is better this way, so that they distance themselves from any form of predictability, and provoke thought in the listener.



The drumming is extremely unique. This Grails' drummer creates the best ambient percussion I think I have ever heard. And when he is all in, his beats are thick, and perfectly fitting.



One final thing that stands out is the extremely original and creative writing. Canyon Hymn, for eample, starts out with one guitar playing a simple rythmic pattern, and a bit later some new guitar layers are added. But the trick is the difference in rythm between the opening riff, and the layers that get packed on top of it. The layers also completely change the tone of a song that started with very simple intervals. Most of the songs make you ponder how Grails managed to find a way to fit all the various melodies and rythmic pieces into a cohesive piece of music... but they always manage to do it.



I would give the album 5 stars if Grails were a little more willing to be kind at times, instead of teasing us by keeping some of the best melodies buried in a few hidden spots. Nevertheless, Burden of Hope is fantastic, and if you are looking for something fresh in the post rock genre, obtain a copy of Burden Of Hope."