Search - Grassy Knoll :: Positive

Excellent & Different

Zila | Baltimore | 06/06/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the first album I've reviewed. I'd like to start by asking what the HELL is Geoffrey Himes smoking? Did he even listen to this record? It sure doesn't seem like he did. "new-age background music" ? Cmon man!!So, here I am writing a review from the perspective of somebody who has actually listened to this thing. Let me say that this is one of my favorite albums. I admit I like their self-titled album more (it seems to be a little less polished, a little more rough around the edges, and I like that), but this one finishes very close behind it.The songs are all instrumental. All have a very cool, driving beat, good use of drums and bass. Often very funky. On top of this you may hear very jazzy (and often very wild) sax and trumpet, piano, string samples, and other less recognizable instruments :)The whole effect ranges from dark forboding and desolate (as if you were being shown an empty world, ruined cities, after a war or something.. I dont know, just some of the solo trumpet stuff gives me that kind of chilling impression), to crazy and chaotic (even almost angry at times with those wild solos), to funky.I havn't seen everything, but I havn't yet found anything quite like Grassy Knoll. It's sad the cd is kind of tough to find, it's a real work of art."

Jazzy Orb?

nothoward | Texas, like everyone else, apparently | 05/25/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you've seen and enjoyed the movie Conspiracy Theory, then you'll probably appreciate the first track, "Black Helicopters." That, actually, is the reason I searched for this CD about a year ago (and search I did!). I would describe The Grassy Knoll as a mix between the wonderful Orb and the good jazz you hear in nice restaraunts, but never ask the waitress about. The music, and defintely the titles, seem to have a lot of underlying paranoia-conspiracy themes, which, I think, makes the music fun and enjoyable. It's good music for the background (but not for falling asleep), or for playing loudly from your gray cublicle at the office on your last day. In other words, depending on the volume, it can be relaxing or obnoxious. Four stars because I don't listen to it often enough for five, but I do like the Grassy Knoll, although I'm no fanatic."

A Trashier Grassy Knoll Sound

braindata | Toronto, Ontario Canada | 03/06/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I was remiss in following-up on this band, which I regret, but at least the albums are still available. You see, a few years back, I heard "Driving Nowhere" on a Nettwerk compilation CD and thought it was one of the coolest things to be committed to disc. Since then, I've accumulated some acid-jazz, disco, fusion, and electronic jazz to better appreciate what is happening on this album.Alas, after hearing the self-titled debut album, this album, Positive, sounds like a trivialization of the welcoming sound previously rendered. It was a good effort, I suppose, but the over-indulgent sampling and electric guitar tended to subvert the improvisational instrumentation. This CD is more demanding of the listener's attention than the debut album, but I think less rewarding. It's no longer your own vision to invent. Perhaps that was the idea, if you're going to read into the conspiracy theory track names."