Grandview haven’t been around all that long – in fact, they only formed in 2012 – so you would be forgiven for not being familiar with the name. But one listen to their debut album ‘Everything Between Paint and a Wall‘ and you will not be forgiving your prior ignorance.
Their previous EP ‘Absolutely Nothing‘ received plaudits aplenty, and it’s easy to see why. This Burlington-based quintet are an impressive specimen, their emo-flecked sound proving both easy to listen to and an absolute joy to behold.
Album opener ‘Paint‘ is a pondering, gentle affair with a whole lot of heart, before the comparatively-explosive ‘Seeking Out Gold (The Former)‘ which is equal parts bold and exquisite, seamlessly switching from huge hooks to mellow verses without ever missing a beat.
‘The Only Constant‘ is a salute to the nineties and noughties emo bands that were surely ever-present in Grandview’s musically formative years. A tremendous blend of ‘Bleed American‘-era Jimmy Eat World and Sunny Day Real Estate create an early highlight for the album. Just as emo evolved and grew as a genre, so too does ‘Everything Between Paint and a Wall’, as ‘In Good Company‘ brings the influences forward toward the Brand New/Death Cab For Cutie realm, culminating in another phenomenal track that will surely become one of Grandview’s best loved.
‘7‘ and ‘Saw the Sky‘ stick to the plan and keep the album rolling along in fine form, with the latter providing this album’s real crescendo – a blistering concoction of raw emotion and inventive talent resulting in a must-hear song of 2014, before things begin to slow slightly toward the close, starting with the atmospheric soundscape of ‘Say Nothing‘. That isn’t to say however that these songs are of lesser quality; there is no denying that ‘Shaper‘ is a fine effort, but it certainly indicates that this album is approaching a finale.
‘Wall‘ sees the album out in gorgeous fashion, it’s world-conquering final furore is enough to leave you breathless and leaves no doubt whatsoever that Grandview is a band to be taken seriously.
We had a quick Q & A with the band, you can check it out here.
