Tiles from the Amber Room, 2012
Reviewed by Jeffrey Morgan
SIZZLING ROCK PLATTER OF THE WEEK: Desmond Grundy – Tiles From The Amber Room (Mouthful Of Records) :: In case you weren’t paying attention the first time around and don’t remember what I said about DG’s first self released album Oddly Enough way back in MB278, I’ll reiterate for ya:
“So I’m spinnin’ the first song and suddenly thinking that, no, the absolute last thing I wanna do is say that Desmond is the new Lou Reed ’cause he seems to be way too normal to be saddled with that kind of calamitous tag. But every time I hear the gnarly destorto guitar grinding up behind him, I get flummoxed into thinking that I’m listening to some kinda vintage Velvet Underground gradation. And suddenly I’m thinking, yes, that’s cool because nobody sounds like Unca Lou anymore—not even the old reprobate himself ’cause he’s way too normal these days to be saddled with that kind of calamitous tag.”
In other words, I didn’t need to have the wisdom of Solomon to know that this here Grundy had what we in the rock writin’ biz call potential. But the big question on every seasoned tout’s mind the second time around is: can Desmond deck ya again? Well, as my old pal the Kingfish would say: “He sho’ nuff can!”
First of all, the album title is straight outta spooky Lynch City where the busses never run on time—if ever. Even better, he plays all of the instruments by himself in the best Todd Rundgren studio-spazz tradition. Finally, his voice—which vacillates between Loaded romance and Tonight’s The Night dissipation—is buried beneath a swirling miasma of destorto fuzzed up beach blanket bohemia that makes Exile On Aladdin Sane St. sound like like Wish You Were Here.
I just hope that his next album sucks ’cause I’m getting tired of sounding like a palooka from Payolaville.’
—Jeffrey Morgan, authorized biographer of The Stooges
http://www.jeffreymorgan.info/2012.07.08_arch.html
Oddly Enough, 2008
Reviewed by Jeffrey Morgan
“Desmond Grundy – Oddly Enough (self released) :: So I’m spinnin’ the first song and suddenly thinking that, no, the absolute last thing I wanna do is say that Desmond is the new Lou Reed ’cause he seems to be way too normal to be saddled with that kind of calamitous tag. But every time I hear the gnarly destorto guitar grinding up behind him, I get flummoxed into thinking that I’m listening to some kinda vintage Velvet Underground gradation. And suddenly I’m thinking, yes, that’s cool because nobody sounds like Unca Lou anymore—not even the old reprobate himself ’cause he’s way too normal these days to be saddled with that kind of calamitous tag.”
—Jeffrey Morgan, authorized biographer of The Stooges
Impressions of the music.
This eclectic album is “Oddly Enough,” a collage of edgy rock with a swagger and mojo not found since early J Mascis or the times of Kurt Kobain. Whiskey driven vocal grittiness, obscured with clarity, Grundy pushes the envelope of cool to the next level. The underground independent world is brought to light with this pinnacle doors-swinging album. “Oddly Enough” is the cure to any such banality of the over produced sonic vultures of pop culture.
Tr. 1 “Count The Ways” – With a Kink-like perspective, this sonic exploration gets listeners into a vision of rock undeniable.
Tr. 2 “Drop The Gloves” – Like early Dinosaur Jr. this track starts off at an elevation higher than your normal everyday. Raw and rough guitars scream and scrawl as the rave escalates.
Tr. 5 “Been There” – An incredible creative force is at work behind this track. A mixture of Kobain and Flaming Lips, this track spread over bread like butter. Killer and inventive!
Tr. 7 “Break Out” – An honest track that hits the vein of psychedelia without yield. Great transitions and cosmic lyrics envelop a highly unique sound.
—Reviewed by Ron Ingalla at Bryan Farrish Radio Promotion
- “You have a punkish/60s/psychedelic edge to your sound.…
- “Your music has a cool gritty vibe that works well with the lyrics that you write.
- “Your vocal delivery is original …has a real raw kind of feel that fits your songs well…
- “You’ve got a gift for writing very poetic, associative lyrics…
- “Unique verse lyrics. I hear the Kinks influence in your verse melody! This has a great, convincing retro sound.”
— Music industry artist and repertoire comments.