Customer Reviews

Kicking the National Habit

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have to admit it, this year I have been thoroughly spoilt rotten with all the great releases that I have had the privilege to review. Just when I thought things would dry up ANOTHER new band has turned up. This time Grand National.

Grand National consist of two very talented multli-instrumentalisits: Rupert Lyddon and Lawrence Rudd and together they create a very exhilarating and refreshing type of music.

`Kicking the National Habit' has all the elements of great British bands. In these brief 38 minutes one can hear New Order, Joy Division, (Coming Round, Daylight Goes) Blur, Happy Mondays (Boner, North Sound Off) and Early Primal scream. Also there is a ska-ish track (Peanut Dreams). `Kicking's...' musical diversity can make someone react to music in different ways. Some bits make you want to dance and some just to chill out to and the great thing is that you don't feel exhausted. I would say that when the record finishes you want to press play again. An album that deserves to be hailed as a classic.

I just heard this album at a friends house. It burrowed into my brain-squirrel like a fresh box of chewties - I couldn't tear my fists away from it. I took the highway home with the windows down going way too fast and I didn't notice the cops chasing me until I sat down to write this. I'll leave it playing on my stereo...

Alright, what we have here are some genre bending, diverse and absolutely wonderful musicians. It's almost impossible to essentialize just what kind of music this duo plays; some say it's the Police if they made it out of the 80s, while others compare it to about every English rock band of the last 20 years. I'm not even going to try to compare them to anything, the only thing of substance that I can bring to the table is that on a track to track basis Grand National never has trouble delivering. There is song for every mood, whether you want a crazy ska like horn section (Boner) or some bass laden mellowness (Peanut Dreams).

My only complaint is that in total the 10 tracks add up to about 38 minutes or so, which isn't enough, I would like to see some more length, and that's the only reason I can see not to give it 5 stars, because these blokes are top notch and its worthy of anyone's hard earned buck.

Look no further for your next "too cool to ever be played on the radio" find. This album simply begs to be added to your probably already envy-inducing music collection, if you:

1. Were raised during the 1980's and think that popular music from 1990 onward has, for the most part, disappointed,

2. Wonder whatever happened to 80's new wave, pop, or punk, or

3. Are an electronica fan(atic) looking for something off the beaten trance/house/triphop path that will still appeal to your tragically hip and sophisticated sensibilities.

All of these three apply to me, and I hope that this album is a sign of things to come on the music scene. I imagine that this album will be in incredibly heavy rotation for some time to come. My summer soundtrack is certainly looking up these days! Thank you Grand National! May we hear much, much more from these guys in the future.

This cd has made me an instant fan of grand national. Pick this one up. It is faboulous. Great music and vocals. The funky disco like style on a few tracks takes some getting used to but once you get it, you get it. This is right up there with Air-Talkie Walkie. Happy music. There are four really good tracks: Drink to Moving On, Talk amongst yourselves, Cherry Tree, and Talk amongst yourselves (sasha mix).

This album is transcendent. "Talk amongst yourselves" drew me in, but each track is an intricate and fascinating piece of work. My favorite is "Cherry Tree." The more I listen the more I appreciate the lyrics, melodies, unforced party vibe. This is the kind of CD that you can listen to for a long time and think of as the soundtrack to your life.

I just heard this album at a friends house. It burrowed into my brain-squirrel like a fresh box of chewties. I couldn't tear my fists away from it. I took the highway home with the windows down going way too fast. I didn't notice the cops chasing me until I sat down to write this. I'll leave it playing on my stereo...

I first heard of Grand National a couple of years ago as the opening track on Sasha's 'Involver' album. Great song, but then I never really heard anything more from them.

But then a few weeks ago, I stumbled across them again and found out that they had a full album so checked it out. Great album! Its sound is somewhere between the electronic feel of Air or the Avalanches, and dance/rock acts such as a Franz Ferdinand, !!! and Rapture. Great tunes, a lot of fun...def worth checking out. Not sure if it's a new album, but one of the best I've heard so far this year.

I saw Grand National play at SXSW a couple months ago and they totally kicked ass. I just picked up the cd and its awesome!!! If you're looking for some music to groove to, check em out. Great album from start to finish - it's been playing on a non-stop loop on my ipod for weeks now. I highly recommend them!

This is a very underappreciated group. The meoldies are great and very catchy. Get the Sasha remix on the single Talk amongst Yourselves.