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This is a Canadian blog, so where's all the Canadian content? During the 90's, the Canadian alt-rock mines were operating at wartime capacity. Right in the middle of the booming industry was a label called "Sonic Unyon" (I think it's pronounced like "onion", there's an onion in the logo...but I always said "union"...but I digress). At various times, Sonic Unyon's roster included Treble Charger, Thrush Hermit, Tristan Psionic, and these guys-The New Grand. In fact, The New Grand toured with the aforementioned Treble Charger at some point in the late 90's. I think that association is actually quite telling-Treble Charger were, at the time, midway through a transition from a fuzz drenched, shoegazey, lo-fi outfit (like a less accessible Dinosaur Jr) into a nationally known pop-punk powerhouse. If Treble Charger's career were an Animorphs book jacket, the New Grand would be the third metamorphosis stage--right in the middle--right in the sweet spot where things are most interesting.
Listening to their debut single, "The Get Up", I am reminded of Sebadoh's killer track "License to Confuse"--quick and sweet, maddeningly catchy, wholeheartedly embracing bubblegum hooks, yet maintaining robust indie street-cred. Listen for yourself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2ilKqYkdko
And that's The New Grand to a T. I plan on dedicating a post to their second album, "Incognito", sometime in the near future, as it is definitely worth a listen (it's like this album with a more pronounced Weezer influence. I actually like it better than this one). But for now, I will leave you with a Youtube upload of the first album in it's entirety. The New Grand discography is also available on Itunes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L4cy01BvGo
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