GRINSPOON - Alibis &
Other Lies
They're back. And it's been a long time coming. When the
boys from Grinspoon assembled in a studio in February of 2006 to begin
their fifth album, they did not anticipate 15 months of trials and tribulations.
Yet, the reward from their most tumultuous gestation period is sweet:
their superb new album 'Alibis and Other Lies'.
Alibis is not only an emphatic return to form, it's the
most consistent and diverse record of the band's career. While their
last album from 2004 'Thrills, Kills and Sunday Pills', had them in
LA for the production sheen of US producer Howard Benson, Alibis sees
Grinspoon returning to their roots, employing Ramesh Sathiah, the man
who helmed their first EP back in 1995.
13 years ago, front man Phil Jamieson was just another
17 year old in his first year of university. He and drummer Kristian
Hopes relocated from Port Macquarie to Lismore, on the north coast of
NSW, in the hope of forming a band. It was here they discovered bassist
Joe Hansen and guitarist Pat Davern whiling away their time in a cover
band. "They were both bored out of their brains," Jamieson
recalls. "I was studying, Joe had finished his degree, Pat had
dropped out, and Kristian was working."
Remarkably, Grinspoon's line-up has not changed since
its conception. Davern says that in spite of the well-documented inner
turmoil of the past 12 months, Grinspoon's future was never in doubt.
"We obviously had our moments," he says. "But we had
a good look at what we were doing. We knew we would have to make some
changes. But the band's excited about our future, and that's what keeps
us going. We've had a few setbacks, but we've gotten over all of the
bullshit."
Today the Grinspoon family is spread over four cities
in two states: Sydney, Wauchope, Coffs Harbour and Brisbane. Band meetings
and discussions are often conducted over the net, via email. The band
believes this has helped increase their longevity. "There are emo
bands, but we're an email band," Jamieson jokes. "It's a little
Grinspoon community we have online."
Each Grinspoon album has had a significant breakthrough
song in its development phase. It's the first song that is a definite
starter on the album, and the one the record takes shape around. A signature
song, if you will. On 'New Detention' it was 'Anyday, Anyhow'. On Thrills…
it was 'Hard Act To Follow'.
Alibis is no exception. Early last year, Jamieson sat
down and wrote 'What You Got'. The bittersweet kiss-off is classic Grinspoon,
and ultimately proved to be a key moment in Alibis' gestation. The album's
two sublime highlights, 'Minute by Minute' and 'Leave It' were then
written in quick succession.
The band convened for 21 days in Sydney for the February
'06 sessions. The brief was clear: they sought to create an up tempo
album with more variety than Thrills. After working on the album sporadically
for the next year, did they succeed? You bet. "I'm really happy
with the mix," Davern beams. "Our fans will be really happy,
and it will be really good to play live."
For his part, Davern brought a handful of his own songs
to the table, five of which made the album. "'Carried Away' is
my favorite," he says proudly. "Phil sings in a low register.
I wrote the chorus and the music, and he did the verses, so it was a
real collaboration. It sounds like us, but it's a bit different, and
one of those songs that grows."
Aside from 'Carried Away', there is a swag of highlights.
Opening salvo 'Black Tattoo' is a bold statement of intent, and as the
searing first single, it adeptly reintroduces the world to the charms
of the band. The straight-ahead classic rock of 'Choir Boy' embraces
rock's underrated utensil: the cowbell. Adding to the fun, both Davern
and Jamieson trade guitar solos in the track's last minute. "We
were really restrained on Thrills, so with this one, we were determined
not to be," he says.
Elsewhere, there is 'Find You Own Way', the first country-inflected
Grinspoon tune (complete with harmonica and backing vocals from Jamieson's
sister Fiona). That's not to discount the excellent acoustic lament
'Leave It', and the album's secret weapon: the gorgeous string-laden
ballad 'Minute By Minute'.
"We weren't going to put any strings on the album,
but we ended up deciding that because Minute meant something, it needed
them." Jamieson says. "It's about dealing with someone who's
locked in grief. It's very close to our hearts, and has some of the
better lyrics on the album. Our songwriting has gotten a little more
refined, and more thought out."
"The songs are better," Davern adds. "We
don't want to re-write 'Lost Control', and there's definitely progress
in terms of songwriting quality."
And what of Alibis' beguiling title? It came from bass
player Hansen. "It sums up a lot of personal stuff that's been
going on in the band for a little while," Davern cryptically says.
Jamieson turned 30 in April, and with Grinspoon now well
into its second decade, he believes there's at least another five albums
in the band. So how does he feel about the band's elder statesmen status
within the echelons of Aussie rock? "We are the elder statesman
of rock compared to Kisschasy," he laughs. "But what does
that make the Beasts of Bourbon?"
'Alibis & Other Lies' is out now.
